1953

Continuing the routine undertaken in the previous edition, what do Oscar Sherman, Dick Thomas, Don Brown, and Ward Hamm have in common? Certainly, they are members of the class of 1953. But beyond that, they have had widely different careers in widely dispersed areas of the country. Only the most astute observer would recognize that indeed there is something in common. Each of these men captained a freshman sport 36 years ago. Even with this clue, can you name the sport?

Oscar Sherman came to Dartmouth from Brooklyn, where he had led his high school basketball team. Captain of our freshman team, he also played varsity for three years. This was combined with a premedical academic program, a demanding requirement. He received his medical degree from Tufts and went on to ophthalmology. Now he has a successful practice in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Continuing the demanding regimen of profession and sports, Oscar ran in the 1983 Boston Marathon and competed that same year in a triathlon. Golf, tennis, and skiing also command some of his time. He and spouse Charlotte have purchased a second home in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, motivated in part by available skiing. Their offspring, Liz, Jeff, and Peter, who are associated respectively with Northwestern, Brown, and the University of Virginia, share their interest in sports, particularly skiing.

Dick Thomas, Old Greenwich, Conn., has also maintained a strong continuing interest in sports. He captained our freshman soccer team. Now, he plays racquetball, full-court basketball with men his son's age, and a competitive game of golf. He has been part of a foursome of Dartmouth men for 20 years that at times has included Dick Conn and Fred Geig. Dick (Thomas) and Priscilla have four sons and one daughter, all of whom share their father's interest in athletics. When they are all home, you may find the Thomas family out shagging fly balls for the fun of it. Dick's career has been almost entirely with Time Inc. since he left the marines. He now is their worldwide advertising and sales director, a role that allows him to play golf on some exotic courses, from Scotland to Sardinia.

Ward Hamm, Milwaukee, Wis., is also known for his prowess in golf, so most classmates would surmise that he had been the captain. He doesn't get time to play much anymore. That, of course, is the lament of most ardent and skilled golfers who have a strong commitment to their professions. Ward is in the construction business, which has its unique set of pressures, particularly when the weather is good. Ward entered the construction business in 1973, near Indianapolis, Ind., having moved there from Atlanta, Ga. He was a principal in the company. He sold his interest, and in 1984 he moved to Milwaukee with a company that is a general contractor for health care facilities. He and Cathy have three sons; John is an engineer by training and a marketeer for Hewlett Packard in San Jose; Ward Jr. is an accountant in Chicago for Price Waterhouse; and David, an Eagle Scout, is in Bloomington, Ind., having attended Indiana University.

Don Brown, Baltimore, Md., will be more difficult to relate to a sport. After his freshman year he entered a premedical program and devoted himself to that pursuit. Consequently our captain of freshman tennis dropped the sport after his first year. His dedication, however, resulted in a doctorate and a career in basic biological research. Don is the director of a research facility of the Carnegie Institute of Washington. Endowed by Andrew Carnegie, there are five associated facilities in the U.S. Don's primary field is genetic research, a focus whose practical application is becoming strikingly evident. His spouse, Linda, is a skilled professional caterer who is well known for those desirable gourmet meals. They have two daughters and one son. Deborah assists Arab students through the trials of a college education in this country. Sharon is an aspiring artist in New York, and son Chris works in a Baltimore hotel. And yes, Don returned to tennis ten years out of college and is now a credible player once again. He and Jim Cobb, in a playback to yesteryear, entered a tennis tournament in Baltimore.

Determining the freshman captains was no easy chore. At best, memories are imprecise. In speaking with Bill Crotty, our varsity tennis captain, I convinced him that he was also the freshman captain. Short on memory but long on grace, he described a most interesting part of his life. He is the number two executive in the national Democratic party. More about Bill and other captains in the next edition.

Richard D. Lombard '53 received the Dartmouth Alumni Award in June. His "outstanding record" includes success in his profession, community service, and devotion to the College. In 1961 he established an investment firm with two classmates; in 1973 he turned to private investing, numerous responsibilities in the nonprofit sector, and efforts to improve U.S.-Soviet relations. As an alumnus, he has served as class agent for eight years; as a member of his class's executive committee; as treasurer of the Tuck School Association of New York City; on the executive committee of the Medical School fund campaign in 1960; as a member of the Alumni Council from 1967 to 1970; and as chairman for one year of the Dartmouth Alumni Fund. He was a founding member of the Board of Overseers of the Hopkins Center and became chairman of the board subsequently established to oversee the work of both the Center and the Hood Museum. He served as Trustee of the College for 11 years and is now alumni representative to the Dickey and the Montgomery Endowments. He has many family connections to the College: his son Richard '88, his brother-in-law Peter Williamson '58, and a niece and nephew. A major influence was his friendship with his late classmate Chuck Kettering, whose sister, Jane, he married. Dick has had a leadership role in the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, the Kettering Family Foundation, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

15 Huckleberry Lane Greenwich, CT 06830