1965's 5th
When the committee began planning our reunion back in September, we theorized that the only real necessities for success were people, the Hanover Plain, and beer. Little did we realize then how correct our thinking was.
Nearly 100 '65s (who with their wives and dates brought our total reunion population to about 170) ventured back to the Big Green during the weekend of June 20-22 to enjoy the basics, plus a few "unnecessary" extras and excellent New Hampshire weather.
Some classmates couldn't wait for the official ribbon-cutting on Friday and rolled into town on Thursday night. Andy andAddie Gundlach, John and June Richardson,Rob and Peggy Upton, and Bob Blake were among the notables who arrived a day early in order to get a good night's sleep before the revelry started. However, the news that '44's tent was open and thriving quickly deterred us from long and restful sleep.
Friday's arrivals (among whom were the Art Yasudas and Punch Lochridges from California, the Bob Buschs from Denver, the Ed Keibles from Texas and the Heinz Kluetmeiers from Milwaukee) were greeted by overcast skies, a wide-open tap, and our mini-fifth reunion jerseys — acclaimed by all as the best reunion costume of the weekend. Friday's activities were informal until evening when most of our crowd had passed through the registration line. At that time we were sported by the College to a reception and dinner in Leverone Fieldhouse along with members of the other reuning classes. Dinner was followed by our Sports Highlight Show in Dartmouth Hall. JackDe-Gange, Director of Sports Information, and coaches Ab Oakes '56 (hockey), Whitey Burnham (soccer and lacrosse), and Jake Crouthamel '60 (football) spoke of their teams' past seasons and future prospects before the 1968 football highlight movie was shown.
The rest of Friday night was leisurely. Some classmates enjoyed the Glee Club concert in Spaulding, while others enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the tent where beer was always available and friends were everpresent. '65s continued to arrive into the late night hours and the traffic and visiting between the '63, '64, and '65 tents flowed freely.
Saturday was really "'65's day." The skies cleared, the class attendance soared, and the whole day from the continental breakfast (with beer) at 9 until the tap closed at 5:15 the next morning was a very special occasion. The class scattered in different directions for the morning — some played tennis, some shopped, while others visited their old campus haunts, or attended a panel discussion in Spaulding entitled "The Conflict in Generation." Dean Seymour moderated the panel of alumni, students, and a professor in a lively and articulate discussion of current campus problems nationally and at Dartmouth.
We hadn't foreseen the class meeting being much of an attraction, but the show which outgoing President John Richardson threw when we convened for some brief class business late Saturday morning made that half-hour one of the highlights of the weekend. We did still the laughter long enough to announce a new slate of officers and the executive committee who will serve until we next reune in 1975. They are: President - Pete Frederick, treasurer - RogerRines, secretary - Rick Mahoney, class agent - John Richardson, newsletter editor - Hank Amon, reunion chairman - Rich Beams, executive committee - Ted Bracken, Larry Duffy, Jack Heidbrink, Jack Herney, Jock Hosmer, Jay Johnston, Doug Miller, Bob Murphy, Steve Waterhouse.
In the afternoon the site of our fun shifted to Storrs Pond, where we joined the classes of '63 and '64 for lunch, sun, beer, volleyball, and swimming. Our volleyball squad, spearheaded by Bob Blumenshine and"Finesse" Buckley, took '63 into overtime before succumbing.
In the evening we journeyed to the DOC House on Occum Pond for cocktails and dinner outside. The roast beef meal that Jock Hosmer arranged was a DDA masterpiece, not at all reminiscent of the Thayer fare we used to enjoy. We had as our guests at dinner Dean and Mrs. Dickerson, Prof, and Mrs. Louis Morton, Monsignor Bill Nolan of the Aquinas House, and Prof. Vincent Starzinger. After dinner these faculty fielded the class' questions in a lively half-hour session which dwelt primarily on the ROTC issue and the tenor of student feeling on the campus.
The night brought a repeat of the Glee Club's performance for those who had missed it Friday, and endless hours of music, drinking, and gaiety at the tent. The band played until 2 a.m., but the crowd lingered and the last didn't leave until Richardson, Ed Keible, Bob Busch, and Boband French McConnaughey headed fOr Whitetown at 5 to honor their reservations at "The Dot." They met the Hank Anions and the Frank Binders returning from that same Vermont nightspot.
Sunday morning came early; too soon for most of us. At 10 a.m. Rev. Bill Teska '64 conducted a memorial service in Rollins Chapel for the deceased members of the '63, '64 and '65 classes. This was followed by a joint brunch for the three classes in Alumni Hall at the Hop.
The farewells were hard, for the weekend had passed too quickly, and we were all very reluctant to let go of the revitalized closeness to our friends and The College. It's difficult to sum up our three days back in Hanover. As the Glee Club told us, "Dartmouth is an affair of the heart," and this was certainly true of the small part of the Dartmouth experience we recaptured at our mini-fifth.
'65 REUNION SHIRTS
We have a couple dozen reunion shirts available for sale. They are short-sleeved rugby style t-shirts with wide green stripes and mock turtle neck. The words '65's MINI-FIFTH are printed over the left breast. Send check for $4.00 to Rich Mahoney, Cilley Hall, Exeter, N. H. 03833.
CLASS SECRETARY
