1949's 20th
It is somewhat strange to have as my first assignment the task of writing about a reunion I just recently chairmaned; somewhat difficult as well, since laudatory reports may be considered by some as the seeds of mine own conceit. Albeit the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the fact that I write this report from my (death) bed just two days after the close of festivities should mean something.
I just received a large invoice from the Dave Orr '57 together with a note, "I understand that when all other tents were closed up on Sunday afternoon, 1949 was still going strong." We can all attribute the great finale to Herb Gramstorff who bugged me for a Sunday morning milk punch party for seven months. I did not capitulate until Saturday afternoon when I discovered approximately nine gallons of milk left over from the picnic.
Many arrived Thursday night for a reunion seminar or just plain relaxing. It was an interesting evening a three-hour downpour with everyone stranded where they happened to be at 9 p.m. Most were at dinner or the reunion seminar. Yours truly was in the tent with our student helpers stuffing envelopes; when what to my wondering eyes should appear but Bob Rooke with umbrella. We continued to stuff envelopes but with bare feet and rolled-up trousers as the tent became a canvased quagmire. After the storm, the calm and camaraderie around the beer keg. The storm presaged a beautiful weekend.
Although early returns had indicated 1949 attendance would exceed earlier reunions many late cancellations reduced our numbers to 85 classmates with assorted wives, guests, potential fiancees and children. This was an exceedingly small turnout but the Classes of 1950 and 1951 suffered the same problems probably due to the uncertain times we all are experiencing. Laudits should go to Bob Liechti who managed the trip from southern California with his family. I certainly hope he will be the West Coast attendance chairman for our 25th.
Biggest financial contributor to the reunion has to have been Ken McClain who came from Fort Worth, Tex., with four guests. They all arrived early and stayed to the bitter end so I must presume that our new head agent, Clarke Church has some new potential contributors to the Alumni Fund. Ken has invited all of us to visit him in the state of high taxes and enjoy some of the fruits of the petroleum geology.
Friday of reunion dawned sunny, mild and beautiful. Many, such as my wife Doris and Jane Church, the staunch Penn alumna, crawled out early to the seminar; others, along with Tom and Ann Swartz, headed for the links. A tent meeting was convened with John and Ellie Simpson in obvious attendance. A keg of beer greeted exhausted classmates as they arrived to register with the beautiful reunion publicity chairlady, Barbara Kilner, backstage noble wife of Sam of Black Pond, Vt., and occasionally IBM headquarters.
At zero hour Friday afternoon Al andJoyce Wagner finally arrived with booze, cheese, etc., for our cocktail party. Friday evening I noted from the registration desk that Cart and Penny Hoyt from the Chicago area were holding court while the Injunaires sang a remarkable repertoire to many fascinated alumni, wives and children. Thereafter everyone repaired to Leverone Fieldhouse for a buffet dinner sponsored by the College. The dinner of excellent roast beef was especially enjoyed by Bill Griffiths and his lovely date Beth who turned out to be one of the swingingest tersichoreans at the tent festivities that night.
Many listened to a fine address by President Kemeny after the dinner and others heard the Glee Club render the Bicentennial concert which some of-you have enjoyed during the past year. All joined the 1949 tent activities later for music appreciation with the Charles Breed '51 orchestra arranged with our music chairman, the one and only Skip Ungar, assisted by his possibly more musical wife Manya.
What Saturday morning shocks were experienced by others is unknown but I was greeted at 9 a.m. at the door by our black- suited class clergyman, Ed McBurney. For the moment I had forgotten that Ed was Memorial Service chairman and feared I was about to enjoy the last rites. Later Ed, assisted by organist Skip Ungar, performed a very moving service for our departed classmates at St. Thomas church. The service brought home to many of us how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy the good life, albeit beset by many transitory problems.
At a short but concise class meeting on Saturday morning the following officers were unanimously elected: president, Brud Becker; treasurer, Carll Tracy; head class agent, Clarke Church; class giving chairman, Dick Bandfield; newsletter editor, Vail Haak, and secretary, Gordon Thomas. The list of members of the executive committee will appear in a later report.
A cool overcast afternoon did not dampen picnic spirits and some brave souls even negotiated the waters of Storrs Pond. This was followed by a campus Softball game sponsored by (you've guessed it) JohnSweetland who joined us from the ice floes of Minnesota.
At the class dinner held at the Hanover Inn Slade Gorton, attorney-general for the state of Washington, was awarded, in absentia, the well deserved Gold Pick-Ax. Bud Hughes was awarded the questionable honor of being reunion chairman for our 25th. Master of ceremonies was our quiet N. Y. state Commissioner of Housing, JayUrstadt, who as usual brought his bag of jokes. Dean Carroll Brewster had everyone rolling in the aisles with his recount of an episode involving two Dartmouth men in an undaunted raid on Green Mountain Junior College (reprints available on request, we hope).
The grand finale for the weekend (other than the milk punch party) was filmed at the Top of the Hop where members of the classes of '49, '5O and '5l attempted to prove their youth to the tunes of Charles Breed's orchestra and its exceptional vocalist. Following that spectacle only a few managed a final finale at the tent. Most prominent of the survivors were Bob and Je Je Pierce who finally were politely escorted to their New London summer home by defensive tackle Bud Lunch '72.
For those of you who missed reunion I have two very important observations to make. The children of all ages had a ball in the free atmosphere of Hanover. There were no drop-outs. The students who worked the '49 tent restored everyone's faith that Dartmouth is still a great institution turning out an exceptional bunch of bright, clean-cut young men. So impressed were '49ers with Bud Lynch '72, Hank Ricklefs '7l and Joel Bergman '7O that all three were invited to be guests at our fall weekend, October 10. Come and meet them yourselves!
CLASS SECRETARY
