1949
We have named the week of March 4, 1974 "Great Expectations". But, as usual, great expectations were mere anticipations which became frustratingly delayed. On March 9,1 purchased vegetable seeds with the full intent of beating inflation with early crops of lettuce radishes, spinach, onions, and swiss chards; alas, no fertilizer was available. And then came complete retrogression - freezing temperatures, some snow and ice again on the ponds. But, up north they were rejoicing with three to four feet of snow for spring skiing. Ever denuded the sailing craft with great aspiration for an early launching. Ah, well, at least the grass will have rizzed by the time of our 25th.
Speaking of Reunion, our first returns are already in, encouragingly from Minnesota, Chicago and Canada, to mention some of the more remote points. Already committed (as of March 27) are: Charlie Schuetz, Vail Haak, Carl Granger, Bob Rooke, Charlie (Arizona) Holtzman, Sam Kilner, Paul Denecke. Tom Huggins, Brian Phillips, Bud Hughes, Bert Rod-man, and yours truly. If Gallup Polls were to make predictions on such early financial partings it would predict a record 25th Reunion turnout, which is exactly what Sam Kilner's IBM computer has presaged. One dismaying note about the information returns - '49ers still cannot read instructions. Some return deposits without advising dates of attendance; some are male chauvinists who neglect to advise the names of attending wife(s) and children: and a large percentage fail to advise us of the requisite hat sizes for the kinder. If responding late, please help your beleaguered secretary with these essential details!
Dr. Joe Kelley of the Cleveland area will, unfortunately, be unable to join us this June but figures on a rendezvous before another 25 years elapse. He sends a "hello" to all '49ers. Berf Oakley of Scottsdale, Ariz., will be tied down in June at an A.S. U. summer session (assumption: ASU means Arizona State University) but has become so intrigued with the reunion plans and schedules that he has contributed a gratuity to our reunion fund. The precedent is terrific - hopefully, it is an indication of additional reunion support. We have earmarked Berf's gift to support of the milk punch party Sunday morning at which event all present will hold glasses on high for a toast to our missing classmate.
Boondoggle! And thus spake Zarathustra about our State Department representative, who, incidentally, will be a commentator on our "Great Issues, Then and Now program in Hanover this June Fred Smith, Deputy Administrator for Security and consular Affairs, is off and going. And what a go! In February Fred a trip around the world to hold discussions with various consular offices about the problems of citizen protection, extradition, visas and other unmentionable matters. His trip will have taken him to London, Berlin, Hamburg, WArsaw, Moscow, New Delhi, Madras Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong, Honolulu and Los Angeles by the time your eyes rest upon this printed word!
By courtesy of Fred Fisher '63 we have been brought up to date on the meteoric career of Bob Priester. Bob has been tapped for the newly created position of chairman and chief executive officer of United Mortgage Co., a subsidiary of United Banks of Colorado, Inc. Prior to this move Bob was executive vice president of the Commercial Banking Division of United Bank of Denver, another subsidiary of United Banks of Colorado and the lead bank of the holding company. This move was apparently made to bolster the strength of the mortgage company with Bob's "extensive financial experience, according to the Denver Post.
For "those of you who have not sent to PaulWoodberry your nominations for the Reunion Pick-Ax Award winner, it is still possible to get your oar in if you move with alacrity, meaning within 48 hours of receiving this issue of the Alumni Magazine. Remit all pregnant suggestions to Paul c/o Allegheny Corporation, 370 Park Avenue, New York, New York.
Rumor has it that our elusive classmate Gunther (Gunth) Perdue may be planning a spectacular event as a finale for our 25th Reunion. Secret sources tell us that Gunth is conditioning himself and training for'the 1974 blue ribbon in streaking. We've all heard of the toboggan streakers with only goggles; some have heard of the Dartmouth Rugby Streakers in Bermuda this spring: "Gunth" plans the epitome in June - a streaking sky dive, clad in jump boots, right into the center of our milk punch party! All amateur photographers - bring your gear!
One of my traveling correspondents quite recently reported on some Dartmouth doings at the Americana Hotel in New York City on March 22. Two of our crippled classmates were seen whooping it up listening to the Dixie sounds emanating from Sutton's piano and Bob Wilber's clarinet. Ex-Commissioner Jay Urstadt and Reunion Chairman Bud Hughes allegedly claim they were scouting music for our 25th and blame their pulled tendons on paddle tennis. However, rumor has it the Achilles were damaged during a Wall Street streak. The FBI is investigating!
It any of you were perambulating around the corridors of the United States Supreme Court around the end of February you may have heard one of your classmates waxing eloquently in support of the University of Washington in the first reverse-discrimination case to be heard by the highest court. Washington's Attorney General Slade Gorton was locking horns with another Washington State Attorney, Joseph Diamond, in the Marco DeFunis, Jr. case, the outcome of which could have far-reaching effects on schools of higher education. Slade is described by the Seattle Times as "stubborn, self-confident, self-contained, self-disciplined, and, of course' a stern consumer advocate." Probably a number of these traits were augmented at the Big Green.
Ere this column be left to garbage cans, alley cats, incinerators and posterity the latest reunion returns must be mentioned. King Ball will be making the long trek from Portland, Me. Conversely, Ken McClain plans to make the easy journey (by private jet, no doubt!) from Ft. Worth, Texas, with four unidentified guests and three children, ages 8, 10 and 17. Speculation - are the three kinder illegitimate offspring of Ken's or do they belong to the guests? Centerport, Long Island, will be represented by PaulBjorklund and Reunion Yearbook Editor HerbGramstorff will be sporting his Miami tan in the Hanover hills. Geographically, one-half of the country is already committed - hopefully, we shall have an equivalent representation numerically! See you in one scant month!
Secretary, P.O. Box 731 Rye, N.Y. 10580
Class Agent, Proctor & Gamble, Box 599 Cincinnati, Ohio 45201
