1966

The pictures appearing in the last issue of the DAM tell more of the great time of our 20th reunion than the words of this column. All I can do is fill in the spaces here and there and try to put a little flesh on the bones, so to speak.

First, let's fire a '66-gun salute to AlbieMac Donald and John Pearson for putting together a great three-day weekend! What amazed me most was that they were smiling (at least for the most part) all the time (which meant they were having as much fun as we were). There were some 155 '66s gathered at the Green. That was more than from the classes of '64 or '65. Wives, sons, daughters how we've multiplied!

The first day, Friday, was registration, casual reacquaintance with the campus (I can't believe I walked into three different dorms before finding Russell Sage!), and the five o'clock traffic jam at the Inn corner. There was also a golf tournament, the winner of which was never announced. Friday evening was the first cocktail party, followed by a joint dinner ('64s, '65s, and '66s) in the Thompson Arena. The Glee Club presented a de- lightful concert afterwards in Spaulding, capped off with an invitation to former Glee Club members to join on stage for the singing of songs "of our dear old alma mater, the songs we love so well." I must admit the addition of women's voices has added a dimension to the Glee Club we never experienced, and in deference to our traditions, the masculine reference in the songs has not been tampered with. (My lone note of criticism is that the current arrangement of "Dartmouth Undying" leaves me hollow.) Following the concert, we trudged back to Russell Sage for the evening keg and more informal renewal of friendships made long ago (most everyone had registered by now). The keg gave out around 2:00 a.m., and a few of us found refuge under the tent of the 25th-reunion year class, 1960, down Tuck Drive.

Saturday morning came early, and it was off to Thayer for breakfast. The food still hadn't changed much from what I remember, though the selections seemed a little broader, and the interior more pleasant (less stark; I guess the advent of coeds has cut down on the food riots). It was free time then for the most part: tennis, a class meeting, and, for a few of us old crew jocks, a turn out on the river. (I rediscovered the meaning of "sucking wind" as our shell finished a distant third in a half-mile race. I think Serenbetz went on a special weight-gaining diet to make us pull a little harder.) Saturday afternoon we all picnicked at Storrs Pond under clear blue skies.

Saturday evening began with a cocktail party on the Inn porch, followed by our formal dinner in the dining room (Albie and John deserve some snaps for pulling that one off). The dinner ceremonies were brief. Terry Lowd thanked our organizers, Albie thanked John, and we dug deep to award the "Best 40th Birthday Party Award." Actually there were two prizes: the worst and the best. The worst ever went to Jim Nutt, who wrote that he spent his 40th "putting his dog to sleep" (it bit his son). I bet the cat knows enough to stay off the living room couch! For such notoriety, Jim got a dinner for one at The Four Aces Diner (did $5 cover the tip, too, Jim?). The best (or most elaborate) went to John Rollins's wife for a beach party she threw for John and some other friends, in Jamaica, after kidnapping John. It had to go to someone.

The grand finale for the night and for the whole weekend had to be the spectacular fifties bands and "sock hop." We were entertained, in person, and live, by Bobby Lewis, the Douvelles, the Cadillacs, the Marvellettes, and the Tokens. I am sure they would have gone on forever if curfew call hadn't come for a lot of us (babysitters had to be home). But back to the tent we went; someone found the piano as we rediscovered a few notes left in our youth and drained just one more keg.

Sunday we branched, packed up, and said our goodbyes until 1991. The only unfinished business is the election (or appointment) of class officers for the next six years. All officer posts are available. In particular we need someone(s) to run the Alumni Fund drive for the class. If you are interested, I invite you to submit names to myself or anyone on the class nominating committee, which includes AlAnderson, Don Graves, Dave Johnston,Steve Lanfer, Albie Mac Donald, RickMacMillan, John Pearson, Jack Stebe, and Neal Zimmerman. (Neal has volunteered to take over the newsletter editor post from retiring Don Graves. A great round of applause has to go to Don for a tremendous job the past five years.) We hope to have the posts filled by September. But think it over and give one of us a call, or drop a line. We need a few good men!

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