1949
‘Tis a strange "Happy New Year"! The grass is still green - the rose bushes still sport leaves - and, Mr. Ripley, believe it or not, I picked some lettuce this first day of the year to garnish a Bowl Game sandwich. The tree has been denuded - the ritualistic Christmas tree fire dance has been held - and now the ashes of Noel 1973 will supply the potash for next summer's lettuce. Trust that the holidays were merry and gay for all of you 49'ers and that the New Year will be sufficiently prosperous for you to make the trek to Hanover for our 25th.
Speaking of the greatest reunion ever to be held on the Dartmouth campus, we understand from letters that some of you are concerned that the energy crisis may make it extremely difficult to locomote yourselves, brides, and offspring to the North Country. Reacting to this, Reunion Chairman Bud Hughes plans to volunteer one of our class to spearhead contacts with Amtrak to see if private rail cars can be arranged to transport groups from the Midwest, south and middle Atlantic states. When something con- crete is known we'll communicate the results to all of you.
Another matter of extreme importance at this time is the selection of the recipient for the Twenty-fifth Reunion Gold Pick Ax Award. Serious thought should go into this selection process inasmuch as probably this June will see the largest congregation of classmates since graduation and most likely for all time in the future. So, put on your thinking hats and send in some good nominations to Paul Woodberry, c/o Allegheny Corporation, Park Avenue, N.Y.C.
Preparatory to the onslaught of Christmas cards I decided to clean out my desk a few weeks ago. Lo and behold, there in a corner were some news releases and letters received last summer when I was on my sabbatical from this column. My apologies - we'll entitle this column "The Late, Late News!"
A June, 1973 USAF news release tells us that ’49er Colonel David Vogels has been tapped for the new deputy comptroller at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center in Denver, Colo. Dave, a bomber navigator during World War II, was recalled to active service during the Korean War, flying combat in the Orient. After numerous assignments in training, administration and command positions he was made chief of the Air Training .Branch for the 15th Air Force at March Air Force Base and thereafter, in 1967, chief of the Training Capabilities Division of the Strategic Air Command. While in the latter assignment Dave instructed in political science at Bellevue College and the University of Nebraska. During his 25 years of military service Dave has also been improving his mind having obtained, since Dartmouth, masters degrees in political science and personnel administration and a Ph.D. in management at Michigan State University, the latter received just this past year. And his commendations from the service must fill his chest, being a holder of the DFC, the Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal.
The crystal ball award goes this year to classmate C. P. "Ted" Davenport, vice president of Pacific Power and Light Company in charge of Corporate Planning and Development. This role involves Ted in environmental services and coal mining activities. As early as June, 1973 Ted, a 1952 M.I.T. graduate, was addressing the Wyoming Mining Association in Riverton, Wyoming on "The Energy Scene." Too bad we all didn't take closer heed then.
Probably my deepest apologies should go to dapper Charlie Eaton who wrote as long ago as mid-May his "First" letter to the 1949 column, following a month's siesta in the Bahamas with his new frau, Gail. Obviously, it was a memorable honeymoon with Charlie skinning his left side in a motor scooter accident which put Gail on crutches for three weeks. How's your imagination? We've all read of wealthy new wives meeting with fatal accidents on their honeymoons. After cleaning out the casino on Paradise Island the newlyweds returned to their new apartment on India Wharf in downtown Boston. Now Charlie walks two blocks to his office. Together with Gail's prior offspring the Eatons now have a full-strength male basketball team with three in college and two at Milton Academy. To complete his new life style brother Charlie acquired a town house at Granliden, Lake Sunapee, for respites from the big city.
Dr. Charles H. Russell, who obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. at Columbia University and who, currently, is Dean of Instruction at Mattatuck College, made the lecture circuit last year. At last report Charlie was lecturing on "Higher Education and Values" at Mattatuck Community College in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Almost unnoticed, but not quite, was an honorary award presented to Vermont's only U.S. Representative last June at the American International College in Springfield, Mass. DickMallary, our legislator-cow milker, was conferred an honorary doctorate degree at the same time as one was conferred upon his brother, Reverend DeWitt Mallary Jr., '48, Rector of the All Saints Church in New York City.
This has been a most difficult column to write this month. It has been scribed between touchdowns by victors Nebraska and Ohio State in the Cotton and Rose Bowls. Now it must give way to the final, final - the Orange Bowl. Have a happy! And make your resolutions now to join the class reunion in June!
Secretary, P.O. Box 731 Rye, N.Y. 10580
Treasurer, Box 234, R.D. 5, Laconia, N.H. 03246
