1956

Here's what the citation said:

"A very impressive variety of special projects and concerns directed toward both class and College." So read an honorable mention citation presented to the class of 1956 in 1978.

That happened to be the second of four years in a row for class award honors, and in this, your 25th reunion year, all indications seem to prove beyond a doubt that 1956's moment in the sun has arrived with a flourish.

Many strengths have emerged during these most successful years. As an example, class communications have played a crucial role in coordinating class activities. Flint Ranney's newsletter has kept classmates (and others) informed in some most enjoyable ways. Similarly, Fred Oman's Dallas-postmarked column has kept the '56 spirit alive in issue after issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. But come to think of it, the 1956 letterhead is a listing of some of this College's most concerned and caring volunteers from Pugh, Strong, and Soule to Weymouth, Tell, and Julian. Likewise, an abundant and active executive committee has been an example for all classes. And if our word isn't good enough, ask the staff of the Yale Club!

Chairman Keare's leadership and talents are not a well-kept secret, for he has been ringmaster extraordinaire in managing all of this talent and energy. The variety of activities has been fun to watch whether fund-raising, mini-reunions, class of'81 partnerships, or such class projects as foreign scholarships.

Your 25th reunion is almost here. The reports coming in to Hanover indicate the possibility of a record-breaking performance by 1956. Should that happen, it would merely be the icing on a multi-layered dessert which Dartmouth has enjoyed for not only this year, but over past years, and undoubtedly for many years to come. For while it is an honor to give this citation for Class of the Year to the class of 1956, it has been a far greater honor for this College to have been served by such loyalty and devotion."

Dr. Steve Farmer, who lives and practices in Princeton, N.J., is an active squash player and recently won a major tournament in the 45 agegroup category by besting Frank Blatz '58, a highly-ranked national player, in an exciting five-game final.

Tom Gidley and Bob Montgomery and their wives spent a fun week this spring in Phoenix and Denver. Tom is a lawyer in Providence and was attending a meeting of the American College of Trial Lawyers and stopped on the way to visit the Montgomerys in Denver, where Bob is also an attorney.

Dr. Henry Pratt was elected a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America in recognition of distinguished contributions in the field of gerontology. Henry lives in Birmingham, Mich.

And finally, Fred Oman gave to himself (at a special luncheon he held in his own honor) the ALUMNI MAGAZINE Award for not once getting his column in on time in six years (sometimes he never got it in at all). Although no one attended the luncheon from the College, and Oman congratulated himself in solitude, it is rumored that Dan Nelson, editor in charge of the class of 1956, has been celebrating in Hanover for quite some time. In fact, the class of 1956 has been celebrating Oman's retirement for some time. And Oman is going to start celebrating right now.

At the Class Officers Weekend luncheon on Saturday, May 2, it was announced that the class of 1956 had been selected as the class of the year.

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