1931

While this column is written in midApril, you will not read it until after our 55th reunion has passed into history. Everyone concerned will try to get out a prompt report on what is certain to have been a great event for all who attended, including photo coverage in the Summer issue.

There's a dearth of news again this month, but I'll hang on until the deadline to see what might come in from phone calls or mail.

For one thing, Bill Walsh reported the other night that Anne and George Conklin have had a joint art exhibition at the Whitney Barn, New Haven, Conn., April 20-30, showing Anne's sculptures and George's paintings. I hope some of you heard about it in time and were able to see it. Certainly, we're all proud of them both.

Correction department: In the March issue, I ascribed many interesting activities to Red Gristede, such as anti-crime and black belt work, a travel agency connection, etc. Red promptly wrote me to say that none of it was true! I went back to my last word from him (on his dues-payment enclosure to Lucy) and found out what happened. He was writing about his daughter, Amy, who was doing all those things, but I read the word "Amy" for "Am" and thought he was writing about himself! Sorry, Red.

As for what he is doing, this is best described by a printed personal card he enclosed. It reads, in its entirety, "The Red Baron. Unemployed but Available." (With two addresses - 1112 Park Avenue, N.Y., and 1783 Zerega Avenue (B), the Bronx.) He also reports he has had seven operations in the past eight years, with another one possibly coming up. He's sorry he was going to miss the reunion.

Speaking of operations, class agent DonStoddard has had a month-long hospitalization and postoperative bout following recent serious surgery, but he has kept the Alumni Fund campaign going gloriously through it all!

Ralph Maynard has been engaged in a remarkable job of research, statistically evaluating the significance of punting on the fourth down in football. He has analyzed 12 NFL games, five,in the United States Football League, and two Ivy League matchups. Taking into consideration the preponderant loss of the ball and the amount of yardage given up in return by the receiving team before it is stopped, he concludes that routine fourth-down kicking is "obsolete" and "counterproductive for the punting team." When we left Florida at the end of March, the '31 Sarasota contingent was all in good shape. We had a farewell dinner with the Hobbses, Henrys, and Aliens. Mary and Larry Allen have moved to a new home at Nokomis, Fla., and are tickled to death with it.

Lucy A. Cogswell, widow of John Cog- swell '31, was named Class Treasurer of the Year. Since her husband's death in 1979, she has served '31 as treasurer. She also does volunteer work at the Hood Museum and at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and as an official at Dartmouth track events. She has led the class of '31 to the top in percentage of participation with 93 percent of its members paying dues.

George C. Nickum '31 and John K.Benson '3l were named co-bequest chair- men of the year and co-recipients of the Ford H. Whelden '25 Award. Nickum, an internationally renowned marine archi- tect, has served as president of the Seattle Alumni Club, president of the Alumni Council, area chairman during both the Third Century Fund and the Campaign for Dartmouth, and as bequest chairman for '3l since 1965. He presides over the "Class of 1931 Funding Associates" proj- ect which will culminate at the class's 55th reunion this year. John Benson built his career in banking on his Dartmouth/Tuck degree, retiring, after 43 years, as president of Shawmut Association and as vice chairman of the board of directors of the National Shaw- mut Bank of Boston. He received the Alumni Award in 1969 and has served on the Alumni Council, the Board of Over- seers of the Tuck School, and as class sec- retary, class president, and, since 1971, as class co-bequest chairman.

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