1931's 45th

June 14 to 16 (and 17 for some) will never be forgotten by the 117 classmates, wives, and children who with five widows brought the total attendance at our 45th Reunion to 235. We salute the courage of the widows who joined us and hope they enjoyed themselves as much as we enjoyed their presence. They were MarieBenger, Mildred Engstrom, Esther Jonas, BettyNichols, and Harriet Wolff.

We were scattered throughout Gile, Streeter, and Lord with the class tent in front of Streeter. Some 60 odd preferred the Hanover Inn, and about 30 others stayed in their own homes or found other accommodations in the area.

At registration we were greeted by Ernie andAngie Moore in their Colonial costumes. We were on our own until the Alumni Dinner that evening in Thayer Hall. Some of us took in the informal visiting in the President's garden, and most of attended the Glee Club Concert that night. There followed the gathering in the tent with beer on tap and set-ups for those who brought their own liquor. Rog Burrill and JohnBoermeester alternated at the piano.

On Tuesday after breakfast at Thayer Hall we went to hear President Kemeny in Spaulding Auditorium. Once again we were impressed by his knowledge of every aspect of Dartmouth College and his adroit fielding of questions from the audience.

Our Class Memorial Service was held in Aquinas House with the Reverend James F.McElroy officiating and Rog Burrill at the organ. Jim's service was simple and moving and thus we remembered 156 deceased classmates.

Next to Storrs Pond for a picnic luncheon. Each classmate received a stein and his fill of Old Vienna Beer or O'Keefe Ale furnished by the generosity of Si Leach. A great recreation program was planned by Hank and RoseMcCarthy. However, lack of space proved an insurmountable handicap and the only event was a bean-bag-tossing contest. That night we had our Class Dinner in Alumni Hall, preceded by a cocktail party at the Top of the Hop. President Cogswell presided at the dinner, where we were entertained by the Dartmouth Distractions and a series of film clips from our undergraduate days which had been edited by JohnCogswell, Shep Wolff and Irv Bettman.

At the close of the dinner Reunion Chairman Doug Woodring presented John, on behalf of the Class, with an inscribed clock in appreciation of his extraordinary leadership during his terra as president.

After dinner we retired to the tent for Rog andTrudy Burrill's program. Slides showing the sheet-music covers and the words were projected on a screen and, while Rog played the piano, we attempted to sing many old-time songs. The sing-along was followed by the showing of slides taken at previous reunions.

On Wednesday after breakfast at Thayer the Class Meeting was held in Silsby Hall. The following officers were elected to serve for the next five years: president, Bill Minehan; vice president, Hank McCarthy; secretary, JackWeatherley; treasurer, John Cogswell. The following positions were also filled: newsletter editor, Bill Wendell; reunion chairmen, RedGristede and Charlie Schneider; class agents, Don Stoddard and Doug Woodring; women's committee, Betty Nichols; bequest chairmen, George Nickum and John Benson; regional chairman, Dave Borkum. In addition to the above the following were elected to the executive committee: Jack Bean, Irv Bettman, Bob Biesel,Rog Burrill, John Boermeester, Ed Brummer,Walt Douglas, Jim Frame, Gale Freeman, JohnGoodwillie, Ori Hobbs, Si Leach, Bill Little,Cliff McDonald, Leo McKenney, John Martin,Bill Matteson, Ernie Moore, Vic Rockhill, BillSchuldenfrei, Fred Slaughter, Jim Swift, DaveToomey, Hart Walter, and Bill Wilson.

The farewell luncheon was held at the Bema. Si Leach humorously presented a Canadian Olympic coin to President Kemeny. Then FredSlaughter in his senior blazer, corduroy plusfours, and cane with wife Ruth took over as auctioneer and assistant. Abner Dean's original drawing which pictured the theme of our 45th went to Pete and Fran Akerlund and various and sundry items donated by Red Gristede produced a total of $722 for the Alumni Fund.

The weather was good, the fellowship great, the food and drink excellent and — thanks to a very able reunion chairman in Doug Woodring, reunion treasurer, Irv Bettman; regional chairman, Dave Borkum; and the following committee members — it was a perfect reunion: Rog Burrill, Jim Frame, Hank McCarthy, Cliff McDonald, Jim McElroy, Leo McKenney, Ernie Moore, Betty Nichols, Fred Slaughter, and Jack Weatherley. Thanks go to their wives, to Si Leach as previously mentioned and to JackBean for his gift of handsome reunion book matches. Special thanks to Lucy Cogswell for hand lettering our reunion badges.

Those who stayed over had a steak roast at the D.O.C. House on Occum Pond. Six couples finally wound up reunion by attending Reunion College — a five-hour seminar including luncheon in Stell Hall. The professors' preferred title was "The Politics and Literature of Marriage."

Class Secretary