1960's 5th

147 charming wives and dates and 179 of us set a new record for Fifth Reunion attendance. A rip roaring time was had by all. Reunion Chairman Wayne Givens and his committee laid on beer, food, and sunshine in quantity and without fail. To him and to the outgoing executive committee chairman Borden Powers go our thanks.

A new executive committee under Al Stowe, as chairman, was elected, viz.: Bob Colyer, Nick Fate, Wayne Givens, Bob Hackett, Jack Hodgson, Phil Kron, John Peterson, Tom Alaimo, Tom Kirby, Gene Kohn, and Jim Pollard. Bruce Clark was elected class treasurer and me in charge of the gossip. That much for plaudits and statistics.

Now for a few random recollections that will be expanded in future columns. We did not see much of Jake Croutbamel all weekend; he and his better half were babysitting for a tent-full of frugging, monkeying teenagers belonging to the Class of '41. Al Stowe received notoriety when his Labrador assumed center stage at the picnic by almost unfailingly snatching frisbies in midair. He was soundly booed though when he missed the only one of the afternoon. Frank Yaeger Texas-drawled his way through the duties as toastmaster at the Class Dinner and had at least Mr. and Mrs. Tom Alaimo on tenterhooks when, after a long introduction, he presented them with the award for the first baby born to a couple married after graduation. (The winning time: 9 months and one day.) John Hannon of Hanover, N. H., incidentally received the award for having the hardest time to get to the Reunion. His motor scooter ran out of gas in front of the Inn.

I took a little poll to see who is still left over. The only bachelors seem to be Gary Stass, George Potts, John Wheaton, Tom Ettinger, Seth Strickland, Bob Palmer, John Guy, Jack Patterson, Lefty Moulton, Nick Fate, Bob Colyer, Hans Wurster, Tom Brock, Mike Daley, Al Danzig, and I. Are there any more members of the Left-Over-Club?

Dean Thad Seymour gave the after-dinner speech at the Class Dinner. He and we remembered the "authorized riot" of a water-fight, complete with loudspeaker, at Hitch-cock Hall. There were a few sighs over the "regrettable incident" at Thayer Hall. (Most of us have had a difficult time ever since to keep our hands off baked potatoes.) We double checked the milk dispensers to see if someone had substituted beer for the white stuff again. And all on our own - it is understandable Dean Seymour did not want to remember this one - we recalled another "regrettable incident" at Harvard. We very much enjoyed your talk, Dean Seymour. Thank you!

But back to the tent and picnic doings. At the '61 tent Bob Brown and wife looked in wonderment at the gyrations on the dance floor. Tom Brock was not exactly gyrating, but he kicked up a lot of dates' and wives' heels. Phil Kron gave up after a while and was rubbing noses with his wife. GusLeach's wife Gail was running a shuttle between the keg and her husband, each time with six cups. Bill Gundy decided to stick to beer after watching Stowe's Labrador making the catches all afternoon.

At the picnic Bob Pike insisted that not all '60's had given up on the waistline and was playing a bit of volleyball. So were equally "athletic" George Potts, Hans Wurster, and a host of others who did not quite believe that six years had passed. John Apple-ford was the only one apparently who had no illusions though.

Earle and Bette Patterson, incidentally, were one of the few brave couples who brought the children. Particularly the older one at four probably did get a good indoctrination. John Bousum's wife finally became convinced that all the stories her husband had told her about Dartmouth were true - and probably had been toned down a bit. Charlie Radigan gave up on being a proper Virginia lawyer when the band played "gooie-gooie" (or something like that anyway); Charlie was shaking in five different directions at once. Ed Daumit was seen a lot but he never stood still long enough to let me find out where he was hauling all that beer.

Pete and Gail Erwin were in the thick of things constantly, but I did miss Pete's swim (that is a dance) exhibition of which there were rumors. Seth Moger drove all the way from Arizona; last time I saw him he was having brunch on the Hopkins Center terrace with a charming date. Michaeland Jane Notaro also had traveled a stretch: from Chicago. But the awards for most miles covered went to John Wheaton who came from Hawaii and Due Mathewson who reputedly had traveled from Accra, Ghana.

That much for tidbits today. We will catch up with a few more reunion stories in subsequent columns. Next publishing date is in October - so let me hear from you.

CLASS SECRETARY