1938

FORTIETH REUNION

Our 40th is over ... and it was great ... and the amazing Class of 1938 still is - amazing, and great, that is - and feisty too.

In one of his pre-reunion pitches, Bob Reeve said that he was sure that every one who attended would certainly enjoy, and that was surely true. Bob and his well-organized and hard-working reunion committee - JohnnyJohnson, Gene Waggerman, Howie Casler, JimChandler, Jack Graham, Ed Perrin, JohnTower, Carl Von Pechmann, and Ed White - deserve the heart-felt thanks of all the rest of us, for a memorable happening that was truly well-conceived and well-executed. I quote Charlie Hathaway directly: "The reunion was great. The committee did a fabulous job. I shall treasure my D1938 shirt until it wears out. Would that all of our classmates could have been there. It made me feel as if I had graduated five years ago. In fact, the women students impressed me so much that I kept saying to myself, 'Oh, to be fifty again!!"

To recapitulate, let alone comment on, all the events would greatly overtax '38's line limit. All of us who were there have our own special happy recollections and reminiscences. Those who weren't able to be present missed a heck of a good time, a lot of good times. For instance, renewing friendships at the class tent between Dartmouth Hall and Middle Fayer, some with classmates we see pretty often, but some friendships going back 40 to 44 years ago. (How many of us, 40-plus years ago, wondered what our 40th reunion would be like?)

The alumni dinner Monday night featured fine food deftly dispensed, in the same, though ingeniously transformed, locale where hockey pucks fly. And then there was the Glee Club concert. I've been fortunate in hearing the Glee Club quite a few times over these going-on 44 years, and it seems to me I enjoy it more every time. Paul Zeller surely does a super job. And, as I may have suggested before, it would take a far more vitriolic curmudgeon than I to see and hear the current club without being sure that co-education at Dartmouth is a good thing.

Even without reunion jogs, breakfasts at Thayer were good breakfasts.

Tuesday Bob Harvey and Roy Chamberlin led our memorial service, with an impressive number of our classmates and wives attending. Looking down the list that inevitably grows longer, and finding not only names we only barely remember, but also friends from so long ago, is a sad but moving experience.

Many classmates and many wives took in the class meeting in 105 Dartmouth. President TomMcGrath expressed gratification with the Class's reunion-year fund-raising efforts and also with the fact that there were eight new reunion participants this year. To Tom himself is due the deep gratitude of the Class for so ably taking over and carrying on the duties of class president, which continuing health problems forced Squee Ellis to relinquish.

The nominating committee's slate of officers and executive committee members for the next five years was voted. It is as follows: president, Clark Barrett; vice president, Wright Mallory; secretary, Jim Briggs; treasurer, GusSouthworth; executive committee members: Clark Barrett, Henry Beck, Stinky Davis, BobHallock, Dick Holt, Phil Leach, WrightMallory, Bob Manegold, Henry McDuff, SandyMills, Shorty Pabst, Bob Reeve, Johnny Scotford, Gil Tanis, Carl Von Pechmann, and TomMcGrath.

In view of all the reunion committee efforts on behalf of the athletically inclined, it was too bad that the weather didn't cooperate better, but fun and games were nevertheless enjoyed, both weather permitting and weather not withstanding. Furthermore, a number attended a seminar on, and thought earnestly about, the timely subject, "Are You Planning - to Retire?" Others just retired to the tent for continuing fellowship.

The highlight of our reunion has got to have been the reception and Class dinner at the Quechee Lakes Club. We were surely done proud, and it was a thoroughly happy and memorable occasion ... with nostalgia in the ascendent and Lutz and Hibler at the piano.

Anne and I weren't able to stay over through Wednesday afternoon and evening, but there was even more to come. I can't personally report, because I wasn't there, but there was a class picnic at Storrs Pond; an illustrated talk by Charlie Wyckoff on his photographic pursuit of the Loch Ness Monster; and, Wednesday evening, the Class Dinner in Alumni Hall, at which President Kemeny spoke and SandyMills was presented an Alumni Award for service to his profession, community, and college.

Our 40th is history, but we can still be alliteratively feisty for our 45th ... and our 50th ... and our 55th. Think positively, and plan to attend them all.

But before that, and perhaps before you see the next ALUMNI MAGAZINE (so it has to be noted in this one), the Yale game will be taking place, this year in Hanover, October 14. As has been their continuingly hospitable wont for many years, Gil and Fran Tanis plan to make the back yard of their home at 15 North Park Street available as a pre-game gathering place. See you there.

Pat Gorman '38 captures his class's 40th for posterity - and is captured in turn.

Box 187 Damariscotta, Me. 05453