1949
I just swore off either painting or washing windows while listening to Dartmouth football games on my old portable. Fall weekend chores have heretofore seemed much more palatable served up on a platter along with afternoon football until yesterday's "Ivy League Game of the Week" from Harvard Stadium. I confess I was only on the seventh ladder rung and directly over a nice soft evergreen, but when Harvard engineered its third touchdown in the brief span of six minutes of the last quarter to go ahead of our Green 21-20, my equilibrium went to hell and the bush came up' at me awfully fast. I did discover, however, that our game-saving field goal was the finest balm for my wrenched ankle.
It so happens that the football game was strictly secondary and a bit of a romp as we took Penn handidly over our annual class fall weekend, so I won't even describe how our linemen kept the Ivy top passer Bill Creeden on his back most of the afternoon. Suffice to say that a drizzle during the second half was all that marred a perfect game and for that matter a perfect weekend. We had a good group back once again including the McGeans, Seymours, Aldens, Bandfields, Beckers, Rasenbergers, Thomases, Hughes, Gramstorffs, Muenzbergs, Wagners, Woodberrys, McCurdys, Tracys, Merrills, Churches, Frank O'Halloran, Bob Zeiser, and Al Quirk
With the Hanover Inn renovations almost completed and more motels opening up each year, accommodations expert Gordon Thomas expects the room situation to ease in the future.
The weekend opened on a high note with a class reception given by Thad and Polly Seymour at their home. Friday morning your class executive committee holds its annual meeting at the Tom Dent Memorial Cabin just in from the Ledyard bridge. Brief coverage of this meeting must include the following points: We as a class have 529 people receiving the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and only 375 paying dues to support the cost. We still have too many non-contributors. It was voted not to raise class dues, however, as this might lead to less paying. A program is being developed to improve our support level. Surplus in the class treasury as of August 31 amounted to $1233.56 in spite of a loss for the past year of $6.11. A good portion of the amount is earmarked for our memorial books program. Next year's weekend will be that of the Brown game on October 19 with Penn again the following year.
Following a class mixed luncheon catered by the Hanover Inn at the same cabin, we all dashed off to see or try to see Dartmouth "take Penn in Hand" as the many printed placards indicated. To be kind about it, most of us think that the DCAC placement personnel must have goofed. If we're 18 years out and sit down low on the three-yard line, what make of sky hooks do they furnish for the seventen classes our juniors? To be candid about it, the only poorer seats at Memorial Field were unreserved, and they were in the end zone.
The highlight of another great weekend was, of course, the awarding of the class. Gold Pick Axe Trophy on Saturday evening following dinner in the Drake Room of the Hopkins Center. The committee consisting of Chairman Carll Tracy, Frank Blanc, and John Simpson surprised us all by selecting two winners this year. Tracy finished a glowing citation to Ed Graham and then returned to" the floor to toast our second winner Mike McGean who had just finished telling us at the morning business session how worthy a contribution this award is towards the development of class solidarity, never dreaming that he was to be a recipient. Each citation will be covered at greater length in the class newsletter, but Ed Graham's rise was traced from advertising copy work to the award winning Piels Beer television commercials and subsequently to his very own "Linus the Lion Hearted" cartoon series of which I have previously written. One statement summarizes the solid basis for this selection in absentia. "You have pursued your own ideal — to make people laugh - with singular devotion, and you have received world-wide acclaim in due recognition of your achievements." The citation to Mike McGean outlined his remarkable undergraduate career dotted with many extracurricular and sports achievements through to his return to Dartmouth in 1953 as Assistant to the Secretary and finally, in 1965, to his present position as Secretary of Dartmouth College. His seemingly endless responsibilities never seem to unglue Mike. Tracy's well written citation reads in part, "You have successfully applied to your college duties the talent, patience, and devotion to hard work which made you a champion in sports ... and many thousands of alumni have benefitted thereby. Tonight, we want to add to the past accolades of alumni, educators, and athletes around the world the highest honor your fellow '49ers can give - The Gold Pick Axe Award - for we say with pride, Mike McGean was a classmate of ours at Dartmouth."
The finale was yet to come. Honorary classmate Earl Hamilton, varsity backfield and end coach and graduate of the University of Wichita 1949, gave us a stimulating appraisal of the football team with its hopes (Ryzewicz at quarterback) and despairs (horrendous kicking).
Paul Woodberry's business card reads vice president operations (Europe and Africa) for the overseas chemical division of W. R. Grace and Company. Paul's division specializes in adhesives, packaging films, and construction chemicals. Wife Sandy would like a little bauble from De Beers on his next African junket.
Frank O'Halloran surprised us with a visit from his New York bailiwick as director of sales for 1492 Productions, Inc., creators of commercial films of all types. He promised to find his way back next year. Paul Erwin wasn't as lucky. Last year his oldest went into the hospital five days before the fall weekend. This year the youngest managed to break his leg. Next year he claims he's going to make his reservations under an assumed name for a change of luck.
Carll Tracy and wife Barbara came to town in a Dodge Camper car house along with the owners of the thing, the Bob Conarros '54 also of Warren, Pa. This is surely the way to vacation travel with as many as eight accommodated for sleeping and all the conveniences including a stall shower. Carll told us that he travels a great deal as financial vice president of the National Forge Company. Daughter Lynda goes to Mary Baldwin and son Scott is at New Hampton Academy in New Hampshire.
Bob Muenzberg, a general insurance agent, had a bright quip to make about his chosen field. Said he, "No one has endurance like the man who sells insurance." That says a lot. doesn't it?
Gordon Thomas, counsel in charge of skulduggery for Continental Baking Company, just returned from Jamaica where he and Doris had spent a nice week. Continental is apparently shopping for business acquisitions in and around a few of the choicer Caribbean vacation isles, and brother Thomas naturally finds a lot of investigating to do.
During the ball game, I spied Wade andJessie Elliott. They live in Boxford, Mass. Wade is in the three man Nelson Personnel Company of Auburndale. The firm specializes in the plastics, rubber, and chemical industries around New England. He finds time to sing in the local choir while his wife runs the local P.T.A.
Sitting right behind me were Jack andJoan McCurdy with their handsome twin sons Gordon and Charles. They have just moved to Schenectady, N. Y., where Jack has been named general manager of Wallaces Department Store. His responsibilities include merchandising, sales promotion, and sales and service functions.
With a great group and a great setting there could be no doubt that Forty-nine thoroughly enjoyed another great fall weekend. Happy holidays to one and all.
Class leaders at the launching last May of 1950's three-year, $5,000 Tree PlantingProgram at the College. With newly planted trees on the lawn of Sanborn EnglishHouse are (l to r) Steve Flemer, College Comptroller Jim Stevens, Class PresidentJohn Dwyer, Joe Medlicott, and Eric Miller.
Secretary, 15 Twin Oak Rd. Short Hills, N. J. 07078
Treasurer, 530 East 86th St., New York, N. Y. 10028
