1920
What a debt we 1920s owe to Dick Holbrook '31 for his article "Jazz Comes to College" in the November issue of the MAGAZINE. I know how much time,, effort, and careful research Dick put into the preparation of his article and how much fun he derived from its execution. What he cannot know, however, is the pleasure and fond nostalgia we experienced from the text and the pictures which accompanied it. Of that fine group of men, all but one have gone to wherever one goes after departing this world, leaving to us and to Dartmouth this fine heritage of music. Who knows, they may even now be reassembled elsewhere in the "Jazz hereafter.
The one man referred to above is Master of Drums Jimmie Parkes. Jim is still going strong, and we hope we will see him in Hanover in 1980 for our 60th reunion in June of that year. Jim is not only honorary chair of his local Riverview hospital (a fine facility) and a bank director, but he has been since 1932 and still is vice president of Lawes, Shrewsbury, N.J.'s "oldest Country Store." In fact Jim operates the company's branch office in Fair Haven, N.J. This "country store" is a fantastic operation which handles all kinds of things: coal, oil, fertilizer, garden supplies, complete tack and horse supplies, feeds, etc., etc., etc. This active octogenarian is proudest of his doctor son, who is not only a Columbia University medical faculty member connected with two leading New York hospitals, but also the highly respected medical doctor for the New York Mets. His career is a story in itself - a fine young Dartmouth graduate, Class of 1957.
From Leo and Alice Ungar several weeks ago arrived a lovely postcard mailed from Cairo, Egypt (not Illinois). The message was, "We have had a great trip - sailing 1000 miles up the Nile. So far no Dartmouth men or women. We will spend December in Florida. Our best." Welcome back, Alice and Leo!
Al Cate, from Needham, Mass., writes that he is joining the ranks of the octogenarians come April and enquires whether any other classmates are flying their own planes. Al got his pilot's certificate in 1931 and, except for a W.W. II interlude of two years, has been flying ever since. He has had two planes, a Cessna 140 from 1953 to 1965 and since then a Cessna 150. What a pleasant hobby: a fine way to see the world and avoid traffic problems! Happy landings, Al.
The framework of the 60th reunion organization is now established, according to PrexyMcGoughran. Bill Carter and Dal Dalrymple will co-chair it; Frank G. Moulton has accepted the position of treasurer; and our "Twenty" editor Bud Weymouth will be Hanover coordinator and publicity man; regional tub thumpers will be appointed later. Make your plans now to return to our 60th reunion in June 1980.
On January 15, my 80th birthday, Head Coach Joe Yukica was in Phoenix, and our local club entertained him at the uptown Arizona Club. It was a gala occasion. Laura and I attended and had as our guests two Hanoverians, Marge and Will Goodhue. They winter in nearby Sun City. Coach Joe was in fine form and gave us insights on the team and the football season so. successfully concluded. We also had a showing of the season's football highlights. We can readily understand why Joe was so successful his initial year on the Hanover Plain. We are indeed in very good hands under the tutelage of this very fine man. We hope his prospecting in the area yielded good ore.
Leo and Mary Dowling, many years residents of Hartford, Conn., now live at 36 Harrison Drive, Suffield, Conn. 06078, where they are enjoying the delights of an old New England small town. Even the winter of 1978 did not dampen their enthusiasm for their new life. We hope that the winter of 1979 was likewise a joyous one.
In response to an 80th birthday card, CharlieAshton writes that he and his wife are enjoying life among the Christmas trees at the Christmas tree capital of the world - Indiana, Pa. In the Pine Tree Mobile Home Park where the Ashtons reside, the owner cuts thousands of trees for the Christmas trade and has many more thousands growing. He is but one of the several tree farmers in that area. Though the winters are a bit rough, the Ashtons enjoy the great beauty of the countryside among the trees.
Mistakes sometimes pay real dividends. Thus an 80th birthday card, brought a correction from Harry Bower. The day was right, the year was wrong. Harry lives in Bradentown, Fla., but in the summer he travels by auto-train to Washington, D.C., and thence by car to Ipswich, Mass., where he has maintained a summer residence for many years. Harry submitted long ago to me his "Reminiscences of His Freshman Year at Dartmouth." It makes marvelous reading. He told of a young Dartmouth chemistry instructor (who could have been Fletcher Lowe or Andy Scarlett) who inspired him to go to M.I.T. to study chemical engineering and take a degree from M.I.T. Harry followed the advice, graduated from M.1.T., and became a successful chemical engineer in the Boston area. But .his memories of that one year at Dartmouth are forever green. We hope he will return to Dartmouth for our 60th reunion. Anyway, I propose then to read his "Reminiscences."
No more for now or I'll be admonished by Shelby Grantham for exceeding my allotment of space. Adios, amigos.
2549 East Beryl Ave. Phoenix, Ariz. 85028
