1949

The summer doldrums generated little in the way of news, but pulling several diverse letters and notes together indicated that a goodly number of '49ers have become committed sharers. Reflecting the dedication of some 50- plus per cent of the class was our second consecutive goal-breaking Alumni Fund contribution. The freshman trips sponsored by the D.O.C., beginning as I write these notes, have benefited from almost 100 scholarships funded by our class dues and augmented for the second year by Richie Hunt, with matching grants from Johnson and Higgins.

The gift of time can be even more rewarding, and I suspect was a major inducement for Sam Kilner-in accepting the directorship of development and a trusteeship for the national A.B.C. program, with total responsibility for fund- raising. Sam is also heavily involved in the Campaign for Dartmouth. On the subject of that campaign, Ed Leede has recently been named vice chair for major gifts in the Southwest. Ed is also a member of the Dartmouth College Athletic Council, serving as its representative on the Alumni Council, and he chaired our supremely successful 30th reunion giving campaign.

For some, the right to serve has to be fought for and won. As a beneficiary of the Quent Kopp clipping service, I have been feeling the heat from a hotly-contested mayoral campaign. In the multi-interest constituency of San Francisco, issues must be chosen with care and silence may sometimes be the most effective position.

Several recent phone conversations with head agent Gordon Thomas produced such noteworthy items as the fact that when the temperature hits 100° one may jump into 45° water, but not for very long. This fun-fact was developed first-hand by Gordon, Doris, and friends during a two-week cruise in a 45-foot sloop among the islands off British Columbia last July. Gordon, who always has a wealth of information, also provided the news that Marlena Conkling Smith joined the ranks of '49er progeny on July 27, weighing in at eight pounds, one ounce. She will make her home with Spike Smith and Nancy in Exeter, N.H., where Spike is engaged in selling visual training aids to schools. John Simpson, in more traditional fashion, informed me of the birth of his first grandchild, Sarah, born to his eldest daughter Christine.

On the business scene, rapidly-advancing Henry H. Williams has moved up from senior vice president and trust officer of Berkshire Bank and Trust Company to president and member of the board of directors. Henry joined the bank in 1973 after 22 years with Jones- Beloit Corporation of Beloit, Wise. And finally, from Greenland, N.H., comes word that RayDrake was elected president of the Seacoast Multiple Listing Service and will chair the New Hampshire commercial investment division. His company is Drake Associates, a real estate firm and a builder-dealer for New England Modular Homes.

Hope to see many of you in Hanover on October 26 and 27 for the Cornell game and our annual fall reunion.

2 Cornfield Road Simsbury, Conn. 06070