1949
Alas, poor Herbie, I knew him well! who would have believed, a few weeks ago at the fall mini-reunion, that my classmate, friend and neighbor, Herb Granstorff, would be deserting the pleasures of snow traveling and storm window musical chairs for the gruesome horrors of palm trees, swimming pools and snorkeling on Florida's east coast. Miami wants, Miami gets! Come the first of December Erpie heads south to take on a challenging position with a growing south Florida ad agency. While there he hopes to take over a mortgage-foreclosed mansion at Key Biscayne together with a troubled bank that may be soon up for grabs. And I'm not speaking of B.B. Crawford.
And, speaking of the Crawfords, B.B. and Ginny joined the class luncheon at the Faculty Lounge before the Penn game on October and helped consume the consumable liquids supplied by Mike and Lois MeGean and the luncheon catered by Thayer Hall. Thereafter the Class of 1949, along with other tearful alumni watched the powerful ground game of the Quakers set back the Big Green in Hanover for the first time since we witnessed a similar defeat during our undergraduate years. Only Jane Church was elated as she echoed "Hurrah, hurrah, for the red and the blue." Clarke Chunch was morose but gamely collected Jane's winning bets for inclusion in next year's Alumni Fund.
The fall get-together was a resounding success, perhaps unequaled before this year. Most classmates were greeted on Friday at the Holiday Inn by King Ball who was entrusted with the beer keg taps for the evening's festivities at the Faculty Lounge overlooking the bonfired Green. Who would have guessed that King knew not how to tap a keg? Regardless the keg seemed to pour freely and was almost consumed before breakfast by such artists as Vail and Barbara Haak, Al and Joyce Wagner,"Flash" and Cathy Erwin (not to be confuse: with a committee of equal name) and Paul ardGinny Bjorklund. And the bonfire was probably the largest ever - it's structure challenge. Baker Tower.
Because of the heavy press of 25th Reunion business the Executive Committee met early at 8:30 a.m. where bleary, red eyes stared murkily at coffee and Danish. Bob Rooke gave a report on reunion giving to date. He has already had $30,000 pledged or committed which augers a great effort by the 49'ers this year. Her" Gramstorff then unveiled the embryo beginning of our reunion yearbook which I'm sure you all will treasure. Herb is still having a problem gating some of you to part with current head and shoulders photos. If you,overlooked this, please comply in the near future.
The major floor holder at the meeting was Bud Hughes who has proved his sales ability by getting President Dickey to lead a seminar on "Great Issues Then and Now!" Without a doubt this alone will be worth the trip to Hangover next June. Tom Swartz demonstrated the reunion costume which will remain a deep, dark secret until June 13. Sometimes serious and sometimes frivolous suggestions were proffered by participants Sam Kilner, Bert Rodman. and Bill Perkins. By 11:30 visions of sugarplums prevailed - Carll Tracy increased ing period by performing the treasurers collertion service in advance so as to have ample time to greet Charlie and Bea Schuetz, Lee Bronson, Bob and Joyce Pridham, and Ritchie and BetsyHunt at the watering trough. Rod and JoyceFinkbner showed up with a passel of children parents and in-laws to win the unofficial class trophy for mini-reunion participation. Also present was Bud Hughes' boss, Al Berndt, whose lovely daughter (also present) Sue was one of the first distaff to graduate from the Big Green. Paul and Sandy Woodberry drove all the way Greenwich, Conn., for lunch and the game and Al and Pat Quirk made the long trek across campus to promise us that all of our offspring would be admitted to Dartmouth without question.
The final, final was cocktails and dinner in the Drake Room on Saturday evening. After an excellent meal provided by the Inn, prexy Brud Becker read the citation and made the 1973 Gold Pick-Ax Award to a more-than-deserving classmate, Carl Granger. Carl and Helen had manaeed to leave a medical convention in Hyannis, Mass.. in time to join us for dinner and receive a rousing accolade from those present. The '49 Newsletter will carry a verbatim of the citation in the near future. Gracing the evening were Vermonters Dick Mallary and EdMcAlister and our favorite mascot from the 20th Reunion, Bud Lynch, who, by now, must be an unofficial member of the Class of 1949 despite the fact that he graduated slightly over a year ago and is preparing himself at Mary Hitchcock to minister to our creaky bones.
And then there was the final, final, final. The setting was the Top of the Hop - the equipment was a grand piano - the starring roles were played by Skip and Manya Ungar and their Dartmouth son. Charlie Breed '51 sat in on the sax and a late, musical evening competed more than successfully with the Dartmouth Players. Always dapper Charlie Eaton and his new bride impressed the undergraduates with the revelation that age can improve some - Charlie no longer sleeps in the grass in front of Colby Hall.
New York's College of Insurance has named Frank Munson to its board of trustees. The college is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and offers degrees at associated, bachelor, and master levels. Mouse joined the General Reinsurance Corporation of New York five years after graduation and became its president and director in 1973. He lists membership in the Dartmouth Club of New York, The University Club, and the Casualty and Surety Club.
Ere I depart I bring you news again of MattFenton, our Cadillac sales monopolizer from Baltimore, Md., who is currently helping chair the CICHA Fund Drive to help support the health programs for 13 local volunteer health agencies. That he is interested in health is evident from his prior association as vice president of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and his current involvement with the YMCA, the Commission on Physical Fitness for the State of Maryland and the Gilman Jogging Program, whatever that might be!
Nuf said. The bewitching hour approaches! Speak kindly when Bob Rooke calls you - he has a formidable task ahead. Don't ignore the entreaties from Gramstorff. and Bud Hughes — they're on your team - they just need a little team effort to make the 25th the best in college history.
Merry Christmas Happy New Year
Secretary, P.O. Box 731 Rye, N.Y. 10580
Treasurer, Box 234, R.D. 5, Laconia, N.H. 03246
