1928
55TH REUNION
What a glorious reunion it was, with over 138 members of the 1928 family, including 71 classmates, 54 wives, eight widows, and five guests. The weather was beautiful and hot all three days, June 12—14.
You will not be reading these notes until September, and by then you will have received Art Kneerim's newsletter with a long account of reunion and a page or two of photos of'2Bers by Dick Frame. So we shall cover only highlights here.
Congratulations go to chief reunion planners Curly Prosser and John Phillips. Registration was efficiently handled Monday morning in the class tent (next to our Tuck Mall dorm) by Curly and treasurer Craig Haines. In the packet with large badges, etc. were gifts of a Dartmouth glass and a Dartmouth tray. After lunch the first day many joined bus tours of the campus for a view of the old and new buildings. A '28 photo exhibit room was open in our dormitory most of the three days. A poetry reading by Dick Eberhart '26 was given in the Tower Room of Baker Library Monday afternoon. Cocktails and dinner Monday in Thayer Hall were followed by the opportunity to meet President David McLaughlin and his wife Judy at a gracious reception on their lawn. Many later attended the Glee Club concert at Spaulding Auditorium.
Tuesday morning President McLaughlin gave an address at Spaulding. Next there was the class meeting, presided over by Prexy George Davis, with each officer giving a brief report. Class agent Bill Marx was applauded for his promise that the $lOO,OOO goal would be reached by June 30 (you all came through handsomely, to the tune of $104,748). Officers were elected: president, Ralph Rickenbaugh, vice presidents, George Davis, Curly Prosser, and John Phillips; secretary, Os Skinner; treasurer, Craig Haines; assistant treasurer, Doc Simonds; Alumni Councilor, John Phillips; bequest and trust chairmen, Jack Kenerson and Curly Prosser; newsletter editor. Art Kneerim; reunion and mini-reunion chairman, Herb Sensenig; head agent, Edwin Flanders; and assistant agent, Red Edgar.
A delicious lunch was served Tuesday in the '28 tent. Then we watched movies of our undergraduate years, taken by Dick Frame, augmented with film strips from the College's collection, which Dick spent a lot of time finding and putting into chronological order. Unfortunately Dolly Andrus missed a step in the darkened auditorium and broke a hip. Her husband Ollie and Harry Bennert, both physicians, gave her expert medical attention until the ambulance arrived and took her to the hospital. She was a cheerful good sport, the hip was pinned, and ten days later the Andruses went home.
The main event of the reunion was the Tuesday night banquet, also at Thayer Hall, where Rick Rickenbaugh was in fine form as emcee. We were treated to a speech by Hans Penner, dean of the faculty. George Davis was honored with the gift of a Dartmouth chair for his outstanding presidency, particularly for his invaluable leadership and ever-present help on the Alumni Fund and the '28 scholarship program.
Jack Kenerson provided the highlight of the evening by reporting for his bequest committee (whose indispensable co-chairman is, you guessed it, Curly Prosser) that gifts to date to the 1928 Funding Associates totaled over $ 100,000. This 55th reunion gift was presented to Addison L. Winship II '42, vice president of alumni affairs, who accepted it on behalf of the College. He knew how hard the committee had worked to raise this amount in the past year and of our determination to continue the 1928 Memorial Scholarship Fund. The interest will be used for two undergraduates named "Class of 1928 Scholars," who will be our guests at our mini-reunion October 7—8. Since reunion the fund has been increased by gifts and bequests to over $135,000.
Everybody, including the College officers who testified to this at the banquet, joined in paying tribute to Gwynne A. "Curly" Prosser, who during the past year practically lived in Hanover (his Canaan, NH, home is only a few miles away) to grab the best accommodations, the best class gifts, and the best place for our farewell luncheon (the DOC House). An indefatigable worker for reunion, the scholarship fund, and the Alumni Fund, Curly deserves a resounding round of applause which he got.
After more visiting at the '28 tent and a delicious breakfast at Thayer Wednesday morning, we went to Rollins Chapel, where the Rev. John Turkevich conducted a memorial service, with three other '28ers assisting. Then more time to talk to old friends (but never enough time to talk to everyone) and over to the DOC House for lunch. After such a wonderful gathering it was sad to have to leave.
See you at the mini reunion October 7-8!
It was an occasion for smiles all round —on the parts of '28m Gwynne "Curly " Prosser, center,and John Phillips, right, as they accepted the cup awarded to the class having the largest proportionof living alumni at mid-week reunions, and also on the part of David Orr '57, associate secretary ofthe alumni, who had the pleasure of presenting the honor to 1928's hard-working reunion cochairmen.
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