1923
Swede Swenson's widow Virginia writes that she spent Christmas with her son John '50 and says that if Dartmouth wants a hockey player in three years they better watch Bill Swenson, now a freshman at New Trier School. Recently while she was in Evanston, Ginnie ran into Ward Hilton who she went to high school with and who sends the Class his regards.
For several years now, ever since I discovered that his daughter Linda is a neighbor of ours, I have been urging Howie Bartlett to bring us up to date on his and Helen's whereabouts and occupations. Linda is married to Elliott Hersey '55, son of Brad Hersey, long time treasurer of the Class of 1924. Together they operate one of the few remaining working farms in this part of New Hampshire. Howie writes:
"After 38 years at M.I.T., two of which were spent as acting head and 23 as head of the Department of English and History, later changed to the Department of Humanities, I officially retired in June 1967. For three years I continued to teach one semester of the year; then came the decision that it was time to stop although I could have continued for another two semesters. College campuses, as you know, were in such a state of unrest that the pleasure and excitement of teaching had ended.
"We have, however, many pleasant memories of the years at M.I.T. Helen and I were the guinea-pigs for the system of Housemasters that now prevails in the dormitories: this meant that for nearly five years we lived in the midst of more than 500 boys who kept things humming 24 hours a day. It was a great experience and helped us both think young at least part of the time."
In 1971 Howie and Helen sold their Winchester home and are now living the year round in their winterized summer place at South Harpswell, Me.
Ed Stocker has no "interesting adventures" to report but says that last year between April and November he played 84 complete rounds of 18 hole golf sans power cart or caddy. Ed runs into ClarenceRobinson occasionally who is well and still active as a manufacturer's agent. He also sees Chuck Calder now and then. Chuck has offices in Ed's building and has been associated in the insurance business with Douglas Gorton '24 for many years.
At the 89th anniversary observance of the United States Civil Service Commission in Washington on January 17, Charles A (Cap) Palmer '23, executive producer of Parthenon Picture, Hollywood, and DaS films, Los Angeles was honored with the Commission's Special Citation for Distin guished Private Citizen. The citation read:
"This public-spirited citizen's vision and dedication to the concept of equality of opportunity for all persons are reflected in a motion picture entitled "The Supervisor and Equal Employment Opportunity." Because of his deep personal commitment, he applied his great talent and resources, at considerable financial risk to himself, to the production for the Commission of the film to convey the spirit and practicality of equal employment opportunity to Federal managers and supervisors. This film is now widely used in the Federal Government and has been hailed as a significant contribution to the success of the Government's equal employment opportunity program."
Word comes to us of the election of Heinie Bournes' son-in-law James J. Tracy as Treasurer of Republic Steel Corporation. He and Betsy have four children. Heinies' son Sandy is assistant vice president of the Central National Bank of Cleveland. He also has four children.
A card from Peg Wilcox saying that all is well, and in the same mail from Len Morrissey '22 a program of the Eastern Regional Championship Track Events held in Hanover in January. Len tells me there were 400 entries in this meet and 1500 in the audience. Prominently displayed in the meet program is the announcement that "The Lou Wilcox Long Jump Award" is being presented in honor of the late Lou Wilcox, a loyal Dartmouth Track Official, by his friends and former track official associates." Officiating at track events was one of the many ways Lou found of making himself a part of both the College and the town community. Perusing this program further is an interesting experience. For example what we called the "broad jump" is now the "long jump"— more logical I suppose, but I would suggest it's really a matter of one's viewing angle. I also note that the program includes the pictures of four performers. Two of these are girls (women?). Of a total 45 events nine are for women only. For many of you this is not news I'm sure. To me it's a revelation!
Clarence and Priscilla Goss, having lined up the Alumni Fund preliminaries, left in early February for Florida via the new auto train from' Alexandria, Va. Back about April 1, and expecting to call on the Flanigans, Cloughs, Billings and Everetts among others en route.
A nice letter and a telephone call from Dorothy Hopkins, Dr. Ed's widow—including the data for the Golden Review and news of her children and the holidays. Dorothy is well and still devotes much or her time and resources to the Nashoba Community Hospital where Ed spent much of his professional life.
And from Cap Palmer at Parthenon Pictures in Los Angeles nine snapshots of 1919 Delta Alpha. I suppose many of us have these browning remembrances of those miserable days tucked away somewhere. I know I do—the freshman caps, the pajama clad classmates praying in mid campus, the pencil salesman stationed at the Inn corner-wet down! A youth in the Administration Office tells me that all this was phased out in the late 20's or early 30's. I still don't quite know how to catalogue it in my memories of undergraduate years. Unpleasant, certainly, and horribly immature by present-day standards, I yet wonder if it may not have had some kind of a subduing influence that led to greater class cohesiveness by way of mutually endured indignities.
Secretary, Box 2, Francestown, N. H. 03043
Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St. Longmeadow, Mass. 01106
