1917's 50th
The months of. planning and anticipation culminated on June 9 when the first arrivals for '17's Fabulous Fiftieth were greeted by Treasurer Vic Smith and members of the reunion committee. Weather was warm and became warmer but we were spared rain and the program was so full and varied you could almost ignore the thermometer.
The first event was Friday at 3 when the College hosted an informal reception in the Treasury Room at Baker Library in honor of Ralph and Ethel Sanborn. For a detailed description of the collection given Dartmouth by the Sanborns refer to your May ALUMNI MAGAZINE, but Librarian-in-Chief, Richard W. Morin '24, left no doubt by his gracious speech that the items formed a most valuable addition to Baker Library collections.
Our tent - striped green and white - was just across the road from Middle Mass. Cocktails at 5 preceded an informal dinner at Thayer where we were entertained by the Injunaires. Then a stroll to the President's reception followed by the Glee Club concert. Back to the tent for hours of visiting and singing with Arch Earle at the piano.
Saturday morning everyone gathered in the Chapel to pay tribute to those classmates who, over the years, had left us, not to return. Sumner Emerson was in charge of this most moving service, fittingly conducted by Dr. Fred Berthold Jr. '45, Department of Religion. Programs giving the order of service and listing deceased classmates will be sent to every member of the class not present at the Reunion and to all widows.
After the class picture we trekked to Leverone Field House where we were guests of the College for lunch - as were the seniors and their families. 1917 was very proud as Vic Smith was presented with the Alumni Award silver bowl signifying his outstanding contribution of service and loyalty to Dartmouth. Norm McCulloch, reunion chairman, received temporary possession of the attendance cup and Walt Walters spoke for the 50 Year Class before President Dickey's address. A most outstanding gift by a '17'er and Dartmouth College to every member of the 1967 graduating class was a copy of "The College on the Hill." This gift was like a hand stretched out in fellowship by a man fifty years out of college to those about to become alumni.
At the class meeting new officers were elected and members of the executive committee. Sherm Smith in his next Sentry will give all that information as well as a complete list of those who attended Reunion.
The preparations for this reunion were like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When it was all put together everyone who came had a picture of the Class of '17 from 1913 — as entering freshmen — to the fall reunion in 1966. This part was due to the untiring efforts of Bill and Helen Birtwell who had collected pictures, movies, slides, and mem books. These last, by the way, the College is most anxious to have for their archives. There was a wonderful show of slides and old reunion movies after the class meeting, although a slip-up in the program prevented some from arriving in time.
The class dinner in Alumni Hall was gay, more formal than Friday's and M.C.ed by Gil Swett who presented our speaker, Prof. Harold L. Bond '42, Dean of Faculty, Alumni College. This new addition to alumni programing has become so popular that experimental sessions will be held in Seattle early in September. Norm and MaryMcCulloch were presented with a Dartmouth chair in grateful appreciation for their share in the Fabulous Fiftieth, and your Secretary and his wife were the surprised recipients of a lovely silver tray heartwarmingly inscribed.
Sunday was perfect - the fluttering flags, the gorgeous procession of robed administration and faculty members, the applause for '02, '07, and '12 that swelled as the 80- odd .members of '17 preceded the academic procession. All too soon the long lines of black robed men who had marched in as seniors marched back as alumni and the Fabulous Fiftieth drew to a close with a picnic at the Outing Club.
We were saddened by the absence of classmates who were surely with us in spirit but whose doctors had said "No" to the trip to Hanover as, for example, Mose and PaulineHutchins and Jack Saladine.
It is with deep regret that we must add to our list of departed classmates two names - Paul R. Soule and Warner B. Sturtevant. The latter had hoped to get to reunion, but died June 10 after a long illness.
His classmates join in congratulations to Alden Vaughan who received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from Centre College, in Kentucky at the time of their Commencement - two days before our Fiftieth. Alden received this honor upon his retirement after a career as professor of Greek, Latin and the classics.
So, farewell for the Fabulous Fiftieth and now let us look forward to the Fall Reunion — October 6 and 7, at the Woodstock Inn, Woodstock, Vt. Reservations should be made with David Beach, manager, and tickets for the football game will be your responsibility as usual. This was the year of the 50-yard-line seats, men — wonder where they will put us next fall?
The reunion of the fifty-year Class of 1917 was distinguished by jaunty straw hats and youthful spirit.
CLASS SECRETARY
