1931
From Kamakura, Japan, comes a newsy note from Smokey Joe Adams: "Don Cruikshank. who was in college for only two years, was in Japan for about 10 days in February as he was invited to be a judge of the figure skating during the Winter Olympic Games in Sapporo. Seems Don and his wife Aidrie were the figure skating champions of Canada and he's been a judge at a number of international events ... We got together after the games were over and I ushered them out to Kamakura; for several hours we did the sights of my town—the Daibutsu samma, or Big Buddha, a gigantic bronze image that grabs everybody by the throat; also the Hase Kannon, which is a Buddhist temple with a fabulous image made from one hunk of cypress wood; and then wound up the tourist trail with a visit to the Hachiman Shrine, a Shinto landmark, where, over the years, some bloody deeds were accom- plished ... Then Reiko-san and I thought we'd treat them to some real Japanese food at a posh place and so we sat on the straw mats (Don's legs slid nicely under the low lacquer table). We offered them raw tuna, chicken fried in batter and tempura shrimp ... Don didn't quite snuggle up to the raw fish but his wife enjoyed every morsel ... Then I put them on the Yokosuka train for Tokyo ..."
Gesrge Nickum sends the following entry into the grandchildren competition: "My wife Mary Anne and I have 16 grandchildren between us. However, before you award me the cigar I think you are going to have to make some definitive rulings because the total number is complicated as follows. 1.) My three oldest children, all girls, have four, five and five children respectively. However, my third daughter, Susan acquired three of her children through marriage and adoption. Her husband lost his first wife tragically in an automobile accident two weeks after their third child was born. Thus my daughter acquired a ready made family aged 1, 21/2 and 4 when she was married. She subsequently adopted them legally and had two more of her own 2.) After I lost Bettie and later married Mary Anne I acquired three delightful stepchildren, one of whom has subsequently produced two offspring. Thus two of the 16 are stepgrandchildren. I await your decision, Mr. Solomon. Do stepchildren and adopted grandchildren count in the official tabulation? If not, I am tied with Doug Carlson. Please be assured that I will accept any decision gracefully, except one by which you send me half a cigar." Well, George, I'm not going to quibble. I'm going right out and buy another whole cigar. As of today, one cigar goes to Doug and one to you.
Frank Gavin, retired general manager of standardization and consumer affairs, Research and Development Center, Armstrong Cork Company, has been granted honorary membership in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The honor was con- ferred recently at the society's headquarters in Philadelphia during a banquet given by ASTM. Frank was cited for his "long and dedicated service to ASTM, especially his many contributions to the bylaws and scopes for the committees of F-6 on Resilient Floor Coverings, and for his untiring efforts as a member of the executive committee, and as a subcommittee chairman."
Letter to Shep Wolff from Ed McCutcheon: "I have been away in the sunny South for 2 months and just got back. Tell Johnny Cogswell and Doug Morris that I enjoyed the letters they wrote while I was away, and that as enrollment director for this area (Maryland) I found a bushel of unfinished business when I returned. After the reunion we went on up to Cape Breton, my mother's home, and then my wife and her friend went on to Newfoundland for a few days."
Parker Soule had an operation a month or so ago, which apparently went well. No details further.
John Cogswell elected vice-president of the Dartmouth Club of Hanover. ShepWolff secretary for the same club. Here goes another institution—sliding into the hands of '31!
A long letter from Dick Fisher: "My only trouble is that time flies by so fast ... I got my notice from the government the other day to sign up for Medicare and avoid the rush. Am still doing my best to cover four states—Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, and have made some great friendships doing it. We are planning to vacation in South Carolina this spring as usual, for golfing, swimming and boating. This winter we have again curled a lot and went on a couple of bonspiels away from home. I still manage to play hockey here on the river 6 or 8 times, but I pick on the smaller kids now ... one of my grandsons skates just like Bobby Hull; he's 4 years old and one trouble comes after watching TV. He will rag the puck with me for 15 minutes, then throw down his stick, gloves and hat, raise his fists at me and say, 'Time to fight now, Grampy!' "
Jim Lyall forwards word that JoeMerriam was named as executive vice president of Cresap McCormick and Paget, Inc.
Bob Tonis turns literary critic, reviewing for the Boston Globe recently a new book about policeman and police work.
From Ernie Moore comes Bed Gristede's explanation of "English in Action": "... it is an arrangement with the Church to help foreign students and business men and women to master the English language or at least to improve their delivery. I volunteer and what do I come up with but a young Argentine gal (dark eyes—but light on her toes). After ten weeks of one night a week for an hour I wound up speaking better Spanish than she did English." What exercises in language study would reveal that a gal might be light on her toes?
Home from a four week vacation in the Caribbean, Johnny Cogswell writes that he feels the Class should develop some group project, sense of purpose, "raison d'etre," or whatever. Does anyone have any ideas?
Secretary, 23 Coughlin Rd. North Eastern, Mass. 02356
Class Agent, 2705 East Newberry Blvd. Milwaukee, Wis. 53211
