1920's 55th

Uninhibited by rain, 1920's reunion featured many highlights: the social hours in Hovey Grill rather than in the Big Tent; the concerts by the Glee Clubs; the well-attended, beautiful memorial service to past comrades; the memorial books program put on by the staff of Baker Library; the excellent class meeting under the guidance of Prexy McGoughran; the fine meals we all enjoyed in Thayer Hall, and the concluding luncheon in the Drake Room of the Hopkins Center. And added to all this, the excellent activities of the College during the Commencement Weekend, concluding with an outstanding Commencement on the lawn of Baker Library.

Our big night was the class dinner in Thayer Hall, Saturday. The Colonial Room was taxed to the limit as filled tables stretched around the room, with place cards, Songbag booklets, and all. Fine food, fine conversation, and fine entertainment! Two outstanding features: a lone figure, colorfully dressed in gay clown's clothing pirouetted from the rear to the front of the room and mimed a perfect Emmett Kelley with a display of illusion seldom scene outside the Big Top. It was hard to believe that our distinguished M.D. (retired) from Worcester was cavorting and entertaining so professionally. Captain Snow certainly moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform! Then armed with our Reunion Songbags and with Chick Wells at the piano, 1920 re-established its claim as the "singingest class of the century." Old time barbershop and westerns were the fare. After Laura Carter favored us with a solo "I'm a Poor Lonesome Cow Girl" the tenors, baritones, and basses within the class went to work. Al Frey,Art Pfeiffer, Ed Bowen, Ginger Bruce, LaddieMyers, Charlie Sargent et al. made the welkin ring. All sang so joyously that before we knew it we had to conclude our festivities and adjourn for the Glee Clubs concert in the Hopkins Center, thereby forcing our M.C. Al Foley to omit his scheduled "Wit, Wisdom, and Humor." It is rumored that Al, in his gracious way, said "Never mind, they've heard my stories before and if they haven't they can always buy my book or my record or both. That is, if they have a mind to." Someone is alleged to have remarked "There's wisdom in that wit."

This report would be incomplete without mention of our excellent class meeting conducted by Charlie McGoughran, Details of the meeting will be forthcoming in our October notes. Suffice it to say that all our officers gave excellent and brief reports and the nominating committee, under Leo Ungar's chairmanship, showed their appreciation by renominating them all for another term in office. Leo did likewise with the executive committee, replacing only those men who had died in office. It should be noted that Hazel Macomber attended our meeting and was also placed on the executive committee. Welcome aboard, Hazel!

Special mention should be made of the following unanimous class action. It adopted pridefully this resolution:

"Resolved: that the Class express its profound gratitude and appreciation to these members of the 1920 family for their generous financial support which has made possible the excellent physical facilities needed in the reestablishment of the four year medical program of the Dartmouth Medical School: Mary Vail McGaw, widow of the late James D.Vail '20, and wife of Foster McGaw, donors of the Vail Medical Sciences building; James '20 and Ruth Chilcott, donors of the Chilcott auditorium within that superb building; and H. SheridanBaketel Jr. donor of the building's teaching laboratories in memory of his father Dr, H. Sheridan Baketei Sr. who was an honorary member of the Class of 1920."

The final event on our program was the class luncheon in the Drake Room of the Hopkins Center. The Inn performed the service and the dining room was taxed to the limit of its capacity. When we adjourned reluctantly we had heard Sherry Baketel Jr. recite his ode for the occasion and had replied enthusiastically to Dal Dalrymple's query about attendance at our 60th Reunion. Thus ended our 55th on the Hanover Plain as nearly half of us prepared for the trip northward to Sherm and Rachel Adams'hideout at Loon Mountain at the foot of the Kancamagus Highway in Lincoln. Thirty-six of us made the journey where we greatly enjoyed the cool, fresh air at Loon and the fine program which Sherm had carefully constructed for our enjoyment, including the gondola ride and luncheon on top of the mountain.

We acknowledge with pleasure the many Meetings we had from classmates who could not attend: the Yuill's from Mississippi; the Graves,Goodnows, Roberts et al from California; the Jim Rebers from Reading, Pa.; the Carl Newtons from New York; Eva Hill from Rutland, Vt.; Ruth Birch (Leddie's sister-in-law) from Wynnewood, Pa.; the Ken Emorys from Honolulu; and the Gro Plowmans from Portland, Me. And we were sorry that HibRichter from Concord, N.H. and the JimChilcotts from New Vernon, N.J. had to cancel their plans to attend. We missed them. And we missed all of you who could not come for whatever reasons you felt compelling.

In the accompanying picture two couples are missing: the John Amsdens and the ShermAdams: the former detained with Memorial Service business; the latter had not yet arrived from the North Country, and we note also the absence of Dr. Jack Lappin.

1915ers back in June numbered 17 members and a total of 33.

Thirteen returned to the Plain to join in celebrating 1910's 65th anniversary.

Jack Johnson '15 combined his 60th withthe graduation of grandson Jeffrey Kortz.

CLASS SECRETARY