1935
The issue of coeducation was a hot potato at Class Officers Weekend. I started it with a resolution, observing that a significant number of alumni seemed strongly opposed, and that this has the potential of a harmful, financial "back-lash." I asked the class officers to urge the Trustees to delay their decision, until further steps were taken to measure and evaluate alumni views on the specific plans now being considered.
The College responded with a most constructive plan. Each of the Class Officers' Associations named two delegates to attend a meeting in Hanover, June 18-19. This group will be thoroughly "briefed" on all background, studies, surveys, etc., that led to the current proposal for an "associated" school for women, and only then will determine what action seems appropriate in behalf of the class officers group. I will be attending as a delegate from the Secretaries Association.
While my bombshell did disrupt the preplanned agenda, much other worthwhile business was transacted. Johnny Wallace represented us in the reunion chairmen's meeting, and emerged with glowing reports that 1935's 35th seems certain to be the biggest 35th conclave in history. Registrations are running well ahead of 1936 and 1937, who will be reuning with us. Johnny stresses that there will be room for everyone, so don't hestiate if your plans shape up at the last minute. Wire the College, then come! Also, if you know of a class widow who may be reluctant to come by herself, urge her to join you.
Yank Price reports we have our work cut out for ourselves, if we're going to hit our reunion year Alumni Fund goal. At last report, 1937 is shellacking us. They've already hit 50% of their target. We lag behind at 25%. May I remind you, when was '35 ever humbled by those upstarts from '37? Our "bogey" is $100,000. So raise your sights a little. If you gave $50 last year, how about joining the Century Club now (business is looking up). For Century Clubbers, now's the moment to trade up to the $200 group.
During the weekend, '35 was represented officially by Joan and Yank Price, Helenand John Wallace, Babs and RegBankart, Dero Saunders, and myself. To this, I should add the in-Hanover contingent, Ruth and George Colton, Henrietta and Bob Hagre, and those newcomers to the Hanover scene, Polly and ErnieDraper. On Saturday evening, we all repaired to the Colton home where, among other things, we celebrated the birth of George and Ruth's first grandchild, John Hayward Colton, born to young Dick and his wife at Berkeley, Calif. George and Ruth were sporting handsome leis which Mimi Donnell had draped around George's neck at the Honolulu airport the morning before, as George flew back to Hanover from an official college mission to Hawaii.
The Bankarts looked disgustingly relaxed, as Reg has begun to settle into his retirement routine. They reported that their son-in-law has completed his dental apprenticeship at the Air Force Academy, and they're looking forward to having the grandchildren nearby, perhaps somewhere in Connecticut. Speaking of grandchildren, Yank Price now modestly boasts of eight.
I had the great good fortune recently to attend a very erudite international seminar at Northern Illinois University, and 10, and behold! one of the key speakers was OwenFairweather. Owen's firm had done a most comprehensive job of studying the varying productivity of labor in European countries, in the light of differing labor laws and union policies. The project which is designed to improve productivity, has now been summarized in a series of books published by the University of Michigan. It's a fascinating report on some deep-seated differences in systems. While Owen modestly insists the resulting tomes were a "team effort," I suspect much of the writing was done by Owen himself.
Another equally significant volume has come from the pen of Quentin Anderson. It's entitled "The Imperial Self" and is described as an essay in American literary and cultural history. A review sent to me by the College and, I believe, from the New York Times, states "Although this dense, sententious, undeniably difficult book appears at first glance to be an academic study of Emerson. Hawthorne, Whitman, and Henry James, it may very well prove a turning point in our understanding of American culture." I guess we should expect nothing less from a guy like Quentin who, after all, is professor of English at Columbia.
Don Richardson, who is our foremost expert in space, has taken on new responsibilities at Philco Ford's aerospace center. Besides his previous responsibilities for environmental and space simulation, he is now in charge of all reliability and test functions. One of his areas is screening high reliability electronic parts, making sure they'll work for years and years in space. Don says Ford Philco won three major contracts last fall, and is now "an island in the aerospace sea of despair." Result: he is busier than ever and faces a hectic two-week trip to Europe, before joining us at reunion.
Bunky Knudsen made headlines right and left this month. After several days of rumors, he was named chairman and chief executive officer of White Motor Corp. In the process, White picked up Bunky's Rectrans, Inc., a motor home company he founded after parting company with Ford. Amid all these such publicized negotiations, Bunky also accepted a post as director of the First National Bank in Palm Beach, Fla.
Link Washburn's wife, Tahoe, writes that Link's operation as Director of the Quartennary Research Center of the University of Washington, is proving to be a "very successful broad spectrum Interdisciplinary Center." Their oldest daughter is now living in New Jersey, son Land and his wife are doing a spring term project at Santa Barbara. He will then finish up at Dartmouth in August. Their younger daughter, Sila, sounds like a chip off the old block. She's studying anthropology and archaeology at the U of W.
Rumor has it that Charlie Sewall, after one of the worst winter's in Maine's history, has sold his 15-acre home at Brooksville, near Deer Isle, and is heading for sunny Florida.
Bob Maclaren writes: "Son Jamie graduates from Wake Forest in June, gets his commission as 2nd lieutenant' and marries Margaret Flagler (Winston Salem) all in one week. Before that daughter Laurie gets her BA, too, so busy days are ahead."
One final note. You golfers and tennis buffs may want to look into an alumni weekend over the long Fourth of July holiday. It's an all-inclusive package, with rooms at the Hanover Inn, for $120 per couple. If "you're interested write Golf and Tennis Weekend, 203 Crosby Hall.
Secretary 840 Westcliff Deerfield, Ill. 60015
Class Agent, Sero of New Haven 1290 Ave. of the Americas New York, N. Y. 10019
