1939

March was not a good month for 1939. We received word that Charlie Davis succumbed to cancer on March 25, and just five days later, Charlie Urschel died in San Antonio, Tex., cause unknown. (See the obituary section.)

April was more positive, however, with a gathering of the class executive committee at the Upper Montclair Country Club, Corner, Coulson, Goding, Hird, Bob Howe, Kaiser,Macmannis, Miller, and Tomkins in attendance. Spread upon the minutes was a letter written by the assistant secretary of the College, praising 1939 for its consistent record of dedication and service to the College. We would add an addendum to this stating that in the class officers meetings just attended, the class won an honorable mention in the annual class sweepstakes award (an award we won two years ago), and Prexy MacMannis addressed the Class Presidents Association at its meeting to explain the formula of our success.

Cornie Miller reported that we were maintaining a good head of steam on dues collections, that our current cash balance totals $14,166.25, all invested in a money fund for maximum interest. This is a good start toward our goal of $50,000 for our 50th reunion gift. The long-tabled vote to increase dues was approved to include an increase of $2.50 to fund our 50th reunion book, and another of $2.50 to establish an endowment fund of $5,000 to underwrite our memorial book fund. This last becomes necessary when one considers the ex pected depletion of our ranks as the erosion of the years gets to our numbers. Cornie also advised that our scholarship fund (awarded to Gail Koziara 'B2, perhaps the most outstanding scholar-athlete at Dartmouth) is in order for the year. Tomkins reported that he will have more information on his "Indian Project" at the Bonnie Oaks meeting this fall. This project is aimed at reworking some lyrics in the abandoned class songs to prompt the singing once more of Eleazar and some of the other familiar ditties.

Work by Endy Smith and Lou Highmark was reviewed in connection with the class awards that they have been designing. One, the Nineteen-Thirty-Nine Man of The Year, to be presented this fall at Bonnie Oaks to one of our deserving number, will be suitably marked with a handsome bronze plaque designed by DickBrooks and carrying the familiar Indian image with an inscription by Lou Highmark. The Dave Lilly Award to be given to the person establishing the best new career in retirement was also discussed. Since this is only to be given at reunions, parameters for the award were tabled until this coming fall.

Bob Kaiser, our bequest chairman, reported that the class box score looks as follows: Three matured bequests for $23,102; ten Life Income Trusts for $443,860; one life insurance for $500,000 face value; 36 expectancies; 43 "hope or plan" to participate; and four additions to existing life income trusts since October 1980, for a total of $35,417. Mini matters on the fall mini-reunion were framed by head honcho Kaiser, who reports the date for Bonnie Oaks is set for September 19 weekend (Princeton). Announcement will be forthcoming via "Thirty Nine Out."

The class officers meetings held the weekend before I write these notes saw MacMannis, Kaiser, Goding, Bob Davidson, and your scribe in attendance. All but Davidson were accompanied by charming wives. And we were delighted to have Mary Darby with us for the weekend as a guest of the College and the Kaisers. Wes Goding had a nasty accident, a tumble down some narrow stairs at the Norwich Inn, which required a trip to Mary Hitchcock and some bed rest, but no bones were reported broken. This mishap meant that Wes and Anne were forced to miss a most delightful brunch on Sunday morning hosted by Bob and Mary Dickgeisser at their fantastic "cabin in the sky," sitting, if not on top of the world, at least well above White River Junction.

One final addition to the weekend meetings was the presence of Bill Webster Jr., head agent of'65.

Jack Coulson has been named recipient of the 1981 Good Scout award presented on June 17 at the Pine Hills Country Club, Manorville, N.Y. The award is given annually by the Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America, on which Jack has been very active for the past 20 years. Bob and Marge Gibson recently took a cruise from the West Coast through the Panama Canal and up to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., with a bunch of Dartmouths from the Minneapolis area.

And finally, Bozo Noland sent us an interesting column from syndicated columnist (and ex-Nixon speechwriter) Patrick J. Buchanan, in which Buchanan applauds what he calls the counter-revolution at Dartmouth (vis a. vis the director imbroglio) and refers to Hanover as the Gdansk of the Ivies revolt. He concludes with, "Today Hanover tomorrow Harvard Yard. Wah-hoo-wah!"

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