1926

On this day of writing (April 21), with the temperature at 38°F, a final report on '26 winter vacationers is still in order, notwithstanding June publication. Charlie and Edith Bishop at Holmes Beach, Fla., hosted a return engagement for east coast Floridians, Ed and MargaretDooley, together with Danny and Sally Drury,Pete and Sue Johnson, Hal and CarolineMarshall, Holt and Lillian McAloney, Ed andEvelyn Hanlon and George and Janie Yaffee;Hank and Grace Whitmore forsook their usual Bermuda for a stay at Largo, Fla.; Russ andBetty Clark enjoyed the best that St. Croix had to offer; Herb and Fran Redman returned to their favorite Lantana in Bermuda, and Don andLibby Norstrand found sunshine on three-mile-long Green Turtle Cay off Abaco, Bahamas.

A recent note from Brant Wallace told of his motor trip with Millie to California and their eight days on the Hawaiian Islands, with a visit with Ritchie and Betty Smith in San Francisco possible on the return trip. Doug and VidaEverett returned early in April from a trip to Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Israel, to find the class birthday card awaiting Doug. Both had studied up on Bible stories to make things meaningful. Paul and Betsy Dillingham spent over three months in Holiday, Fla., having checked in at Ed and Margaret Dooley's and with Reg and Samie Hanson and Charlie andEdith Bishop on different occasions, during which time the class birthday card caught up with Paul.

We can record with pleasure that the one who represents the fourth generation of the Oakes family is about to matriculate at Dartmouth - the namesake of our Ab Oakes '26! He follows George, Oakes 1883, Abner Oakes '26, Abner Oakes '56. Congratulations to Abner Oakes '81! And many thanks to Abner '56 for letting us know.

Acknowledging his class birthday card, George Champion kindly enclosed a copy of the annual report of the Economic Development Council of New York City, Inc., of which he is chairman of the board and chief executive officer. The undertaking - "pro bono publico" as George puts it - keeps him busy full-time. The council is a non-profit organization to bring the capabilities of the business community to bear on the vital urban problems of New York City. George is thankful he has the opportunity to make a contribution in a situation that needs great change, and the report indicates that much progress has been made.

The record longest friendship of two members of 1926 - held by Hub Harwood and TomFloyd-Jones, who knew one another when aged eight - appears to be broken by that of WarrenFellingham and Ernest Stebbins, which predated their kindergarten schooling at age five. Fellie recalls their sitting on a concrete wall at Barr's Corner in DesMoines near the end of their first year in school and discussing the world as they then saw it. Visiting this site recently, Fellie was amazed that the concrete wall was only a curb along the sidewalk!

Another friendship was reported by Hump Campbell, who noted that Nate Parker and he were classmates in first grade at age six, which places them in second place in our 1926 contest. The pair, whose birthdates are one day apart, continued through junior high, high school, and college. We were sorry to learn from Hump's letter that his wife Margaret is not at all well; but they are hoping a new treatment will help.

At the annual Boston alumni association dinner, the 1926 table consisted of Russ and Betty Clark, Hub Harwood, Steve Mitchell. Don and Libby Norstrand and Stew and Mary Lou Orr.

Walt Armstrong in Reno, Nev., thanking the class for noting his 74th, tells of not enough snowfall but bitterly cold weather. As for the Armstrongs, Walt has a job in the Masonic Order keeping him busy on the phone and typewriter, but Mary came down with a case of cabin fever, so off they went on a trip to Long Beach, Cal.

Bill Hughes has good news. Palmer's cataract operations are over and both eyes are now fine, so they decided on a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia for a much-needed rest. In his next sentence Bill said they had enjoyed several nights with Jake and Evie Jacobus in Falmouth, Mass.. and had seen Tom andMarion Floud-Jones and Walt and Billie Rankin, all of whom were fine and full of beans ... a much-needed rest?

If any one in 1926 has waited until the last minute to send in his Alumni Fund check, AlLouer, who spends so much time on this important work, says now is the time to beat the June 30th deadline. In these days of rising costs, alumni assistance is vital and can make the difference in the College breaking even or incurring a deficit.

Summer is here - enjoy it . . . read about 1926 again in October . . . but your scribe's well is dry . . . send in a bundle of summer news.

Secretary 9 Gammons Road Waban, Mass. 02168

Head Agent, 12 Roger Williams Ave. Highland Park, Ill. 60035