1948

June in Hanover. Commencement. This brings up a point that has bothered this old Dartmouth man for some time.

How many of you fellow '48s were lucky enough to receive your degree in the Bema in one of the beautiful June ceremonies that some, not all, members of our class experienced? You will remember that in our early days as a class we were a pretty broken-up group with some members having arrived on campus for the first time as early as March 1944, if not earlier. Due to World War II and other factors, there were members who did not complete their four undergraduate years until as late as 1950, perhaps 1951. And a goodly number of us graduated at midyear, in February, and missed entirely the good times of traditional Class Day, baccalaureate, and commencement exercises, ceremonies which I personally felt put a beautifully sentimental cap on the four years for each of us who was lucky enough to be there. The fact that '48s received their degrees over a time span of several years longer than normal is of course symptomatic of some of the divisions and lack of common bond that tended to divide us, at least in our early years.

I'd like to suggest that those differences in history among us are gradually becoming submerged in favor of the single most important concept, that we are all men of Dartmouth. As such, our inclusion in the class of 1948 gives each of us a unifying identity that should, with pride, recognize and support the differences in time and background among us. As '48s let's recognize differences among us where they exist, but let's regard them with the same pride that allows for differences among individual fellow Americans.

I don't know if the foregoing had to be written, but it has seemed to this writer for some time that '48s in their own interest as well as that of the College must, with pride, honor and respect rather than decry any differences between us. We're all Dartmouth men, and I suggest that that fact is all that counts!

Speaking of the long lost or submerged, it was good to hear of Howard Cook once again after so many years. Howie has been in the candy business most of the time since leaving Hanover. A recent announcement by the Hershey Chocolate Company states that effective April 1, Howie became vice president of sales for this giant, well-known firm. The announcement also pointed out that the National Candy Wholesalers Association has elected this lowa boy a "dean" of the confectionery industry, a position of honor in the trade. We '4Bs join Elaine, the three Cook sons, and Eleazar in raising a glass to Howie.

Another accomplished doer in the class whom his old friends will be pleased to hear about is Warren Tharion. This specialist in the accounting field who went to Bentley after graduating from Dartmouth has lived with his family in Middleboro, Mass., for many years. His latest recognition is his election to the post of operations officer by the Middleborough Trust Company. Warren has divided his working time among a number of firms in and around his town and also spent many years commuting into downtown Boston for Eagle Electric. He managed accounting for 15 years with Fram Corporation in Providence before moving to Middleboro and has also found time to be a leader in community civic activities as well as to play a fine game of golf. Rose and the four Tharion daughters can salute Dad with pride, as do we, his classmates from the College on the Hill.

Three probably premature cheers for JohnHatheway. Our accomplished advertising executive has reportedly come up with a class gift idea that will undoubtedly please those '4Bs who lived in Crosby, Richardson, and Wheeler way back in that summer, fall, and winter of 1944-45. The idea may not mean much to '4Bs who weren't there, but it is hoped that they won't mind if the proposal is such as to preserve or memorialize a bit of class history in which a large number of us were lucky enough to participate. Who will forget some of the events which occurred? Who can forget Wheeler's fourth floor? The rink on the third floor? Nelson K. Wormwood? (May the Great Sachem rest the soul of this gaunt, taciturn man who had to be one of the engravers of the '48 soul.) I regret I don't have more on just what John is suggesting, but I hope to fill in the gap next time.

Once more it is appropriate to ask '48s who haven't done so this year to give as they can to the Alumni Fund. Ken Young has had other personal concerns that have reduced his available time for leading the class in this endeavor this year. He has given so much of himself in the past to the fund in behalf of 1948 that I suggest we owe him support now when his time is needed elsewhere. Send a check to the fund in Hanover. The cause remains worthy.

Gilman C. Shattuck '48 was named Class Treasurer of the Year for 1984. After a stint in the Navy, Shattuck returned to earn his master's at Tuck. This led to a life-long involvement in accounting, "great preparation for becoming treasurer of the class of 1948." Just before he became treasurer in 1979, the class of 1948 had the poorest participation record of any class, with only 38 percent paying dues. During his term he brought this figure up to 67 percent, a gain of 29 percent. He also managed to get 45 percent of the class's non-graduates to pay their dues.

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