1923
Football dominates the October scene in New England as it does everywhere in the nation. Here, however, it seems — at least to us who are close to it - more personal, more nostalgic, and more important because it brings so many of us together in happy circumstance that mean much more than the game itself.
Our personal opening game of the season was Penn at Hanover. At the suggestion of Charlie Rauch '30 we have parked on several occasions in the past on the Alpha Delta Phi lawn. This spot, in addition to being practically game-side, has several other advantages. The boys are fine hosts, we have an opportunity to observe the new generation in action, and during the pre-game festivities many of our classmates and friends are sure to pass by. This year, whether due to the business sophistication brought on by Tuck School exposure or to the gentle urging of Charlie and Pem Whitcomb, the Alpha Delts are charging a modest parking fee. We were very glad to pay it and to have our very advantageous location thereby fully legitimatized. We recommend it to you all - but get there early!
While we were preparing for the game Carl Gray and his new bride joined us. In my role as secretary I buttonholed Carl later and urged him to fill me in on the details. He obliged splendidly as follows:
My lady was Harriet DuBose Kenan from Columbia, S. C., a real rebel - went to school in the South (South Carolina) and was cheering for Dartmouth this weekend for the first time. She has two sons, Owen Kenan who was in the Marines and Thomas Kenan who served in the Navy, now in business in Durham. By the way she plays golf and skis.
Our honeymoon (married May 11, 1967) was spent in Norway. I was conditioning my bride for living in Maine which is my legal residence. If it is any help to '23'rs who might ever contemplate getting married - 'the courting period, I found, to be a time when a woman studies a man to see if he is worth changing over.' I flunked - but was not too despondent because I had a few assets as follows: (1) Could make her a grandmother overnight. (2) No baby sitting problems - all our children are grown up. (3) Financially I'm worth more married for my social security gets an increase of $13.75 per month, or is it $3.75 per month - not sure. (4) I qualify for Medicare.
That seems to be all it takes at 66 to win a bride.
Harriet is lovely and charming!
Under the incomparable management aegis of Jim Broe and the gracious hosting of Frances and Jerry Riley, 38 of us got together at Jerry's place following the Brown game. The Chet Bixbys, WalterFriends, Art Littles, Ed Lyles, Bob McMillans, and Burt Proutys were there, as were Glen Elliott with his daughter and son-in-law, the Herb Hornes with their son and daughter-in-law, the Lou Grovers with Lou's sister, Kay McFarland, Jim Broe and Harriet Maycock, John Moore, Pete Jones, PhilSegal, and Win Wadleigh, together with the Ed Martins '19, the Ted Munros '44 and Ed and Gwenn Harris. We were particularly happy to see Burt Prouty and his wife, Dr. Mildred Ryan Prouty. You all know of Mildred as a Tufts Medical School gal, past president of the New England Dermatology Society and a Life Master in contract bridge. We haven't seen Burt since we occupied adjacent cubicles in the Brockton Y.M.C.A. forty years ago.
The feature of the Brown game evening was the presentation to Chet Bixby of a beautiful Paul Revere bowl bearing the following inscription:
"Chesley T. Bixby in sincere appreciation of thirteen years of exceptional service as Class Secretary, Dartmouth Class of 1923. 1954-1967."
Lack of space prevents an adequate description of the Riley estate. Suffice it to say it consists of a unique home, featuring a waterfall outside the living room window, and located on 75 acres of hills, woods, and ponds. To this Jerry has recently added a three-floored chalet that has everything. It was here the party was held.
Win Wadleigh rode with us to the after-Brown-game get-together. We have known him a long time but have never fully appreciated his accomplishments or his extraordinary versatility. In addition to being a most prominent and successful attorney in New Hampshire, he has many other interests, both intriguing and worthwhile. Right now he is particularly concerned with an organization called "The Fund for Animals, Inc.," of which he is treasurer and Cleveland Amory of literary fame is president. This fund is not merely one more humane society. Rather it is an organization designed to help specific projects of existing societies or persons who are not now organized in a society. It is intended to serve on a local, national or even international scale as a combination Red Cross and Ford Foundation for animals.
Win also is responsible for a section of a recent best seller called "Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris. His contribution stems from a hobby of collecting "ricochet" or Siamesetwin words of which he has gathered some 257 examples. For your edification'— hurley-burley, zoot suit, boob tube, chalk talk, and the like. If you think of any real bright ones send them to him.
Win also reports attending a recent dinner meeting of Phi Beta Kappa Associates in New York City. This ultra intellectual gathering also included Jules and Carol Rippel with their son and daughter-in-law. Nelson Rockefeller, '30, Nathaniel Leverone '06, and Robert S. Oelman '31 together with Jules and Win are fellow life members.
John Durham's name hasn't appeared in these columns since 1941. We are happy therefore to report that Jim Broe talked with John recently, gave him some news of John Farnham, our Tahiti representative and a former roommate, and discovered that John Durham now heads the Moosehead Manufacturing Company of Monson, Me. This company which manufactures fine colonial furniture employs some 165 persons and has a branch plant at Dover-Foxcroft. Some of John's productions graced the V.I.P. room at Expo 67. Ted Shapleigh recently expressed fond memories of his association with John at Harvard Business School.
Bob Siemon is another whom we haven't heard from for many years. He writes as follows:
"After three years at Hanover I returned to my home town (Pittsburgh) and enrolled at Carnegie Tech - now Carnegie Mellon University. I stayed long enough (3 years) to find out I would probably make a lousy architect.
After spending one year with the Haywalker Brick Co. (division of Pittsburgh Plate Glass) I helped to bankrupt that company! (H.B.Co.) Then on to New York City where I decided to go with J. J. Newberry to learn the 5¢ and 10¢ business and spent 41 years with them. I loved every year of this job, but finally they said I had to get out - 65 years of age!!
"in 1933, the event of my life happened - I married Rebecca L. Campbell of Pittsburgh, Pa. I was a superintendent at the time. We lived in Washington, D. C., for awhile. Then in 1935 - the "boss" decided I had done enough damage opening stores, etc. - so he gave me a job as a buyer, in which spot I remained until my retirement on 3/1/66. Once in awhile I give my "2¢ worth" as a consultant, but most of the time I am really retired.
No particular plans. If we do decide to move from N.Y.C. it will likely be to Pittsburgh, Pa.
Good letters from Charlie Rivoire who reports weekly luncheons at the New York Dartmouth Club with John Moore and from Bill Kimball who is now minus the beard! I'm truly sorry, Bill. In these days of bedraggled sophomoric beards it was good to see a real one for a change.
Barbara Coulter also wrote us - about Ike - and we quote the following excerpts with both hers and Ike's permission: "Have just returned from Humarock where we have our beach cottage. We spent a restful quiet week there and we are both stronger mentally as well as physically. Ike was operated on on August 30 - stayed three weeks and two days. He had his left lung removed. I stayed close by at a Motor Inn. I can't say enough about the tremendous grit and courage he had all through this business. I truly know it helped me tremendously. He must have the granite of New Hampshire in his system." Barbara goes on to report the christening of their 13th grandchild - a boy. This must be a new high in this department. We were glad to see both Barbara and Ike at the Harvard game - enjoying that cliff-hanger like the rest of us.
And finally - a sweet letter from GraceBernard which she ends with "Dartmouth men are always young in spirit."
Secretary, Box 2, Francestown, N. H. 03043
Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, Mass. 01106
Bequest Chairman,
