1948
These notes are written in early January. Hanover, as of now, should have plenty of snow on the ground, and one hopes that Carnival this year will show a good cover of the white stuff for a change, an element not consistently available for this big weekend in recent years. By the time this little epistle is read in the March issue of the DAM, we'll know about the '48 midwinter mini-reunion in Hanover, as preadvised by Barney Hoisington in one of his recent newsletters in behalf of our active president, Earl Chambers. We'll also know by then whether Carnival was back on the track.
A further item is that by then we'll know the results of the initial season of the new basketball coach, Paul Cormier. This apparently dedicated young professional sounds as if he truly wants to be in Hanover, contrary to recent predecessors, and is under no delusions about the job to be done if Dartmouth is again to have a championship team in this sport along the lines last seen in the days of Rudy La Russo '59, over a quarter century ago. (How well I remember a March morning in 1959 when lan Macartney and I bought the Paris edition of The New York Herald Tribune in the base station of the Gornergrat Railway in Zermatt Mac, Carla, and company were about to be transferred from Venezuela to London by Amoco as we began the ride up to the high ski slopes of that marvelous Alpine area. There, on that cog train far away from Hanover, we read with intense glee and no little surprise the headlines on the sports page. Dartmouth's hoopsters had just won the Ivy title by defeating Princeton the night before! Long time ago. Maybe Cormier can bring us back.)
No one will ever accuse Dick Bredenberg of being inactive. Huldah writes that this philosopher/teacher and wife are still officially resident in Florida's St. Petersburg, where Dick is currently taking a year's leave of absence from Eckerd College. Unofficially, however, they seem to be on the road much of the time, e.g., in guiding educational groups or the AAA on trips to Hawaii and the Far East, and in officiating at son Eric's wedding in California. Dick also has published two recent articles, has two more in the hopper, and delivers sermons whenever a congregation requests an opportunity to hear his enthusiastic approach to life, religion, and philosophy. Plenty of time is also provided for outdoor sports. Huldah also expresses great relief and thankfulness that after eight weeks of radiation, the loss of 28 pounds, and a period of recuperation, Dick has returned to good health after a serious bout with cancer. This couple's days are ob- viously full.
Bob Douglas has been a top official in Gulf Oil's purchasing department for many years, having gone with this major oil company shortly after graduating from Tuck in 1950. During the years since, he, Ginny, and the six younger Douglases have lived in five different communities, for the past 14 years in Houston. Since Chevron's recent buy-out of Gulf, Bob has found himself quite often in San Francisco, but at this moment he does not know his future.
During all the years since leaving Hanover, however, this loyal Dartmouth man has continued to keep abreast of his favorite outside interest, Dartmouth athletics. He is, like many, disturbed as to the future course of Ivy League football in the changed publicity and financial conditions brought on largely by TV. He does not feel that Ivy League teams can continue to play representative non-Ivy League teams and expect to win unless our rules are changed to some extent. Otherwise, he thinks, we will tend to look more and more ridiculous. He has hopes that the proposed Colonial League may provide a genesis for such changes. You may have seen Bob's past letters to the editor on this subject, and he has recently corresponded directly with Ted Leland, who looks like a good man, concerned by the same factors.
Bob's life was brightened a few days ago when he received a surprise call from his old buddy and roommate, Dr. Dave Miller, in Portland, Ore. The two had last talked 35 years ago in August of 1950 when Bob had ushered at Dave's marriage, to Ellen Wales. Bob says the time has passed like a minute. The two had some fine laughs over those marvelous years in Hanover. We have learned that another '48 in the
group of marines who arrived on campus in November 1944, along with Bob Carpenter,Jack Costello, Jack Murphy, Dave Karukin,George MacGillivray, Ed Nadeau, and FredSillars, was John H. Metzger. John, unfortunately, passed away in August 1948. The writer would be grateful to be informed of any other classmates in that group whose names may have been omitted in the list.
Joel Portugal '58, chairman of the College's 1985 Alumni Fund, has solicited the help of all class secretaries in pointing out that this year's goals of $12 million and 70 percent participation of all alumni will be 15 percent higher than last year's objectives. He asks that we alumni send in our gifts early this year to save mailing costs and to make easier the job of class agents. It is also strongly sug- gested that each alumnus increase his last year's gift by 15 percent so as to aid in arriving at the 1985 goal, funds so clearly needed by Eleazar.
Fortunately for '48, our workaholic class agent Ken Young will be back on the job this year after a year's absence. Ken was sorely missed last year as '48 achieved only 94.2 percent of our goal and only 62.7 percent participation. We hope we'll do better in carrying our part of the load this year and that more of us will assume our share of the burden. Make the job of Ken and his '48 assistant agents easier. Get your gift in early! Save them the trouble of having to come to you!
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