Fund-raising, Texas-style

With a crowd of more than 170 taking part, the Dartmouth Club of Dallas threw a blacktie extravaganza recently to benefit the current DCAC fund-raising effort. By all accounts, the party was a huge success.

Inspired by the "Wearers of the Green" banquet held last year in Boston, Fred Oman '56, a member of the DCAC National Development Committee, persuaded the Dallas club to combine a similar function honoring Big Green athletes from the past with an auction to benefit the newly-announced John Berry Sports Center. Since President David T. McLaughlin '54 was heading to Texas anyway, and since he is determined to make Dartmouth an athletic winner again, the date was chosen to coincide with his January 30 visit.

The main feature of the evening was a silent auction for a vast display of Dartmouth memorabilia, ranging from game programs to pictures to you-name-it. The collection included pottery and ephemera and more than 100 framed Dartmouth prints, broadsides, advertisements, photographs, and programs, dating from 1825, that Fred Oman had assembled over the years. Only ten lots did not sell, but those that did brought the College just under $9,000.

A Scottish bagpiper led the guests into the ballroom with "Dartmouth's in Town Again" and "Glory to Dartmouth," and then the real fun began. At each seat was a handsome program designed by Robert A. Wilson '63, illustrating the College's rich athletic tradition. Right away, the oral auction started. People tried to eat their dinners while they bid on such items as the 1959 Ivy League Championship basketball, signed by the team and coaches and brought to Dallas by Rudy Laßusso '59 as his contribution to the auction. Other unusual offerings included weekends in London, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Aspen, Vail, Dallas, Sea Island, and Hanover; legal fees covering preparation of wills and estate planning; professional writing services; an interest in an oil well prospect; a gourmet dinner for eight with appropriate vintage wines; even a 1949 Rolls Royce. Together, these items brought another $19,400 to Dartmouth.

Among the parade of athletes were Nate Parker '26, Red Gould '30, Dick Rondeau '44, Walt Snickenberger '46, Bob Woodberry '54, Don Swanson '54, Glenn Wilson '55, Toby Julian '56, Rudy Larusso '59, Don McKinnon '63, Terry Adams '701, Murry Bowden '71, Reggie Williams '76, Tom Csatari '74, Bob Funk '74, Sandra Helve '76, Ken Jansson '79, and many others.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of a major gift of $50,000 by Charles Nearburg '72 toward the new boathouse on the Connecticut River. With this contribution, the evening's total reached $78,400. According to some, a smiling President McLaughlin was even starting to acquire a slight Texas drawl as he gracefully gave up his speaking time so everyone could view the "Wearers of the Green" film.

Texas may not yet be Dartmouth Country, but if the Dartmouth Club of Dallas has its way, Thayer might have to start serving nachos!