1957's 20th

Perfect weather, a good turnout — 102 classmates, 94 wives, and a gaggle of 186 kids — and a fine program arranged by George Southwick's hard-working reunion committee (FrankMooney, Dick Norris, Dick Perkins, BobShirley, Dick Mann, and George Johnston) combined to make our 20th reunion a memorable affair.

The campus was as attractive as ever, actually more so with the coeds, and the Fairweathers have the same charm (okay, how about ambiance?) as they did when we were in Hanover almost 20 years ago. Even the sliding "His-Hers" signs on the corridor john doors did not cause any unsurmountable problems.

As usual the College and the student reunion workers did a superb job, and the Class owes a round of snaps and sincere thanks to Bruce Kelley '76, Carol Muller '77 (any of you who still have misgivings about coeds at Dartmouth should meet this sharp and attractive young lady!), Roger Phillips '79, and Sandy Wood '77.

Families began drifting onto the campus on Friday afternoon. After cocktails in the class tent, the kids all marched off to Thayer Hall for chow, while the rest of us were piped (by bagpipers) down to the spectacular new Thompson Arena for dinner.

Later, while the kids enjoyed movies and other planned entertainment, many of us trooped over to Spaulding Auditorium to hear the Glee Club. The tent opened again at 10 p.m., complete with piano player, an open bar, and the proverbial keg. The writer put on a slide show depicting our four years in Hanover. Some of us looked a bit younger in those days! My thanks to those classmates who provided the slides, and to my wife Anne who did most of the editing.

Bands at other class tents played well into the wee hours, and those of us who couldn't sleep simply joined the revelers. Rumor has it that a few hardy souls adjourned to Dragon and were still there at daylight. Some guys are gluttons for punishment.

On Saturday, the College catered breakfast in the tent, thereby saving us from the long waiting lines in the Hanover restaurants. A hot-air balloon on the Green failed to lift off for the second day in a row, and the balloon operators were roundly booed by '57 kids. Many families took to the tennis courts, and a few foursomes got in 18 quick holes.

Dick (Moose) Leavitt and Ted (Tall Ted) Bradley summoned up their courage, tucked in their stomachs, and rowed with other crew alumni against the U.S. Men's Olympic rowing squad, which was training in Hanover. The Olympians squeaked out a victory. More importantly, Moose and Ted survived the race.

We had a great class picnic at Storrs Pond, with barbecued chicken, a keg, frisbee, volleyball, swimming, and some fine Dixieland music from the Black Eagles Dixieland Band. Outgoing class president Dave Cook did not jam with the band — he and Ellie opted to climb Mt. Moosilauke and place the class flag at the summit.

On Saturday night it was cocktails on the terrace at the Top of the Hop, followed by the class banquet in Alumni Hall. Warner (Skip)Traynham, dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation at the College, gave the invocation. Dave Cook conducted what was heralded as the "world's shortest business meeting," in order to adopt a new constitution. The meeting lasted less than 60 seconds, and we may enter it in the Guinness Book of Records. Master of ceremonies Ed Waldron was, as always, in fine fettle. Some of Ed's stories appear herewith (if they do not appear herewith, the censors obviously got into the act!).

After dinner, the new officers were formally introduced — George Southwick, president, BenBixby, secretary; and Tom Keller, treasurer. The Class presented Dave Cook with a captain's chair, suitably inscribed, in recognition of his outstanding service as president for the past five years. As reported earlier this year, Dave was selected by the College as Class President of the Year.

Chris Wren came all the way from Moscow to be our banquet speaker. On home leave from his time-consuming job as bureau chief of The NewYork Times' Moscow bureau, Chris gave a moving talk about life in the USSR and how his experiences and relationships there have brought home to him the real meaning of freedom as a student at the College and as an American citizen. Chris and his family look forward to a few months in the U.S. Among their priorities: avocado and fresh asparagus.

Back at the tent, we danced to the music of Norman Locke and the Six Pages of Dixie, a good band out of Beantown. At midnight, we were treated to a medley of Dartmouth songs by the Dartmouth Aires and the Distractions, a distracting coed group. I don't know what happened after that — I went to bed!

A catered Sunday breakfast, complete with a bit of the hair-of-the-dog, capped off a fine weekend. The Barnes family will be at our 25th. See you then. In the meantime, Ben Bixby takes over this column. Over to you, Ben.

CLASS SECRETARY