1926

There were 40 of the 1926 family to help open the football season in Hanover — with little success. But those there had very valid reason to celebrate with the announcement at the pregame luncheon in Oberlander Lounge that Class President Tubber Weymouth and BarbaraHayward, beloved member of the class, are engaged to be married. "They were our winning team": this phrase coined by Hub and DetHarwood best expresses the feeling of the class on this happy union. Names and numbers of all the celebrants have appeared in "Smoke Signals" (except possibly those of Ben andMercedes Kent, whose names were added late to the original list and may have missed the print- out due to poor thinking by your scribe). JohnManser, as usual, handled all details perfectly: motel reservations, cocktails, dinner, and — most importantly — introducing the bride- and groom-to-be.

Bill and Florence Willard have enjoyed the summer at their place in Walpole, N.H., not too many miles from Hanover, where they joined the mid-August reunion. Bill has closed his downtown office and will handle business from their Washington residence.

A July soiree was enjoyed by Russ and BettyClark, Paul and Mary Newhall, and Don andLibby Norstrand at the home and club in Braintree, Mass., of Herb and Fran Redman. Herb and Fran later sent a card from Hawaii, where they were celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Nine priceless snapshots of 1922 to 1926 vintage of Players actors were recently found by Gail Borden. He recalls playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night, which had a three-night stand — a long run for a non-musical with an all-male cast.

It takes a four-wheel drive jeep to get to their Moosehead Lake camp, but that is where Pauland Mary Newhall enjoyed a two-week vacation. Midst Maine's finest fall foliage and wildlife, they were able to recharge their batteries for another go at city living.

Keeping in practice for his next round with "Smoke Signals," Associate Editor Art Wilcox sent out cards seeking news items. Dolores Chipman obliged, noting that two recently married grandchildren had arrived home simultaneously, generating five parties. Keep swinging, Dolores!

Bill Viall notes that birthday greetings are now coming from the "grand old class," taking into account that it was his 74th that he spent with his son and family in Michigan.

This is an off-year for travel for Jack andDawsy Bickford, who circled the world in 1977 and took in China in 1978. This year they golfed and visited with such personages as BrantWallace, Jack Roberts, Bob Cleary, and Charlie Bishop.

Bruce and Kay Eaken had a novel round trip from Cleveland to Lake Superior on a Great Lakes ore freighter (maximum eight passengers). Then, for diversity, they spent a month in Paris and southern France.

Thanking the class for his birthday card, our senior member from Rock Hill, S.C., has advice for us all. Gob and Marion Des Marais take their doctor's repeated prescription to "keep going," so they have agreed to teach for another year at York Technical College. They plan to be at the 55th reunion, saying "a positive attitude about a privilege can help to make it possible."

In his inexhaustible '26 files, Ed Hanlon found and sent to Bill Hughes a copy of the Sachem oration which Bill had written and given at the stump of the Old Pine in 1926. Bill recalled all the circumstances of the event and said that the original script is now in the class archives at Baker Library. He also mentioned — apropos of classmates as ushers — that in 1934, when he and Palmer were married, that Mac MacDavitt, Jake Jacobus, and Tom Floyd-Jones had served in that capacity (to say 'nothing of three other non-'26 ushers and the minister — all of Dartmouth).

9 Gammons Road Waban, Mass. 02168