1917

The January 23 issue of that paper stated: "Dr. Lee Forrest Hill, Des Moines pediatrician of international repute, is winner of the Des Moines Tribune Community Service Award. Dr. Hill (who was 75 on Feb. 8) was chosen by a jury of former winners and notified of the honor by telephone at La Jolla, Calif., where he was spending the winter and recuperating from a cardiac attack last August." The nominating letter said: "No one has made a greater contribution to the quality of medical care of well and sick children in Des Moines and lowa than Dr. Hill.. .. He is revered, respected, and admired by countless parents and children - covering a span of three generations. His colleagues hold him in highest esteem and have accorded him the highest honors both at the local and national level. His professional skills are illuminated by a kind, gentle, understanding spirit."

Although most of our class have not been aware of what Lee was doing, all these years, we who remember him in college days are not surprised that he is so highly regarded. He has been chief of staff at Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital and then, as director of pediatric education, he trained 67 young men and women in this special field. He has also done educational and clinical work in several other hospitals, is a member of the lowa and Polk County Medical Societies and after retirement from active practice continued as a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of lowa's College of Medicine. He has edited the Journal of the lowa State Medical Society and has contributed widely to professional publications.

On March 10, the Wamsutta Club, in New Bedford, Mass., was the scene of a gala surprise party when some eighty friends from that area paid homage to Dr. Raymond H. Baxter, of near-by Marion, on his seventy-fifth birthday. Mr. James W. Wickenden, headmaster of Tabor Academy, in Marion, was toastmaster and many members of the faculty and trustees were among the guests together with townspeople and other friends. Gene Towler and Lucile presented the greetings of the Class to Slatz and Helen. The Holmes Dyers of New Bedford, who arranged the party, said that at least eighty more friends would have attended but for Southern cruises and vacations.

Gene was called on to give a few anecdotes, several of which had been furnished by Barney Thielscher, which told of Dartmouth's scrappiest 145-pound center who charged the 275-pound Syracuse guard Babe White, touted in advance for All-American rating, and held the Syracuse team to a 0-0 tie, defeating their chances for the Rose Bowl. Because Dartmouth was overwhelmingly out-weighed, this was really a scoreless victory.

Most of us will remember how many times Slatz entertained us on the xylophone with the Musical Clubs. He served on the Junior Prom Committee and belonged to Phi Gamma Delta and the Sphinx. He is one of our most loyal alumni, served for five years as class president, and has never permitted his numerous other responsibilities to keep him from reunions.

He served with distinction as a medical officer in the Army in World War I and in the Navy in World War II and for most of the time since has been Medical Examiner in the New Bedford Plymouth County area. At Tabor Academy the Baxter Infirmary pays tribute to his long service as school physician and guardian of community health. He is also on the staffs of the New Bedford Hospital and Tobey Hospital in Wareham. He received his medical degree, after preparing at Dartmouth Medical School, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.

Slatz was taken completely by surprise by the party in his honor and responded modestly to the plaudits of the speakers. He looked over the numerous guests in whose lives at one time or another he had played a vital part and said: "I could write a book." He concluded by saying: "This growing old is easy. You don't have to work for it." But he did. And he is still working. As one guest remarked: "This is proof that life begins at 75."

Gene Towler '17 (r) joined in the tributesto classmate Raymond Baxter at a surprise party on his 75th birthday.

Acting Secretary Quanset Village, Box 235 South Orleans, Mass. 02662

Class Agent, Cricket Lane, Darien, Conn. 06820