1927

The class of 1927's fall reunion on September 21 and 22 brought out a record number of 84 persons. Each reunion seems to be more special than the last, as old friends get together to renew old ties and experiences. We were especially pleased to see the wives of seven former classmates: Peg Funkhouser, Allice Wormser, Ruth Baker, Claire Greener, Thelma Wyckoff, Kay Prescott, and Betty Cusack. We are sure that they, as well as the rest of us, returned home with a strong feeling of that very special 1927 spirit.

Frank Strong and Tom Gillespie (and their wives, too, of course) deserve special thanks for the smooth operation of events. Also, Steve Tracy should be congratulated for arranging the Saturday night banquet in the attractive setting of the Sheraton Inn in West Leb. There, Tom Gillespie was in his "usual fine fettle as emcee. Speaker of the evening was Jock Davis, whose family has owned and operated large fruit orchards and dairy farms for six generations in Sterling Junction, Mass. One grandson, Jonathan '83, who is the third generation of his family at Dartmouth and expects to carry on the family tradition, was in the audience. Jock's humorous remarks acquainted us with such aspects of his business as test-tube cattle breeding. And his examples of the frustration caused by excessive government regulation in the apple-picking industry not only pointed out the problems of bureaucracy but made it abundantly clear that such regulation is, in many respects, more unhelpful than helpful.

The usual Saturday morning business meeting, chaired by President Ken Murray, was routine except for Larry Scammon and Hale Ham's remarks concerning the changing function and needs of Dick Hall's House. It has ceased being a convalescent home, as we knew it, and now is a diagnostic and out-patient center. This is due to HUD regulations which no longer permit the building to be used as a hospital facility, without making extremely costly renovations. Health awareness has indeed become an integral and focal part of the Dartmouth Health Service, which has Dick Hall's House for its headquarters for an intensive and far-reaching program of health education and prevention. Last year there were over 25,000 out-patient visits. Both Larry and Hale felt that more permanence should be given to 1927's involvement in the house in the years to come. In response, the class unanimously passed a motion made by Paul Hannah, instructing the president to appoint a committee to develop a plan at the earliest possible date for the establishment of an endowment for Dick Hall's House. This will be done with the cooperation of the class of 1977 and with the proviso that contributions to the fund be part of the Campaign for Dartmouth.

The football game with Princeton deserves no mention whatsoever other than that the weather, as if in partial compensation for the unsatisfactory score, was warm and pleasant and gave us all a few hours to bask in the September sun.

And now to belatedly report a few old news items. Gordon Smith was in print last spring when a full-page spread in the Salem, Mass., Evening News pictured him drawing cartoons, while surrounded by a group of young students of the Eveleth School in Marblehead. This was part of a week-long cultural arts program at the school. Smitty also presented a one-man showing of his cartoons in May at the Abbott Public Library. We are indebted to Sam Lyons, also of Marblehead, for the foregoing.

Paul Revere O'Connell is in for congratulations for his recent election as a member, and also as vice president, of the board of the newly-reorganized Federal Savings and Loan Association of Worcester, Mass. Still adhering to his policy of taking a little more time away from his law practice each year, he and Helen began 1979 with two weeks in Florida in February and two in Hawaii in March.

We are always delighted to hear from our old friend, Frell Owl, after marching with him for four years in the Dartmouth Band as he blew lusty um-pah, um-pahs on his bass tuba. In his latest letter, Frell noted that he is still very active in Indian affairs but looks forward to some relief from responsibilities in the near future. His terms with the visiting committee at Dartmouth and the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina have recently been completed. Also, President Carter is expected to soon name a successor for him on the Federal Council of Aging; but since Senate approval is required, this may take a few months. Frell has served on the Council since its formation in 1974.

In closing, we are sorry to have to report the death of three classmates — Francis L. Coulter on August 14, George E. Howell on September 18, and Arthur H. Norris on September 22. Details will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Magazine.

11 Rolling Lane Wayland, Mass. 01778