1929

FIFTIETH REUNION

Our 50th began when 154 classmates, 150 wives, and five widows began arriving from 28 states and Canada. The Hal Hirsches and the Bill Keyeses came from Washington, Steve Balkam from San Diego, and Bert Sine from Calgary. The continuous greetings were reward enough for coming, but there was plenty more.

Officially, things started at the class tent in front of Massachusetts Hall as Trunkie Brittan and his team handed out badges and all we needed to know for a great reunion. Bus tours showed some of us how Dartmouth grows and changes, while the campus looks almost the same.

We were spread over Mass, Hitchcock, and Gile dorms, the Inn, and the Lodge, so the tent wasn't always busy, but Trunkie had a hot piano player who loosened up a lot of vocal cords at night.

The first formal item was our Friday dinner, short on speeches and long on friendship, during which we were delighted by the singing of the Dartmouth Woodswind. No one could take in all the receptions, panels, and other affairs, but nearly everyone came to Rollins Chapel on Saturday morning for a touching and inspiring memorial service for 261 of our classmates, led by the Right Reverend Archie Crowley. From there, we went to the Webster steps for class pictures that hardly show Richard Barrett's umbrella, and then on to Dartmouth Hall for the class meeting.

Duke Barto opened with a poem (see newsletter). Jack Hubbard reported on our sound treasury, and Ed Chinlund and DickBlack encouraged us in our efforts toward our Alumni Fund goal of $400,000. Hal Ripley, who chairs the nominating committee, offered a slate of Duke Barto as president, Trunkie Brittan as vice president and reunion chair, Gus Wiedenmayer as vice president, Jack Hubbard as treasurer, Harry Baehr as newsletter editor, and Hal Ripley as secretary. The slate was voted in, along with a 25-member executive committee that's reported in the newsletter.

After our '29 alumni luncheon, we moved to the Alumni Association meeting, where JohnDickey gave a vibrant 50-year address, and Duke Barto was honored with the Dartmouth Alumni Award because of his many achievements for the College.

The class dinner featured a performance by the Dartmouth Aires. It and the cocktail parties and picnic were held in Thayer because of fear of rain.

The class was again proud, at a beautiful Sunday morning Commencement, to see Bill Andres awarded a doctor of laws degree, and MauryMandelbaum a doctor of humane letters degree. We who could stay over capped it all at a golden wedding celebration given for Duke and HortyBarto by their family.

Rusty Ayers writes for all of us when he says, "Nobody comes away with a warmer glow from our reunions. ... I simply hail whomsoever I chance into, and find it as satisfying as any routine I could dream up." I'll add, for following classes, "Don't miss your 50th." And to '29ers:

We've social security And sexual purity And not many vices at all.

But on with the struggle - The Hanover bug'll Soon beckon us back in the fall.

Box 246, 21 Emmons Road Monument Beach, Mass. 02553