1922

Twenty-Two's distinction zoomed at the December meeting of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. President John G. Kemeny, speaking extempore at the annual dinner began his remarks by saying, "You may not know what the highest award was that I ever received in my life. It was adoption by the Dartmouth Class of 1922." And Twenty-Two, John, proudly delights in having you, Jean, Jennifer, and Robert in our class family.

Our General Walter I. Miller then received the Dartmouth Alumni Award and every classmate shares in this distinguished honor. Steve Kenyon will have the full citation in another of his excellent "Twoter" newsletters. These notes, therefore, will report only the closing paragraph of the citation which in entirety was headed, "From Mike to Ike, Subject: Alumni Award Citation Committee Problem."

"In conclusion, Ike, our Committee simply could not come up with what it thought was an adequate citation for your Dartmouth Alumni Award. We are sorry about this, but perhaps there is a solution. Since you have been Editor-in-Chief of the Alumni Council's Citation Award Committee since 1969 and therefore have extensive experience in preparing citations, we, with all due humility refer our problem to you. We, of course, delight in officially announcing that you have received the highest honor of the Alumni Council but we could not do it justice and, frankly, we doubt that you can."

Excerpts from North Country newspapers recount the highlights of Ike's outstanding tripartite career:

"A 1922 graduate of Dartmouth (and Tuck School 1923) General Miller, who lives in Thetford Center, Vt., retired from the Air Force in 1962 after 20 years service. He also had an eminent career in Illinois banking. From 1925-42, he was trust officer for the Commercial National Bank and was secretary of the Title and Trust Co. and the Dime Savings and Trust Co., all of Peoria.

"In 1942 he entered the Air Force as a captain and rose to major general, achieving the latter rank in 1955. He served as comptroller for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe from 1957-62.

"Upon his retirement from the service, General Miller began a third career as secretary of the Dartmouth Alumni College Association. He was liaison between the College and those who attended the two-week summer Alumni College sessions and assisted on numerous other alumni programs. He retired from the Dartmouth position in 1970.

"He has served his Dartmouth College class in a variety of ways from agent for the Alumni Fund to bequest co-chairman. He has also been active in recruitment and enrollment activities for the College. For several years, he has been the anonymous author of the coveted Alumni Awards. An exception was his own citation, written by J. Michael McGean, secretary of the College."

Sincere, hearty congratulations from the Dartmouth fellowship to Ike and to Harriott, his good wife for 49 years; to Fred '53, their son, his wife Betty, and their children, Martha and George.

Yes, Twenty-Two must give Mike McGean an A for the citation. It is not A+, however, because it does not do justice to Ike for all the superb work he has done in arranging so many happy class gatherings, such as football weekends and numerous other class assemblies in Hanover. The Class would never be the same without Ike. Consequently, it is no surprise that Ike will again be reunion chairman, as he was for our 45th and 50th, when we convene for our 55th Reunion in June 1977. Naturally, under Ike's leadership our 55th will be another gala gathering.

And 1922's prestige continued to soar at the same Alumni Council convocation when our Spencer F. Smith was honored as the outstanding Class Alumni Fund Agent for a class more than 40 years out of Dartmouth. (Wonder if anyone does really ever get "out" of Dartmouth.) Spenny received the Fred A. Howland Trophy, a plaque and a citation of achievement acknowledging Spenny's dedication and the fine results achieved under his "cheerful" leadership. Charlie Breed, secretary of the Alumni Fund Committee, summed it up: "Congratulations to you, Spenny, and the Class of 1922 for this richly deserved recognition." Spenny modestly adds: "It is entirely due to the Dartmouth loyalty of our '22 classmates and the devoted work of our 20 class agents." The Class delights in its own congratulations to Spenny and Marj, his gracious bride for the past 49 years, and to their daughter Cynthia, her husband and their children. And, most importantly, Spenny, '22 will never let Dartmouth down on the Alumni Fund.

Yea, at this Alumni Council meeting it was indeed once more an acclamation of our old war cry, "Twenty-Two Up!"

Sorrowfully, however, the Class now joins Sterry Waterman in bereavement on the loss of his wife Frances. She died suddenly in December while they were in San Marino, Calif., visiting their son Tom '59, his wife, and the two grandchildren. Dr. Ed Cramton represented the Class at the service in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

Snow, beautiful pure, white snow, now blankets the campus and the surrounding winter wonderland. The students attend classes, study, ski, or sit by the fire as they pursue "the adventure of the mind and heart in scholarship" and "the gleaming, dreaming walls of Dartmouth are miraculously builded in our hearts."

Secretary, 11 Brockway Road Hanover, N.H. 03755

Treasurer, 48 Fairgreen Place, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02167