1949
It seems more than appropriate that your scribe should commence to pen the first series of class notes for our 25th class reunion year while perched atop a grassy knoll on the Norwich-Thetford town line. The view to the South is expansive and acts as a tranquilizer after a frenetic summer of constantly changing economic controls. And it was exactly that frenzied business environment that caused me to pack the family up into car and tent trailer and head for the Vermont hills where the inconvenience of no plumbing or electricity was more than offset by the absence of telephone. Better weather no man ever picked days in the high 80's, clear and dry nights in the cool 40's with stars to cradle your eyes. For three days Doris and I were joined by Herb and AnnGramstorff who pitched a tent close by. On Saturday we arranged a surprise birthday party for Doris and we were joined around the campfire by Bud and Lois Hughes and Charlie and Marilyn Breed '51.
Those nights in the 40's were no weird phenomenon. Fall is near at hand. In fact some evidences of fall foliage were to be seen even in late August. And near at hand is our fall weekend in Hanover on October 12-14 which, hopefully, many of you will be able to enjoy. We've even enticed Lee Bronson to journey all the way from Alta, Utah, to sample the pleasures of mid-October in the North Country.
Although Peter New didn't write to me directly he was kind enough to forward a note about his meandering via the Alumni Fund Office. Pete, a doctor at the University of Toronto, and his wife, a biostatistician, were among a group of nine who toured the Peoples Republic of China for six weeks this summer making a film on the Barefoot Doctor. Their gathering point was the Kaimana Beach Hotel in Honolulu from whence the note was written and where Pete had the opportunity of meeting and conferring with a group of Chinese correspondents who had just toured the U.S.A. Maybe we can prevail upon Pete to give us all a premiere showing of the unusual flick at our 25th Reunion next June.
This summer several of our classmates went on to bigger and better things. Frank Munson was named in July as president of the General Reinsurance Corporation, the largest American-owned reinsurance company. Frank has been with General Reinsurance since 1954 and had held the post of executive vice president for the three years immediately preceding his appointment. And at about the same point in time the Boston Company announced the formation of a new subsidiary named "The Boston Company Fixed Income Securities Management, Inc." and the election of Al Wagner as its first prexy. Just a few weeks prior to this the business sections of newspapers reported that Bruce "BB" Crawford had been elected to the position of vice president, group sales of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company of America, headquartered in Worcester. "BB," a resident of Southboro, Mass., had been second vice president, Group Marketing since 1970.
A '49er entered the august "Society of Reverse Horace Greeleyers" this summer, namely HenryWilliams, who has returned to his beloved Berkshires after numerous years in Beloit, Wise., as vice president of Finance for the Beloit Corp. After 22 years of corporate service Henry has become a banker, probably enticed by the rapidly spiralling interest rates. Now, as a member of the management committee and trust officer of the Berkshire Bank and Trust Co. and its holding company, Berkshire Bancorp, Inc., he will be on the receiving rather than the giving end. Henry and family currently reside in Stockbridge, Mass., and undoubtedly are season ticket holders to the Tanglewood Music Festival.
On paper it had appeared that the Class' foremost diplomat, Fred Smith, has deserted the State Department to return to his New England home. A lengthy note from Fred last June dispelled that presumption. Instead he was selected by the State Department for a year's study at Harvard where his brain will be degranitized and metamorphized into bureaucratic mush. During his academic year Fred lived in rural Lincoln, Mass., which he reports is closer to the real world than most areas, and far closer than the ersatz environments of Cambridge and Washington. But, poor Fred: although the life of a student was interesting and stimulating he did pick a year that had the mildest and most snowless winter in a century. Great expectations of skiing were subliminated to a feasting of tennis before returning to the court congestion of Northern Virginia.
The time has come to speak of worthwhile things, like cabbages and kings, and your planning right now for the 25th Reunion next June. Bud Hughes has the four days of bliss already well organized and the weekend promises a little of everything for everyone. Intellectual stimulation, relaxation and camraderie at a beautiful time of year in God's country. Don't miss it - there's only one in a lifetime.
Secretary, P.O. Box 731 Rye, N.Y. 10580
Treasurer, Box 234, R.D. 5, Laconia, N.H. 03246
