1956

For most of the United States, the weekend of January 28 to 30 was devoted to the Super Bowl. For a respectable handful of classmates, however, it was "Fun Fantastic Five" in New York City. These mini-reunion weekends continue to attract the hard-core reunion addicts but also, increasingly, a few new faces "who happen to be in New York." This year was no exception. With apologies for a fading memory, your secretary recalls seeing the following at the reception and dinner, most of whom were accompanied by Wives: Cube Conroy, Kirby Fowler, Doug Keare, Stu Klapper, Howie Newman, Fred Oman, Wally Pugh, Tom Rosenwald, Buddy Schattman, Bucky Shore, Howard Sodokoff, Line Spaulding, Jack Tamagni, Dick Taylor, Bill Tell, Elliott Weinstein, Dick Whitney, Rick Worrell, George Yeager, Bill Zales, and Mike Zissu.

The dinner speaker, Professor Bill Cook, offered a tour de force of the central concerns of the United States from the perspective of literature. Cube Conroy's arrangements at the Yale Club were, as usual, ample and conducive. Those who stayed on through the weekend could join Howard Sodokoff at the traditional Saturday evening spaghetti and pizza festival in lower Manhattan, followed by brunch at Leo McKenna's on Sunday.

The minutes of the class meeting will be available through the "Wha Who Whisper." Chaired by Doug Keare, most of the discussion revolved around plans to get the class Alumni Fund act back in gear. Dick Taylor noted that we, like most other classes, have suffered a post-25th reunion slump. Dick has a first-rate organization ready to go again this year, and we have a challenging target of $140,000, a figure which is consistent with a trend line we were establishing before we peaked in 1981 and plummeted in 1982. As this column will appear just as the campaign begins, let us reaffirm our commitment through financial contributions to the excellence which is Dartmouth. Give early; avoid the rush.

Dick Whitney, who now manages the class scholarship program, reported on the new 1956 Scholar, Joseph Leake '86 from Dorchester, Mass. Classmates will note that this is our first non-foreign student scholar since the decision was made by the class to open up the program to worthy U.S. students. Scholarship recipents will be encouraged to communicate regularly with the class. Those of you who have the opportunity to visit Hanover should take the time to meet Joe.

Social chairman, Peter "Cube" Conroy, continues to look ahead and plan appropriate events for the class. Mark your calendars for West Point in September and Dartmouth Night (the Cornell game) in October of this year, San Juan instead of New York in January 1984, and the fall midi-reunion in October 1984 at Hanover.

The final item on the agenda was a discussion led by Bill Tell on curriculum development and calendar changes under consideration at the College. The class has remained active since its 20th reunion in encouraging the College to communicate more openly and involve alumni more systematically in important matters relating to the operation of the College. Proposals to terminate year-round operation, change curricular requirements, and establish a dormitory residence program are all under consideration. As alumni, we should keep ourselves informed and, where we think it appropriate, insist on being heard.

The recent resignation of the editor of this magazine is a case in point. The class is well represented in the Alumni Council's deliberations on this issue. Russ Brace is chairman both of the public relations committee and of the search committee for a new editor. Bob Danziger and Jon Strong are members of an ad hoc committee of the Alumni Council which is reviewing the "positioning and purpose" of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

Moving to other news, a blurb from the Montgomery County, Md., unit of the American Cancer Society includes a picture of Don Dillon, who directs a group of volunteers to ensure that physicians, nurses, and allied health care professionals are kept aware of the latest technological and research developments in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment." Don, a doctor specializing in hematology-oncology, and his family live in Rockville, Md.

A brief note in The New York Times of January 17 reported that Dick Leaman had been named an executive vice president of Scott Paper, continuing a career with that company that began in 1960. Dick lives in Media, Pa., where he has been particularly active in county planning and zoning work.

Eli Lilly advises that Em Houck has been named an executive director of Lilly Research Laboratories, with administrative responsibilities in support of clinical research. Em has been with Lilly almost 25 years and has enjoyed a varied career which included a tour of duty in Australia. He is a member and a past president of the St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Board and has also served as treasurer of the board of directors of the Children's Bureau of Indianapolis and as a past chairman of the United Way Advisory Committee.

A recently-received catalog of World Bank publications provides a closing thought. Doug Keare's "Evaluation of Shelter Programs for the Urban Poor" may be obtained for $5.00. Nelson Valverde '77, a former '56 scholar, is a coauthor of "Evaluation of Sites and Services Projects." It costs $l0. There is a message there. Cheers!

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