1924

This is written in Short Hills (N. J.) spending the Christmas-New Year's with my daughter and family (eldest grandson is a freshman at Amherst!) and Kit's sister and mother. For those many of you relaxing in the sunshine ... Florida, Arizona, etc.... feel sorry for us driving down Interstate 91 in snow-sleetrain-fog yesterday. This is by way of also saying thank you for the many nice cards and family-letters and even pictures received before we took off on the shortest day of the year. Frank Karslake's family group of 22 takes first prize as usual in the pictorial department; Joe Burleigh continues his annual family letter to win the "blue" in that category ... both awards being won against fierce competition. All enjoyed, and many thanks.

Those of you who have followed Jimmy Reid's editorial career with Harcourt Brace may or may not know of his devotion to one of Dartmouth's top teachers, Ramon Guthrie, and to the latter's amazing and masterly epic poem (written out of his painful hospitalization with terminal cancer). Maximum Security Ward ... as reviewed in the Alumni Magazine some time ago. It was a pleasure to send Jimmy a clipping from the local paper in which his hero is given the accolade in his own hometown, so often denied our great people. My reason for writing this here is to have the Class know the vital part Jimmy had in winning international recognition for Guthrie. Jimmy and Emmy deserve the relaxation in (what a wonderful town-name!) Carefree, Arizona. (PS. Ramon Guthrie is still living and so enjoying his recognition.)

From gladness, we must turn to sadness. Elsewhere you will find an obituary for the passing of Charlie Wood .... on Thanksgiving Day. Sadly, the roll call shrinks again (from 475 classmates). Also, Greg Belcher writes of his loss: his wife, Josephine Converse Belcher died quietly in their home in Calais, Vt., on October 4, 1972. (Only their close friends will know that this passing "was as we both wished," as a blessing.) I will pass on, without names, the wish of one classmate's daughter to plan on a memorial gift to the College "at the time of our 50th reunion." Perhaps this plan may interest other family members; I will be happy to help plan with any who read this and like the idea.

We often hear of retirement and almost as often fail to learn of specific plans. I have offered to make suggestions, when and if requested. Now comes a short-cryptic note from Charlie Altman:

"Retired, 6-30-72; re-hired, 7-10-72." Wonderful; tell us more, Charlie. Would it be more architecture ... or city planning? Keith Drake dreams of traveling . . . like Hong Kong to Mexico (a la Richard Halliburton) by junk. His decade of being a "bachelor" also pushes him into cooking experiments, as with Mexican dishes.

The Civil Aeronautics Board gave Johnnie Dregge the Excellence and Distinguished Public Service Award, its highest honor given only three times in the past, upon his retirement as director. Office of Community and Congressional Relations, this winter. He began his federal career in 1953, following World War II service in the Army Air Corps and a career in business. As CAB director with headquarters in the capital, Johnnie has worked with some 250 communities and airlines to maintain good relations with Congress and to secure improved service. He planned to stay through December to train his replacement and then, "I'd like to work in the aviation industry but I don't have anything lined up a"t the moment."

I've just completed selecting classmates living in and wintering in Florida ... the first of similar state "profiles" planned. Sixteen are living there, nine widows as well, and ten giving winter ad dresses in Florida. Naples leads.

Last minute thoughts, together. with warm greetings for healthy and happy 1973 to you all: (1) as I write (January 3) my father would" be 111 years old today had he lived ... does that put perspective on your age? (2) I have completed the promised profile of who lives where ... details another time; (3) Ed Lamb continues to write philosophically in The Churchman. In the December (1972) issue his article is titled "World Community in our Lifetime" ... on "the practical possibilities of getting all mankind organized into a feasible working community." You might like to read it, and also his thoughts on "Tomorrow's Communications" in the August-September issue of the same paper.

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