1931's 40th

CLASS SECRETARY

With plenty of cooperation from the weatherman and with a reunion committee under the direction of Hank McCarthy that really clicked, '31 had a fortieth reunion which was generally declared to be the best reunion the Class has ever had.

We were quartered in Fayerweather Row, approximately 250 members, wives and children. Proceedings began on Monday afternoon, June 14 with registration and icing down of the beer in the tent. Monday evening we all attended a banquet in Leverone Field House where some 900 reuning members of six-plus classes sat down to roast beef, etc. That evening there was informal activity in the tent after the Glee Club concert.

Tuesday started bright and early with a continental breakfast in the tent, followed by sojourning to Spaulding Auditorium to listen to President John Kemeny talk on college developments and brilliantly answer some penetrating questions from the audience. At eleven o'clock we attended a memorial service in the Catholic Student Center (at a chapel donated by Rose andHank McCarthy) where we paid our respects to our departed members (117 of them) under the guidance of our Rev. JimMcElroy who gave a movingly simple and beautiful memorial address.

Shortly after noon we assembled at the Storrs Pond recreation area, about three miles out of town, for a picnic. A delicious chicken barbeque was served, followed by a thing under the direction of DougMorris called a Decadent Decathlon, and featuring such athletic activities as attempting to extinguish a lighted candle with a water pistol. Have you tried that lately?

In the evening was a cocktail hour in the Top of the Hop followed by the Class dinner and a delightful address by PeanutsWinslow. After dinner we gathered in the tent for a Nostalgia Night under the aegis of Hog Burrill and including a continuous showing of slides of previous reunions, plus a display of old class newsletters, photos, artifacts, etc., and all the great old corny music both recorded and live, with Rog and John Boermeester alternating at the piano. This was so good and so loud that it attracted several members from other classes who were having a much duller time.

Wednesday morning was the business meeting, at which the following were elected as officers for the next five years: President, John Cogswell; vice president, Bill Steck; secretary, Rog Burrill; class agent, Bill Minehan with Jack Weatherly as backup man; treasurer, Shep Wolff; reunion chairman, Ernie Moore, with JimFrame as backup man; bequest chairman George Nickum, with John Benson handling the Eastern territory; newsletter editor, Doug Morris; regional chairman, DaveBorkum.

Following the meeting was the dedication of the Red Rolfe Memorial Baseball Field and the unveiling of the placque presented to the College by the Class. RedGristede made a moving dedication. The tablet was unveiled by Isabel Rolfe.

The final affair was a luncheon at the DOC house on Occum Pond, followed by goodbyes and a melting away of everyone, each carrying away a feeling of having had an unforgettably wonderful time.

The people who worked so hard to make the reunion such a great success were JohnBenson, class president; Hank McCarthy, reunion chairman; Shep Wolff, reunion treasurer; Orrie Hobbs, John Boermeester, Lucy Cogswell, Jim Frame, CliffMcDonald, Cubby Miller, Ernie Moore,Parker Soule, Harriett Wolff, and RegBurrill.

As a Commencement Luncheon highlight, the 50-year Class of 1921 presentedPaul Sample portrait of Vice President Emeritus Orton H. Hicks '21 (right) to theCollege. Also shown, left to right, are President Kemeny, Ellis O. Briggs '21, whomade the presentation, and Mrs. Hicks.