1948
It's an unexpected pleasure to be asked to write this monthly Alumni Magazine column once again for the Class of 1948. Some of you may remember, probably regretfully, that I wrote it for the first few years after our broken-up World War II Class left the green hills of Hanover. The last poor attempt by me in this direction was a good 20 years ago, and I'm taking up the task once again with the desire to do a good job combined with the reluctance that comes from knowing that most of one's classmates really don't like to write of themselves and are shy about writing of their '48 friends. This is understandable, so we'll just have to get along with those bits and pieces of information that may come my way from different directions. Hope you'll bear with me. If you can't so bear, how about getting out the old pen and writing about yourself, about what you think, or about anything else that comes to mind so we can fill up this space and let your fellow '48s know about you.
Am thoroughly sorry to have missed our 25th. It would have been my first Reunion since the Bema ceremony, but last minute business and health difficulties blocked the way. From word provided afterward by Sam Wilkinson (who did such a great job for so many years with this column), your president, Van Raalte, Lou Perry, Bud Elliott, and lan Macartney, it must have meant much fun and no little nostalgia for all. I'm hoping to be on hand for the next and have some laughs with those old friends from on campus days!
Although we did not really get the credit from published sources of the College I thought ft. Class deserved, '48 did an outstanding, incredible job on its 25th Reunion Fund Drive. Final figure; put out by the Fund showed that members of the Class contributed in cash $79,595 by the end of June deadline, and Class Gifts Chairman Bud Elliott points out that additional pledges totalled; further $2,249. This $80,000 plus effort was tremendous, far greater than anyone could have expected from a small, disjointed class whose atnual support of the Fund in the past had never, to my uncertain knowledge, exceeded our quota or even $30 thousand.
Bud, who took on the unbelievable challenge to find the $75,000 to meet the quota, adds concerning '48s participation: "That showing was really remarkable. There was a 19% increase in donors, we reached 106% of our objective, and we gave 451 % of our prior year's gift. That was the second highest percentage increase of all the twelve reunion classes, and our class is the third from the smallest. The only one exceeding that increase was the 50th Reunion Class which reached 467% of its last year's gift.
"Many classmates increased their gifts magnificently, and many classmates worked very diligently to help collect this total. I feel we can be very proud of ourselves as a class.
"Possibly for the first time both the success of the reunion and the fund gift to the college have actually demonstrated that we have finally become a cohesive class."
Three great wah-hoo-wahs for '48 and all the fellows who worked so long and hard to make the Class an achiever.
Carl Felsenfeld has joined First National City Corporation, New York, as vice president and group counsel for its seven-member Citicorp Subsidiary. Carl had been with CIT financial services from 1958 until this year, at which time he was general counsel vice president, and a director. In addition he is a consultant to state commissioners on the uniform consumer credit code and lectures occasionally at Columbia School of Law and before legal groups. He, wife Judith, and their son live on Riverside Drive.
Yours truly has been back in the States, in the Miami, Fla., area, for about a year after working over a fair area of this old globe. Have not yet met any '48s here, but know that Dr. Dwight Burley Scane Bowler, Howie Hilton, Dick Russell and Jose Suarez are in the area. Also received a fine note from Dick Bredenberg in St. Petersburg where he is Director of Teacher Education at Eckerd College. The father of four children between 15 and 23 years of age, Dick was showe in the fine '48 reunion yearbook as being in the insurance business, which Dick doesn't feel wrong if "being an ordained Presbyterian qualifies me as a dispenser of fire insurance." Could be. Good to hear from you, Dick.
In closing, I'm sure the Class will join me in extending sincere thanks to all those members whe helped make the 25th and its Alumni Fund Drive such great successes. In any such list can't be forgotten Van Raalte and the 19-member Executive Committee, Reunion Co-Chairmen Dick Barlow and Dahl, Treasurer Pete Foster, the aforementioned Bud Elliott, Secretary Wilkinson, Newsletter Editor 80-bo Russell, Agent Perry, d the people who along with Chairman Randolph and Rollie Sontag put the great Class Book together.
Next time hope to have more information and perhaps the details of a humorous incident or two involving our brethren. As we go into another exciting fall season of football, let's look to some '48 meetings at the various gridirons where the Big Green will be fighting to maintain its great record. All for now.
Secretary, Gulf Oil Co. - Latin America Box 910 Coral Gables, Fla. 33134
Treasurer, Apt. 3-H, 7300 Blvd. East North Bergen, N.J. 07047
