1949

Just when I thought I had finally drawn my first blank on photos for this column the mail brought me a picture taken just a few days before of Bob Zieser being formally presented with his Gold Pick Axe Award. The occasion was the annual meeting of the Dartmouth Alumni Club of Rhode Island. You may recall that Bob was unable to be in Hanover for the presentation on the occasion of our annual class weekend last fall, so Bert Rodman drove down from Boston to represent the class along with JackKilmartin, also standing next to Bob. My erstwhile informant and photographer tells me that Bert passed up tickets for the NBA finals between the Celtics and Lakers to attend the affair, which certainly proves something about class loyalty.

This last month apparently has been a busy one for Alumni functions. Our own local Dartmouth Club welcomed Bob Blackman and most of his new coaches at a dinner which afforded yours truly a first rate opportunity to sit and chat with several of them and, believe me, if you think that the selective process for the freshman class is rough, you have no idea what competition the coaching applicants fought. John Petercuskie, a highly successful (59 wins, one loss) high school coach from Langhorne, Pa., was selected as defensive line coach to succeed Jack Musick, new head coach at Cornell. Bob Casciola, end coach at Princeton for the past five years, was chosen as defensive end and linebacker coach, and Earl Hamilton came up from the freshman coaching job to take over as offensive end and backfield coach. I asked one of them whether spring wasn't a slow time of the year in his profession, especially with the Ivy ban on practice, and was flabbergasted to find that virtually the entire coaching staff in teams of twos was about to cover the country, visiting the top colleges to watch their spring practices and to soak up in a hurry as much as possible in the way of football plays and ideas. This should serve to dispel once and for all the old notion that our brand of football makes up in undergraduate spirit what it lacks in team skill and desire to win.

I had occasion to be in Chicago two weeks ago on business and ran out of time and dimes after I had barely begun to contact the class representation thereabouts, but I have many phone numbers for my future dimes on that next trip. I did manage to drop in on Rank and Jean Lashmet, who lived quite near my hotel. As reported last month, he thoroughly enjoys his television sales work with WFLD and was just a little bit surprised to see me. Rank and his lovely wife said that they would try to attend our fall weekend if it were humanly possible.

I called George Otto, and although he wasn't home I did have a lengthy chat with his wife. George is apparently one of the many in our class who shuns any personal publicity. He furnished nothing more than his address in the class directory. I know that all my imploring will fall on deaf ears in a lot of cases, but I am going to ask each and every one of you to sit down and drop me a note during the summer months when you have some leisure time and feel in a writing mood. We really do want to know what's doing with you and yours, but we can't afford a private investigator to find out. You have to cooperate. George has his own trade association management firm in the Tribune Building and has been in Chicago about nine years. The Ottos have a son George, age five, and a new little baby girl born March 26. Many of us are working constantly with trade associations of all types. I know we'd like very much to receive some pertinent data from George as to how they can do a more effective job and what general strengths and weaknesses to watch for from within. Such material could prove most enlightening.

And now for the last of the personal items before a short summer respite. Darned if it didn't happen. Alexander "Zandy" Taft made it official. The New Hampshire House Majority leader has announced his candidacy for governor. Classmate Mallary in Montpelier, please take note. Do we dare to suggest that this wild dream might become a reality and that we could be in for an updating on the old joke by neighboring governors about this country's need for a good five-cent cigar?

Word comes from Chicago that HermStein, treasurer, was also elected vice-president, finance, of Bell and Howell Company, maker of photo products, business equipment and electronic instrumentation equipment.

Con Pensavalle recently resigned from his guidance counseling and coaching positions at the King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, Mass., which he has held for four years. As head coach and president of the Providence Steamrollers professional football team he has enjoyed remarkable success.

Alan Hodges has been re-elected to the City Council in Lexington, Mass. He has already served eight years and has been active on many local committees and fundraising efforts.

Robert G. Reed III manager of retail marketing for Cities Service Oil Company, has been advanced to vice-president and general manager of marketing. In his new position, Reed will be responsible for marketing administration and operations, division sales, advertising, and refinery sales. The release goes on to say that he has been instrumental in formulating and implementing plans for the improvement of standards and services at all CITGO service stations. We salute an old chum who, it can now be told, has been fighting an uphill battle for clean rest rooms since the carefree days of the Dartmouth to Colby run.

A second note on the Winter Carnival posters for your playroom. Send one dollar for each poster by check made out to Dartmouth Winter Carnival Council, Box 734, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H.

And so we come to our summer hiatus content in the realization that we have covered the newsworthy items, yet somewhat sobered by the fact that most of you don't want to make my life a little easier by writing so much as a lousy post card once a year. Maybe you'll surprise me soon, but I'm realistic enough to doubt it. Perhaps you wives who have pride in your families and the time to write about them will blossom forth as correspondents. I sincerely hope so. Meanwhile, have a wonderful summer, and don't forget that the Alumni Fund closes shop June 30 and you have a date in Hanover for the class weekend October 14,

Jack Barr '49, a two-year resident of St.Croix, Virgin Islands, has become amember of the St. Croix Tourist Development Board. Jack was formerly thePan Am director in Teheran, Iran.

Secretary, 15 Twin Oak Rd. Short Hills, N.J. 07078

Class Agent, 62 Highland Ave., Roslyn, N.Y. 11576