1950

Another corner turned, a fresh year started - this time with a measure of optimism, one more mark on the counter of our allotted span. If the earth is not spinning faster, it is spinning too quickly.

Winter is an illusion, particularly in the East. Temperatures remain springlike. Snow is imaginary (except in places like Antarctica or San Diego). Winter Carnival in Hanover promises to emulate Green Key. (If the hockey games were played in Davis Rink, water polo ground rules would apply.)

One of our classmates had a private vision. It was not a secret. He would tell anyone who cared to listen. Many listened, but few heeded. At any time during the last two years he spoke in terms of $200 million. He had a private vision of a goal that was finally accepted, though only in hushed whispers, by the College. The counting continues, but Sandy McCulloch's goal for the Campaign for Dartmouth has been exceeded.

Well done, Sandy. Others will acknowledge your dedicated effort. We wait, quietly lingering in the background. But the class of 1950 is proud of you, one of us, who proudly walk about the campus with "a touch of class."

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has lost the services of a good man, who resigned to return to private consulting. Since 1969 Ben Shaver has supervised Goodyear's pension funds, employee benefits, compensation plans, and risk management programs. (Translation: Ben bargained with the union and managed the insurance programs.) During his tenure as assistant treasurer the pension fund grew from $400 million to $1.5 billion, and annual medical benefits now exceed $110 million. The planning was astute. The future in Akron is bright, but not necessarily with Goodyear. Ben and Joy now spend more time with their avocation, flying; they could teach you.

Back in 1978 two casual acquaintances in a whim of daring and inspiration became coowners of a run-down, ramshackle building in Greenwich near the Sound. Lots of sweat and money turned back the clock to recreate the Homestead Inn, a casual, but charming, place to stay in contrast to standard highway motels. The venturesome entrepreneur who saw the basic charm of the inn through its decaying shell is Charles Davison's wife Lessie. The Davisons stayed at the inn when they moved back east from Chicago; the latent potential haunted. Later, restoration revealed a 1799 New England farmhouse at the core of the complex of additions that rambled into an inn. Now the new accentuates the rediscovered old. Charles may offer financial advice, but in this place Lessie rules. If you are in the neighborhood, stop for bed and board. And ask to talk, not to the manger but to the owner.

Tidbits from here and there: After ten years as charter trustee and service of inestimable value to the College, Bob Kilmarx has been presented the Alumni Award by the Alumni Council. Late flash: Phil Hoadley has been promoted by Citicorp (more next month). Chuck Gardner has relocated home and office yet again, this time to Norwalk. Challenging the mob and lawyer William Kunstler, Lee Sarokin argued in a written opinion, "The personal attacks launched against the court have the sole attribute of consistency." Other pickings are slim.

Bob Allcott wrote the editor; the closing words of his letter are worth sharing: "Our voices are gone from the campus, our adversarial relationship with blue books are a memory, our caring teachers' work is long since done, but our hearts are with you always. John Dickey said, 'So long,' to us, 'for in the Dartmouth fellowship there is no parting.'

And so it is in these last days of January 1983. So, so long.

Quentin Kopp '49 (left) and King Kenney '50(right) toast the Dartmouth fellowship at arecent gathering in Los Angeles where they raninto each other. Kopp, who sent in the photograph, passed on the news that Kenney works forNewhall Refining Company in Newhall,Calif., and lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

510 Hillcrest Road Ridgewood, N.J. 07450