1946

Without question, the highlight of class activities during this past year was the fall minireunion held in Hanover over Cornell football weekend. Despite a hard-fought loss on the gridiron, the weekend was a smashing success.

It was kicked off on Friday afternoon with a get-together up at Reg and Nancy Pierce's Inn in Etna, with the 35th reunion committee and numerous hecklers in attendance. Amid lots of laughs, a few good ideas, and the usual extraneous comments, reunion heads Dottie andHarvey White assured us that everything is well in hand for next June. The Whites and their committee have obviously been hard at work, and more about their plans will be in later columns. However, one request from the committee for information from the class is pertinent at this time. The College and our class would like to recognize during our reunion certain '46ers who have made significant contributions in their specific areas of endeavor and/or have led particularly interesting lives. The criteria are as broad as they are long, and are surely not limited to financial or other more publicized measurements of success. I have personally taken on this interesting project with the help of Frank Cole, Bob Heussler, and Dune Fitchet, and we would greatly appreciate nominations and suggestions from the class at large. Please send your thoughts to your humble secretary (address above) and they will be included in our search.

The reunion committee meeting was followed by a brief happy hour, a speedy dinner, and a hurried trip into Hanover to take part in a big parade, pep rally, and bonfire. Again, there was a great turnout of classmates, plus several thousand other cheery souls spurring the Green on to victory. It is really quite a sight to witness about 5,000 people assembled on the Green in front of Dartmouth Row reflected in the glow of a huge bonfire.

Saturday morning brought a even bigger and better turnout for the pre-game picnic at Bob and Jackie Kimball's. The weather was a mite cold but certainly didn't cool the spirits of the assembled multitude, which by this time numbered over 75 people. Following the game, about 65 of us went back up to the Pierce's for a happy hour and a great dinner. It was so good (best piece of beef 1 have had in years), that BillBower and I snuck back into the kitchen for seconds, got evicted by a hard nosed innkeeper, but persisted; finally. Big Reg melted as easily as his beef did in our mouths. Dave Weld kept the tempo up, emceeing a multitude of brief after-dinner comments by numerous classmates and guests. Then we settled in for a late evening of chatter, songs, etc.

I believe the thing that made our get-together such a pleasant affair was that there were so many new and interesting faces in attendance. Lots of people were back for the first time in years, and I really believe they found it was worth the effort. Sharing the distance prize were Jim and Dorie Boyes and Jim and Elizabeth Pettit from Charlotte, N.C., and Hal and Evelyn Plotnick from Detroit. The Boyeses and Plotnicks had not been back for 30 years. I think they were surprised with the turnout, and we locals and hangers-on from New England were delighted to have them back. Almost to the person, they stated that they would be back in June for our full reunion. We hope many more new and interesting faces will join them. Remember the dates - June 9, 10, and 11.

3 North Balch Street Hanover, N.H. 03755