1951's 20th
Back to the New Hampshire hills they came. From afar: the Wes Nutten family from Pasadena, Calif.; the Guido Rahrs from Vancouver, Wash.; the Ady Berger family from Miami; the Jim Rogers and the Dick McFarland family from Minneapolis; Jim Robinson from Chattanooga; andJack Weingarten from Houston. From not so far: hordes from Boston, Connecticut, and New York City.
Many of the early arrivals partook of a seminar program which spanned Thursday evening and the day on Friday. A look into the future pitted COMSAT executive Bob Button '36, speaking for science and technology, in a series of lectures against biology professor Bill Ballard '28 who, as a humanist, expressed some pessimism about where science and technology would lead us. A mini-Alumni College, the program also included discussion groups led by other alumni, the movie "2001," and advance reading of Arthur Clarke's "Profiles of the Future."
Still they continued to roll in, some as late as Saturday afternoon. In families: the John Boardman clan of eight led the pack in size, followed by the Bob Tylers and Sam Robertses, seven each, and the AlMoris, Bob Rutsteins, Dave Saxtons, "Buck"Scotts, and Jack Woodses, six each. Alone: Tom Brown, Joe Caldwell, Don Cox, AndyDrury, Dick Hulbert, Bob Robinson, TommyTompson, Steve Wolff, and modly attired Scott Paper adman Doug Gray from Philadelphia and IJSAF Major Bill Renner from Omaha.
Friday was hot and humid. A candid address and candid answers to questions by President Kemeny followed a reception and dinner for all reuning classes. Then came a choice of the special Bicentennial Glee Club concert or dancing in the class tent adjacent to the Sphinx tomb in front of Woodward, Ripley, and Smith. On Saturday morning, a panel discussed Dartmouth Today. It was cloudy and chilly for the Storrs Pond outing which followed. If you haven't seen it, the money the Hanover Improvement Society makes on the Nugget has paid for improving the pond itself, a gigantic swimming pool, and park surroundings.
The chill moved Saturday nights class reception and dinner indoors to Leverone Field House, thus depriving Class Clown Al Karcher of the opportunity to repeat his act of jumping into Occom Pond while in full sartorial splendor. Pete Bogardus MCed; Frank Smallwood took us back 19 years to the contents of that date's "New York Times"; and nominating committee chairman Dwigjit Allison announced the mail ballot adoption of the proposed new Class Constitution and election of Howie Phillips as president, Merle Thorpe as treasurer, Russ Dilks as secretary, and Pete Bixby,Dick Dutton, Dave Hilton, Ed Isbey, PeirceMcKee, Bill Michener, Craig Murphy, ReadPerkins, Dave Saxton, Jack Sutton, HunterWhite, and Jay Wolf as executive committee members.
Then it was back to the tent where CharlieBreed's band played. That appeared to me a bit nepotistic since Charlie was in charge of obtaining music. Other Reunion Committee members working with chairman Paul Staley were Jay Wolf, HankSanders, Bob Kreidler, Craig Murphy, BobHopkins, Neal Crampton, Al Mori, DickDutton, Dave Saxton, "Casey" McKibben,Jack Skewes, and Roo and Fred Brown.
A bright and sunny Sunday morning saw breakfast and a class executive committee meeting, at which retiring Class President Charlie Hood became interim newsletter editor. Then it was goodby to Hugh Aronson and kids, the Dick Barnes' family, the Nels Bellesheims, Harry Berwicks, George Biggses, George Bissells, Jerry Blocks, Jim Bovairds, Al Brouts, Nels Browns, Marc Coles, and the John Clayton, Chet Cotter, and Jim Culberson families.
Goodby to the Tom Flacks, Terry Fogarties, the Chris Fuller, Chick Geilich, Carl Glassberg, Ed Golden, and Bill Goulburn families, to the John Grays, Dave Halls, to the John Hoskins, Nase Hurowitz, Bob Hustek, Blake Ireland, and Harry Johnson families, to the Dave Krivitskys, Bob Langworthies, to the Al LeClair, Ken Little, and Pete Martin families.
Goodby to the "Jock" Mclntyres, to the Dick Miner, Don Morse, and Hank Nachman families, to the Paul Orths, Don Palmers, Hap Persons, Aaron Rausens, Dick Reeds, Don Riders, to the Bruce Robertson and Dave Sargent families, to the Park Sicklers, the Don Smiths, Len Smiths, the Joe Spound family, the Warren Stearnses, Joe Welches, Ed Weisenfelds, Dave Whites, and Dave Wiggins plus two guests.
If you were there and your name does not appear above, either you did not register, or I goofed. I apologize for the latter but not the former. My body count was 315: 104 classmates, 87 wives, 121 children, and three adult guests.
Whether you were there or not, mark down June 1976 on your calendar now for '51's tantalizing 25th.
A jazz combo at the joint 1950-1951picnic produced noise and smiling faces.
CLASS SECRETARY
