1939

You may have noticed a slight change in the format of this magazine. The Summer issue featured a pictorial coverage of the reunions, and this issue, usually limited to class notes from reunion classes, is in fact the opening issue for notes from all classes. It carried a July 15 deadline for your scribe so will be heavily oriented to our successful 45th, although we'll leave the details to "39 Out," and skip along with highlights.

Better than 25 percent of our classmates (441 still living) returned to the Plain; 112 men, four widows, 86 wives, and Jim and Cookie Bucher. Cookie is Bob Davidson's capable secretary, a veritable classmate who, rumor has it, does most of his work on "39 Out."

For many, the festivities started with athletics on a gloriously warm, sunny Monday afternoon. A low net 73 shared by three competitors named Bob on the Hanover Country Club golf course capped the class golf tournament. Clymer was awarded the first prize with his low score on #l8, Dickgiesser second, and English third. Fay Clymer took the ladies honor with a net 75. In tennis, Art Ide won top honors, with Bob Cushman runner-up. Math Jackson won the ladies' trophy, with Jean Upton runner-up.

Socializing at the tent in front of Russell Sage occupied many both in the afternoon and at a 5:00 p.m. reception before we took off for a College-hosted dinner at Thompson Arena.

Tuesday, another superb, sunny day, featured an outstanding slide show produced by Sam Hird exhibiting '39ers under every condition imaginable, which was good for many laughs and some heavy nostalgia. We were treated to a mini-Horizons program in the afternoon, where top College administrators and deans gave the class a rundown on where the College stands today.

This gathering in the Center Theater was followed by the class meeting attended by 87 classmates plus wives. Two amendments to the class constitution were voted: the first added the officers of vice president and representative to the Alumni Council and stated that all class officers shall be members of the executive committee during their terms of office. The second redefined a quorum of the executive committee to include a majority of all members, including class officers, represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of the committee, provided that the meeting is a regularly scheduled and publicized meeting of the committee. A1 Tishman, chairman of the nominating committee, presented the following slate, which was unanimously voted approval by a voice vote: president, Bert MacMannis; vice president, Lou Highmark; secretary, Dick Jackson; treasurer, CornieMiller; class agent, Jim Corner; major gifts chair, Bill Tomkins; matching gifts chair, Moreau Brown; newsletter editor, Bob Davidson; memorial chair, JackCoulson; widows chair, Betsy WymanEmmons; bequest chair, Bob Kaiser; Alumni Council representative, JackCumming. A 23-member executive committee was then voted, which included Joe Batchelder, Wells Bates, Dick Brooks,Tom Brooks, Henry Conkle, Bob Cushman, Robb DeGraff, Wes Goding,George Hanna, Zeke Hill, Sam Hird,Colin Holman, Bob Howe, Bob Jacobson,Bill McCarthy, Hugh McLaren, JunieMerriam, Bozo Noland, Ed Oppenheim,Dusty Rohde, Andy Ruoff, Endy Smith, and A1 Tishman. John Perry then discussed the College's athletic sponsor program and urged participation by classmates. This was followed by a motion by Conkle calling for a vote to approve and adopt the action by the executive committee in designating as the seal of the class a design by Dick Brooks (which included the familiar Indian). Following pro and con discussion, a standup vote approved the motion 62-23, with one abstention.

That evening the classs enjoyed a fine meal in the Hanover Inn Dining Room, following cocktails on the terrace. Bob Davidson was the emcee of the after-dinner program, which featured the reading of the citation of the 1985 Classmate of the Year, an award given in absentia to Dave Lilly (who will be on hand at the mini-reunion for a hands-on presentation). After reports from various class officers, President McLaughlin dropped in to officially welcome us back and to receive a $25,000 check from the class to be added to our scholarship fund. Davidson then regaled us with one of his typical barn-busters, followed by Dick Brooks in his Down-Easter mode. A hilarious time for all.

We awoke to rain on Wednesday, went to Rollins Chapel to a service conducted by Steve Bachelder, MacMannis, and Kaiser, in memory of the 177 classmates who are no longer with us, had our class photo taken in Webster Hall, and our picnic under cover in Thayer Hall. Dinner was at the DOC House where we heard a talk on the future plans of the College by John Heston '54.

Bob MacLeod, en route to reunion, was detained in Chicago with a ruptured appendix but was reported recovering nicely. Ed Oppenheim, who was also expected, had to settle for some last-minute surgery at home in Oklahoma City.

We are sad to report that Jack Kuhlke, who was looking forward to reunion, died at his home on May 16 of an attack of emphysema. Through the kindness of Jim Brigden we have belatedly learned of the passing of his roomie, Loren"Woody" Wood, on December 21 of last year. Also regretfully we report the passing of Bob Winton on March 20. (Obituaries in this or a later issue.)

Don't forget the mini-reunion, September 20-21!

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