1950
There was a touch of fog this morning. It was just a touch, not the thick mass that boils out of the Connecticut valley, slips across the campus, and reduces all shape and mass to an indistinct blur. But there was a touch of fog and a breath of cool air, the first signs of the slow ebbing of summer into the early days of fall.
A trip early this month took me to North Conway to fetch home my daughter. It was an opportune time to visit Bob Jordan, who summers in Center Conway just by the Main border. Unfortunately, Bob had left only a day or two earlier to return to Washington University in Missouri where he is a professor of art. However, the source of his inspiration was clear - a high country farm on a hill overlooking a lake with a backdrop of the presidential range of the white mountains. Bob had shipped several crates of paintings to the Far Gallery in New York for a showing this fall.
Reunion reflections: the crusty jug awarded to the one who travelled the greatest distance to be in Hanover was shared this year, primarily because my gazetteer is too imprecise for fine distinctions. Bob and Marion (Pinky) Lindell came from their new home in Brussels; their prior address had been Milan. Izzy and Isa Stahl still call Guatemala City home.
The football team was represented by eight key players and, except for an errant pound or two, they looked fit enough to step out and help Jake Crouthamel today. Dave Beeman towered over every gathering as usual, and he wore the years best; not even one gray hair marred the illusion. Only a hint of the "red" remains, but Tom Rowe's drive and agility abounded on the tennis court. The smaller backfield men - Eddie Williams, Hal Fitkin, and Chipper Chapman- have obviously traded speed for power; it is only a question of degree. But Herb Carey was as trim as a halfback and almost unrecognizable. Bill Carpenter, whose son filled his shoes a year or two ago, ran Herb a close second. My favorite, though, was Stu Young who appeared everywhere with a curly headed blonde, his two-year-old daughter Paula.
For courage, add Lee Royer and Ed Gulick. Lee has been in a wheelchair for several years; Ed for only several months. Both came to share the evening and the fellowship. For Ed it was the fulfillment of a promise to show up at the tent and have a glass of beer. Even two weeks earlier no one would believe him. He kept his promise.
Doug Smith is a new senior vp of Industrial National Bank in Providence. His journey to R.I. was roundabout after finishing advanced studies at the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. First there was a stint at Bank of America in his old home town, San Francisco. From there Doug went to Atlanta with Citizens and Southern National Bank, where he subsequently became vp of the international department. He joined Industrial National in 1970. Doug is a vp and director of the Bankers Association for Foreign Trade and a director of the R.I. Philharmonic.
There is something new in one of Lake Placid's fixtures. Ed and Barbara Hale now own and publish the Lake Placid News. Even the format has changed from tabloid to broadsheet in a new style of type since the Hales took over.
"It's heady to write and direct," confessed Frank Gilroy as he prepared for his return to TV with Gibbsville. Frank captured the essence of John O'Hara's fictitious town and, more importantly, its people with their loves and hates, passions and defeats, successes and failures. One of O'Hara's gifts was his ear for speech, and Frank successfully translated the'written to the spoken word. What can we expect from him next? The Bergen Record (Bergen County, N.J.) speculates that Erskine Lakes, a tiny lake community just beyond Paterson, might one day become the locale for a future work. Members of the Dartmouth Dixieland Band, which features Frank's trumpet, might recognize a scene or two.
Chuck Martin, who roams the Pennsylvania countryside as a free-lance photographer, has compiled a photographic montage set to the music of Aaron Copeland's AppalachainSpring. Chuck started his project several years ago and, for those of you familiar with the territory, captured scenes from the Potomac highlands, the Kutztown (Pa.) Folk Festival, and maple syrup time at Mt. Davis. He calls Bradford Woods home.
Tidbits here and there: The president and business manager of the Women's Glee Club is Lindsay Larrabee '77, daughter of Rod andNatalie Larrabee. A six month temporary assignment to Saudi Arabia should be about over for Howie Weston, who was sent there as a Boeing 707 "check captain" by TWA. Dick andFlorence Echikson proudly announced the arrival of Stephen Elliot, until further notice the youngest .'50 progeny. As sort of a by-the-way throw away Al Harquail revealed that ... last year [1974] we won the Bermuda [yacht] race in our class. ...
Our achievement in reunion giving has now been recorded and acknowledged. Many words of praise have been accorded us, but BobKolmarx wrote the keenest perspective: "Although $500,000 marks a significant new level of individual class reunion giving, we do not look on it as a record mark to stand for the ages to the glory of the Class of 1950. Rather, we consider it an appropriate response of a Dartmouth Class at its 25th Reunion to the financial needs of the institution. The dollar amount is much less important than the establishment of a new standard of realistic support of the College. We have truly served the College if succeeding 25-year classes achieve or succeed that level, starting with the Class of 1951."
Another football season is about to begin. Perhaps there will be an offense this year to match the defense. Any improvement will be a plus. Watch Captain Reggie Williams at linebacker. Also: sophomore Curt Obert, probably at fallback. There are rumors that the frosh have a super quarterback.
Autumn has a long way to go. Enjoy it. Enjoy it in the North Country if you can. See you.
1949's Raymond Rasenberger is this year'spresident of the Dartmouth Alumni Council.
Secretary, 510 Hillcrest Road Ridgewood, N.J. 07450
Treasurer, 19 Claybar Drive West Hartford, Conn. 06117
