1949

In these years of constant innovation, it occurred to me that the Class of 1949 should have its own "Give A Rouse" column to honor its unsung heroes of the mundane world of home improvements, grass mowing, baby-sitting, and car washing. Who knows what nobility lurks in the heart of man? And so, let's "Give A Rouse" for Charles (Sam) Kilner who must now cut to fireplace length the 30 trees Barbara arranged to have felled; for Ken McClain who, from Ft. Worth, Texas, warns his classmates that oil reserves are depleted and each must hastily stockpile his winter requirements; for Ort Hicks who doesn't believe in reunion yearbooks; for HerbGramstorff who is up to his tennis racquets in overripe zucchini; and for Gunther Perdue who eats onions.

September past our erstwhile "Commish" of Housing Charles (Jay) Urstadt accompanied by Ellie joined Jay Evans and the white water canoeing team in Munich to witness the Olympic games. The biggest surprise was that Jay had no opportunity to upstage the games on television with a political speech. Perhaps Willie Brandt got to him first! Nightly I expected to see Jay jump into the tank to try out his winning breast stroke against the foreign and even more formidable domestic competition. Alas, the paunch has sidelined our '49 gold medal entrant.

Some brief notes of acclaim: In case you may have missed it '49er Allen Brooks, currently Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Toronto, has published an excellent book on early 1900's architecture in our Midwest entitled "The Prairie School: Frank Lloyd Wright and His Midwest Contemporaries"; Dick Kearsley was awarded his Ph.D. at Harvard University in June, 1972; and Gunther Perdue has been awarded the Canastota Bee Journal's top award for onion growing under adverse weather conditions. Rice is nice but onions bring bunions!

A summer news clipping brings word of another brave classmate who has ventured into the fraught-filled world of politics. Berf Oakley of 4707 N. 75th Way, Scottsdale, Ariz., and a mind-improver of his county's junior college system, filed his intention of seeking the Republican nomination for Senator of Arizona Legislative District Number Twentyeight. To date no word has been received of the outcome of his first political entry. Berf has been active as a party worker in the past and characterizes himself as "... a radical classical liberal with a small 'L'." Hopefully, he will bend arm and wrist to explain that phrase to all of us else we all pass on with unresolved conundrums chasing our nightmares! Senator (hopefully) Berf has a strong background in business and economics via Proctor and Gamble, Francis I. DuPont and the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance System parlayed with a Master's Degree from Tuck School and a Master's in education from Arizona State University. This should assist him someday in his pledge to develop state initiative in formulating national economic policy. Good luck, Berf!

Doug Thomson has a new position with Uniroyal Consumer Products of New York City. Promoted to vice president, manufacturing, he is now responsible for the manufacturing operations of footwear and floor covering products. Doug is a Tuck graduate and attended Harvard Business School's program for management development. The Thomsons live in Waterbury, Conn., where Doug has been president of the Dartmouth Club and director of the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, and United Fund.

Although most of you have great difficulty in composing great thoughts for transmittal to yours truly, occasionally one has an unexpected bonanza. This time it comes from Jim Bingham of Munsonville, N. H., (not even a '49er). Have you heard the impressive news of Rogre Sheldon who, as of May 1, 1972 was appointed as Executive Assistant to the President of the New York Hospital Medical Center, also known as Cornell Med Center. His responsibilities include the integration of development of the Center, public and community relations and coordination of the Med Center's Air Rights Project. Roge has had an impressive background starting with a Master of Arts from Oxford and more recently as consultant to Rockefeller University and the Center For Urban Education. You may recall that Roge's main interest over the past ten years has been in the higher education field, having earlier sharpened his teeth as an economist for General Motors Overseas, as a numbers man for Standard Brands International, and as a management consultant for Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Although I'm not a golf enthusiast this story may warm the cockles of the heart of Mike Marchese. Silent classmate DickDesmond of Smog City, Calif., received an award, not as the best golfer, but as the most spendthrift putting expert, having traveled all the way to North Quincy, Mass., to ply his skill against Jimmy Fitzgerald in the John E. Gallagher Memorial Tournament at the Wallaston Golf Club. This was an auspicious reunion for Dick as he had played hockey against Jimmy Fitzgerald (Boston College) in the late '40s. It was Jimmy who pumped the winning goal past Dick in 1949 to give Boston College the NCAA Championship.

Two Colorado Springs, Colo., philanthropists have made big news lately, but the largesse of each was entirely different. Mark Lansburgh, our one and only consultant in rare books and manuscripts, has presented the Dartmouth College Library with a most unique gift, a vellum leaf from a glossarum, written in northern France prior to 850 A.D. Presumably this manuscript fragment is the earliest dictionary leaf presently in the United States and ranks the Dartmouth Library in this category with the largest national libraries in Europe. Mark, who started his avocation of hand printing in Carpenter Hall and Richardson, has examples of his work in permanent collections at the British Museum, the Vatican Library, The Bibliotheque National, Cambridge University, Oxford University and, of course, Dartmouth College.

And then there's Jim Krentler the guiding hand behind the creation of the conglomerate, Great Western Corporation, who has had his troubles during the past year as Chairman of the Board. Its stock, considered a glamour stock for a few years, plummeted a year ago on reports of much lower earnings. A recent Wall Street Journal article estimated our classmate Jim had lost eight million on paper. But did this discourage our dauntless Jim? Not one iota, apparently, as he was seen on the eve of his shareholders meeting dining with great gusto at The Palm Restaurant in New York City with Dana "Deke" Jackson and SamKilner. Jim's prognosis was borne out on September 28, 1972 when the New York Times reported Jim's reelection as Chairman of the Board. Knowing Jim, the worst is past and future success is already in the prologue.

Stay tuned to this station for next month's sensational news of the Homecoming Weekend—1949 fall get-together and the 1972 recipient of the Gold Pick Ax Award. Recent Gallup Polls indicate this year's fall reunion will receive the award for best attendance!

Secretary, P.O. Box 731 Rye, N. Y. 10580

Treasurer, Box 234, R.D. 5, Laconia, N. H. 03246