1949

Weather—less than perfect, but generally good! Foliage—less than peak, but brilliant! Football—less than spectacular, but we won! 1949 class dinner—less bodies than hoped for, but convivial and most enjoyable! That could be a capsulized version of the Class get-together on the weekend of October 8-10 except that it omits the highlight of the weekend—the presentation of the Gold Pick-Ax Award. For 1971 our Los Angeles committee headed by Dr. Bob Liechti designated as the '49 awardee not a Californian but a granite-headed Yankee from Manchester, N. H. You will recall that last year I wrote about a classmate who had taken on the commercial bank monopoly in New Hampshire single-handed and after several years persevered in his attempt to convert his savings bank to a full commercial bank. Who? Ezekiel Albert (Zeke) Straw who graced our dinner along with lovely frau Peg! Zeke, who has in the past year had some health problems, was fully recovered and in great form. He not only regaled those present with some upper New England dry wit a la Foley but informed us that his bank, in conjunction with Dartmouth College and others, was developing a planned-environmental recreational community in the Sunapee area. Perhaps most of you have already received information re same from the College. For more detail write Zeke or the College.

Although our class turnout was somewhat skimpier than usual, many of the regulars appeared for either all weekend or portions thereof; some new faces were checked for wrinkles; and unfortunately, some who planned to attend had to cancel at late moments due to various problems. Newcomers included Gordon (Spud)Parsons, wife Lorraine and tribe, who is planning imminent exchange of medical practice in Marshfield, Mass., for one under the palms of Orlando, Fla., and BillGriffiths and his new bride, Beth, who are probably the only class honeymooners as of the present. Bill is presently employed with ITT Leavitt Corporation, soon to be ? Leavitt Corporation pursuant to a recent court decree. Another newly-grayed head we lured all the way from the Dartmouth campus was Jay Evans who was accompanied by distaff Fran. Jay provided a scintillating interlude after dinner with his talk on white-water canoeing, illustrated with excellent color slides he clicked in Yugoslavia. It was my first experience with this sport which is just now taking hold in the United States as an Olympic sport. I must say the presentation made me wish I were younger and able to participate. One argument with Jay—the boat looked to me to be a one-man kayak, not an Indian birch bark canoe!

Returnees included: Ritchie and BetsyHunt (with tribe); Dick and ChestaBandfield; ex-prexy Bob Alden and boss Persis; present prexy Brud Becker with mistress Jane; Bob and Jinny Hill (dog included); Herb and Ann Gramstorff; secretary-protected Elliot Baritz, accompanied by much-more-beautiful wife Margie, large tribe and canines; Flash Erwin with his nightingale Cathy; handsome BertRodman and more handsome Sue; ex-scribe Bill Ballard, Nomi and small tribe; fat Albert (Bud) Hughes and slim and trim Lois; Al and Joyce Wagner and tribe (lunch only). Luke and Marty Soule with large tribe (family planning required here); computer-programmed. Sam Kilner with never-to-be-programmed Barbara; newsletter editor and editoress Vail and Barbara Haak (tribe also); ex-southerners Paul and Sandy Woodberry (additional family planning would help here also); et cetera.

Earlier in the column I wrote that the turnout was skimpier than usual. Retraction, please! Returnees and Hanoverees were most prolific. Continuing, we saw in evidence temporary bachelor Ort Hicks (Jan, please hurry home!); long-commuting Al and Pat Quirk; occasional Spikeand Cary Smith; class mainstays Mikeand Lois McGean; and yours truly and coon hound-trainer, Doris.

Finally, for special effect, we were all most pleased to have Dick Mallary join us in view of his busy schedule as administrative right-hand to the Governor of Vermont. An interview with this politician nee farmer from Bradford, Vt. gives me the first extra of the season! Dick advises he plans to run for the vacant Vermont seat (and only one I believe) in the House of Representatives in Washington. Give support, you fresh air breathers in Vermont!

Who missed? Too many! CommissionerJay Trstadt and Ellie (Easthampton Long Island took priority); Europe-bound Carll and Bobbie Tracy; conventionlocked Clarke and Jane Church (she was afraid of a Green victory over Penn); Dudand Betsy Bursch; Tom and Ann Swartz (will never happen again); Bermudapreferers Skip and Manya Ungar; new-home owners Arizona and Natalie Iloltzman; hopefuls Dana (Deke) and JeanneJackson (from San Francisco or is it Lake Tahoe?); dapper Charles Eaton; dropouts Bob and Donna Muenzberg; and, still missing, Jim Huntington and Skip Mullen.

But, we had a firm reservation for two nights, luncheon and dinner from our '49 fugitive, Gunther Perdue! He, again, was a no-show! Rewards for all information leading to his reconciliation!

Extolling the virtues of our fall get-together seems somewhat repetitious. However, many of you may have forgotten the spendors of Vermont and New Hampshire in October. Imagine a picnic luncheon on the green grass next to a lake amid brilliant fall colors with nary a sound but falling leaves and the honk of geese going south. Add some Vermont cheddar cheese, bread, a snappy Northern Spy apple, and a jug of wine and where are YOU? Back home in the hills and vales of our eastern North Country! See you next year—plan now!

John Caldwell '50, former Olympic skierand U. S. coach, demonstrating classiccross-country style. The photo is one ofthe illustrations in his new book, "TheNew Cross-Country Ski Book," justpublished by The Stephen Greene Press,Brattleboro, Vt. John's earlier book onthe same subject has been the bible forthose engaged in the great upsurge of skitouring.

Secretary, R.D. 2, Box 234 New Canaan, Conn. 06840

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