1948

By the time this is read, the 103rd edition of Dartmouth football teams will be in the final third of its nine-game season, this prior to adoption of a ten-game schedule next fall. This year's DCAC handbook on Dartmouth football indicates that Dartmouth's initial season was in 1881 when a two-game schedule was shared with Amherst, both games apparently having been on Lord Jeff soil. The Big Green took the first, 1-0, while the second game was fought to a scoreless tie.

These two contests were in the very early days of the game of football as we know it today, and one assumes the rules and procedures then bear little relationship to today's game. Dartmouth had a gridiron team each year after 1881's aggregation with the exception of 1885 when no Big Green football force took the field. (Perhaps the 113-0 squeaker loss to Yale the year before in 1884 at a home game in Hanover cast a temporary pall of discouragement over the College on the Hill, such that in 1885 no team could be gotten together.)

In any case, Dartmouth has been represented by a football team continuously every autumn since 1886, and this alumnus hopes that the forces of Coach Joe Yukica, the College's 18th football mentor and only its fourth in the 40 years since 1944, are doing well in this 103rd season since the men from the hills of Hanover first took up this fine sport with their collegiate rivals. In spite of problems stemming from finances, the football tradition at Dartmouth is alive and well, and my own association with Coach Yukica leads me to say he's the type of man I'd be proud to have a son serve with in carrying it forward on the field. The development of the Colonial League concept may offer answers to some of the financial and publicity problems, answers that are needed off the field. Fortunately, it seems to this old '48 that the team of College president David McLaughlin, a Dartmouth end of no mean repute under Tuss McLaughry, and the new athletic director, Ted Leland, seem deeply committed and fully enmeshed in maintaining football at Dartmouth in a meaningful manner consistent with the great tradition from the past which they inherit today.

The question is rightfully asked of us alumni, too, as to what we are doing in arousing interest in Dartmouth and Dartmouth football among the most active, intelligent students and athletes of our local high schools. Are we talking to these students, encouraging them to take a look at our Dartmouth? Many an alumnus has received a lifelong nod of thanks from the College and from the student-become-alumnus for having done so. Think about it. You may do both a good turn.

Wonderful long conversation with Jim Garrison brought back many memories of early '48 history in Hanover, jim especially remembers those first two semesters which began in July 1944 when he and Jere Poole roomed on the third floor of Wheeler, when everyone was waiting to be called up by Uncle Sam. Sometimes not too much self-discipline was evident in the waiting. Jim remembers that the water fights in the halls made them look like Spaulding Pool in the summer, while in the winter the freezing air allowed in through the open windows at both ends of the halls enabled the latter to be turned into skating rinks for Wheeler's form of ice hockey. Jim also remembers manning the hall hose one night in a fight with the floor below. Someone who he and Jere thought was Walt Cairns was quietly sneaking up the stairway from the second. Just as the man's nose came around the corner on the third they turned the valve and let him have it. Only it wasn't Walt. You guessed it. It was Nelson P. Wormwood, the College cop! Caught red-handed, Garrison and Poole were ordered to appear before Dean of Freshman Bob Strong the next morning. Now Bob Strong was one great guy, a well-loved and respected citizen of Hanover, who the fates unreasonably decreed would not have long to live, and he probably did not enjoy disciplining young men. Jim states that, purposefully, he arrived in Strong's office in McNutt several minutes late. Sure enough, the door to the inner office was closed. Jim, as instructed by the secretary, obediently sat down adjacent to the inner door to await his turn. In spite of its being closed, Jim could hear every word of the riot act delivered inside by the good dean to the roommate. When the door opened and both the dean and Poole stepped out, Strong acknowledged Garrison's late appearance and asked him if he had heard the dean's lecture to Poole. When Garrison answered with an enthusiastic something, on the order of "Yes, indeed! I heard every word," Strong told them both to get out of the office and stay out of trouble. Jim and Poolie have remained fast friends through life, but Jim doesn't believe Jere ever forgave him for being late for that meeting with Dean Strong.

Jim, always fond of the outdoors, left Hanover in 1949, worked for six months in the Northwest Territory of Canada, and then returned to his hometown of Skaneateles, N.Y., where he has been a self-employed contractor in the house construction/repair business most of the time since. Severe breathing problems caused by flu and asthma have kept him in the hospital much of the time, but he feels blessed by four wonderful kids and a recently-achieved divorce which has made him a free man once again. He sends greetings to his old buddies and says his old sense of humor lives on. Colonel Poole, who has made his career in the Air Force, keeps in touch.

Additional information in the great letter of marine George MacGillivray follows. When his group of 90 reached Hanover in November 1944, many were back from the Pacific and had first been sent to Camp Le jeune at New River, N.C., for physical training before going off to various colleges, often of the individual marine's own choice. George chose Dartmouth as it was near his Arlington, Mass., boyhood home, a place he had not seen often for more than three years due to his absence in the Pacific. By the time the men reached Hanover, they had all been reduced to the rank of private, this in the expectation of becoming officers after four semesters. Of course, the war ended before then and most became civilians rather than officers. George noted that some of these men had been in the corps longer than their instructors in Hanover, which meant they were often given a break by Marine Major Anderson and by the Navy's Captain Cummings whose son had been killed on a navy ship at Guadalcanal (perhaps during the fearsome night raids down "The Slot" by the Japanese). A couple of the fellows had cars, and George remembers some great weekend trips in the old jalopy owned by Jack Costello, when the problem of gasoline rationing exercised the ingenuity of the participants. (George managed to get some coupons from his uncle.) Later on, some of the gang got married, often living in Wigwam, and Mary Hitchcock/Dick's House nurses became favorite dates after the boys met them while in for treatment of diseases such as malaria incurred in the Pacific. Some of his group mentioned by George who joined '48 were Bob Carpenter, now of South Peabody, Mass.; Jack Murphy, who graduated "with distinction" in geology in 1947 and is now with the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver; Col. Dave Karukin, who maintains an active relationship with his class from his home in distant Thailand; Ed Nadeau, who is a busy court judge in the North Country in Glens Falls, N.Y.; and departed Cossie Costello and Fred Sillars. Several other last names were included in the list whom we have not yet clearly identified and hope to do so for a future issue. George, himself, after receiving his degree in geography in the Bema in 1948, spent his professional career with Uncle Sam in Washington and now does Marine Corps historical research from his residence in Bethesda. George's letter deserves the thanks of all '48s.

Afraid we failed to do our Alumni Fund job this year. Hopefully Ken Young will be back in harness this year and will get us going as he has in the past.

Congratulations to Bud Elliott, who as class bequest chairman has written thoughtful letters to '48 brethren on personal financial matters involving helping our College and ourselves in the years ahead. Pay heed to Bud as not one of us is getting any younger. All for now.

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