1923's 50th
In his letter of May 10 to the 1923 family, Ike Phillips outlined our 50th Reunion program and pretty well anticipated the events we all enjoyed so much during three perfect days of Hanover June weather.
Registration under the direction of FrankDoten and his Hanover assistants, Ted Barston and Joe Pollard, began at ten on Friday morning. About half of us were quartered in Middle Mass., Hitchcock, and Gile Halls. The rest of us, some by virtue of reservations made years ago, were at the Inn or in various nearby motels. Those who dared the dormitories were exposed in one instance at least to the wonders of coeducation in full flower. The second floor of Middle Mass. we found had been a feminine sector during the college year and some of the gals were still around.
Top attendance awards of the 1894 cup for the highest percent of living classmates returning and the 1930 cup for the largest total number on hand went to our class. We numbered 125 men, 95 wives. 11 widows and 10 relatives and guests - a total of 241.
One of the particularly useful and impressive items in the reunion kit was an enlarged map of the campus area. One has but to glance at this map to realize the tremendous building program that has gone on during the past 50 years. A bus tour of the whole area with stops at such familiar facilities as the Computer Center and the Medical School brought many of us up to date on the fine physical plant that the present day student probably takes for granted.
The real fun began with a cocktail party in the class tent followed by a speech-less and excellent dinner in the new wing of Thayer Hall. Then came the President's reception which made us wonder if the Kemenys ever have any family privacy and later, a fine concert by the Glee Club. Music in the class tent capped an early to bed day for most of us.
Saturday, as Ike had warned us, was a very full day. Once again as we gathered in the White Church Pudge Niedlinger led the Class in a beautiful service in memory of the 307 classmates who have passed away since we first came to Hanover in 1919.
The class picture in front of Webster Hall was followed by the first regular class meeting since 1967. With appropriate solemnity Jim Landauer reported the extended deliberations of his nominating committee and came up with the unique and unexpected recommendation that all present officers be reelected to their current posts. The Class went along and all were returned to office with the qualification, made at his own specific request, that Clarence Goss would continue as vice president but would relinquish the job of Head Class Agent. This important responsibility which Clarence has fulfilled so superbly will be assumed by Charlie Zimmerman. In addition eight men were added to the board of directors and the various class officers reported the" affairs of the Class, covering the six years since our last reunion. These reports were highlighted by Clarence Goss' announcement that, as of meeting time, 1923 contributions to the Alumni Fund totaled $197,743. Truman Metzel brought us up to date on the Bequest program. BudFreeman on the accomplishments of our two class scholarship recipients and Chet Bixby awarded final honors in his grandparents Derby to Bill andDorothy Kimball. Dorothy later discovered that she had miscounted on the great grandchildren. The correct figure is six.
The formal class meeting ended with a plea by Jules Ripple to raise our 1973 Alumni Fund objective sights and an offer by him to participate in meeting whatever we decided on.
Luncheon for classmates and their ladies was served in Alumni Hall and we then adjourned to Spaulding Auditorium for the annual meeting of the General Association of Alumni. The 50-Year address was given by Charlie Zimmerman followed by remarks by President Kemeny in which he referred to Charlie as the best after dinner speaker he had ever known. He refrained however from further praise with the plea that he expected to describe Charlie's service to the College more fully at a later gathering - which he did.
Saturday afternoon saw a repetition of the campus bus tour and an opportunity to see and hear the honorary degree recipients as they took part in an informal symposium in Spaulding Auditorium. The weather held good as we all adjourned to the class cocktail party on the terrace of Hopkins Center - the ladies flowered and colorful dresses beautiful in the late afternoon sun of a truly lovely day.
Our reunion committee provided a separate and special printed program for the Golden Jubilee dinner featuring filet mignon and presided over by Ike Phillips T.R.C. (Tired Reunion Chairman). Ike first presented the former Injunaires, now euphemistically reduced to the "Aires" for what real reason we know not. Pete Jones cited RuelSmith, Clarence Goss, and Charlie Zimmerman for outstanding services to the class and presented each with a framed black and white print of Dartmouth row. He then presented Monk Keith from Costa Rica with the award for having travelled the greatest distance to the Reunion.
Years ago Ted Geisel '25 (the famed Dr. Seuss) did a pen and ink drawing of George McKee's winning entry in 1923's fabulous dog show. The drawing got lost over the years and George induced the good doctor to duplicate his original effort which George then presented to the Class to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Cap Palmer repeated his classic legerdemain of 1967 with the bricks and porch decorations from the old Inn and ended with a final bid for the drawing of a thousand dollars by Jules Ripple - proceeds to be added to the 1923 Alumni Fund.
Along toward the end of the dinner festivities Ike produced the bronze tablet presented to the College by the Class and intended for installation on a native rock in the Bema. Its inscription reads: "Who doth not answer to the rudder shall answer to the rock."
We were happy to have President Emeritus John Dickey back with us for the principal address of the evening and then, with some sound advice by Ike to septuagenarians in general, we all went our various ways - the class tent for music, the glee club, socializing - and so to bed.
Commencement and Baccalaureate Exercises on Sunday morning found 1923 up front in a welcome shady area. A total of 1086 degrees was awarded. This included 6 honorary, 217 advanced, 18 M.D.'s and 845 B.A.'s, 37 of which went to the advance guard of the coed contingent. Phi Beta Kappa elected 197 new members. A majority of our classmates received B.S. degrees and I for one was surprised to learn that the College no longer grants this degree.
The commencement highlight for 1923 was of course the award of an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws to Charlie Zimmerman. The entire class rose to its feet and stood as President Kemeny read the citation. Afterward Charlie told me that of all the honors extended to him over the years this tribute by his classmates touched him the most and meant the most to him.
A fine Sunday luncheon at the Outing Club ended the Hanover portion of our reunion. Twenty-one classmates, 18 wives, and 4 guests then adjourned to Sugarbush Inn at Warren, Vt. Here under the aegis of Charlie Rice and HenryPerkins they enjoyed three more days of golf, good food, and renewed friendships.
One of the seniors who helped us out at Middle Mass., running errands and carrying things, asked us how it felt to be back for our 50th. It kind of brought us up short and we didn't have any better answer than does the small boy who is asked how it feels to be 10 years old. We did tell him that the years passed a lot quicker than we thought they would. And they did, indeed!
The Class of 1923 set 50-year reunion records for most men back and for largest total attendance,and with 50% of graduates back also had the highest attendance percentage for thisyear. Holding the 1894 and 1930 Cups are Class President Charlie Jones (left) and ReunionChairman Ike Phillips.
The men of 1923, proud of new 50-year attendance records, show their numbers in front of Webster Hall.
CLASS SECRETARY
