Class Notes

1920

November 1983 Allan M. Cate
Class Notes
1920
November 1983 Allan M. Cate

The class of 1920 is now limited to 400 words in this column, which may mean some reduction of LOOKING BACK items.

It is sad to report the death of two classmates: LeRoy Davis on August 30, and Walker Fielding on September 10. Obituaries will be in this or a future issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

Bill Carter expressed interest in knowing how Adolphus Gorton became "Jake" Gorton. The following is Jake's explanation: "As for Adolphus, I never did learn who hung that name on me. I was raised by my grand parents and I never asked them. I got the name Jake when attending Moses Brown School, a Quaker prep school in Providence, R.I. In-the spring I ran track but never played baseball. It happened that three guys on the baseball team got the mumps. The team was to play the Brown freshmen the coming Saturday. The coach picked me to be one of the three replacements'. I played right field and got one chance at a fly ball, but the ball bounced out of my glove. I was at bat three times and took nine swings. That evening we were permitted to go to Keith's Vaudeville in a group with a teacher, and an actor sang, a baseball song: 'Give it a crack, Jake, I think you are a fake.' From that time until this day the name I am best known by is 'Jake.' As for my son Bill, he is going big in the Air Force, now holds down one of the top desks in the Pentagon."

Wendell Sigler writes: "I would like.to read a little more of members of our class. For a change of pace I recommend reading BlueHighways, which includes a story on Hanover on page 365."

The LOOKING BACK item this month runs a little long, but I've been given a dispensation to print it in its entirety. It comes from W. Douglas Carter '49. On June 30, 1925, William A. Carter and Laura B. Tuckerman (Wheelock '21) were united in holy matrimony. Bill and Laura just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary, in honor of which occasion Doug composed the following poem, inscribed on a beautiful card by his wife Terry:

Terry wants me to compile a verse or a rhyme On the occasion of your anniversary time! And I say, "What could be worse Than my feeble attempts at composing a verse?" We all hope you are happy on your great day. Just think of what would not have happened If in '25 you had not joined hands in the bonds of matrimony! There might not have been a Kit, Doug, and Holly; no Jerry and Richard; No Terry, Doug, Cindy, Judy, Kathy or Bill, by golly! Or Judy and Phil, Emily and Shannon, God bless them! Or Cindy and Don, or Kathy and Kent. And who knows who more is to be heavensent?

What a marvelous legacy we all share together

Like ducks in a lake and birds of a feather. So all of us join in unanimous voices: We're proud of our parents and their excellent choices!

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