1937
Reunion chairman Russ Stearns and his committee really did a 50th doozy! Over 200 classmates and 400 people attended.
Bill Heroy, reunion treasurer, set up his desk in the tent before Middle Mass, our headquarters. After settling up with Bill returnees picked up the good-looking cream panama hats with green head bands and copies of the senior cane. Women had the same brimmed hats but with a back streamer and a silver medallion with seal on a chain instead of the cane. Onlookers commented on how eyecatching the uniforms were. And the badges were very large and readable! With so many people, accommodations were spread ardund to Topliff, Gile, Russell Sage, and North and South Mass and the Inn. Didn't matter much because by the time we left the tent there was no need for room parties.
Friday was a day of greetings or getting acquainted with Hanover again, seeing how much had changed over the years. Basically not too much and all very recognizable. There was a bus tour of the area which was repeated several times during the day. Luncheons were provided by Tuck and med schools with speakers for their alumni and guests. That afternoon Don McKinley put on a symposium at the Hopkins Center entitled "Hard Choices Today and Tomorrow" with two excellent participants. Former Governor Richard Lamm of Colorado, then a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth, and Professor John Hennessey, formerly with Tuck School but now professor and provost-elect at the University of Vermont. At 5:30 the class reception was held in the tent followed by dinner at Thayer Hall. Ben Doran presided at the head table. At the end of dinner he recognized Charlie Collis, Russ Stearns and his committee and then presented Bib and Katie Bankart with a poster-size likeness he had taken of them at the Class Officers Weekend executive meeting. A big surprise and very much appreciated!
After dinner most everyone went to the Glee Club Concert at Spaulding Auditorium. Saturday morning was the class Memorial Service conducted by Rev. FrankYoung, whose words were most moving. Next came the perennial class picture on the steps of Webster Hall, after which we attended the class meeting at Center Theater presided over by Ben Doran. Thanks were extended to Rog Allen for his masterful Golden Jubilee Reunion Book and to BillRotch, publisher of same. Nominating committee chairman Fred Asher read the list of new class officers as follows: president, Fran Fenn; vice president, Charlie Blaisdell and Russ Stearns; secretary, Carl Erdman; treasurer, Tom Nast; and Alumni Council member, Lem Bowen.
The list of new executive committee members was read and will appear in the newsletter. Ben then handed the class gavel over to President-elect Fran Fenn, who promptly made the following appointments: newsletter co-editors, Rog Allenand Mort Berkowitz; class trip coordinator, Ben Doran,; class head agent, Dana Pres-cott; and bequest co-chairmen, Frank Robinand Chuck Bassett. He then thanked the retiring officers for their past work: BibBankart, Polly McClane, Pat Olson, RussStearns and Lee Stearns for all her behind the-scenes work. In appreciation for his faithful work as class president, Ben was presented with an oil portrait of himself beautifully done by Marlene Putnam.
At the alumni luncheon in the Berry Sports Center the 50-year address was given by former Senator Tom Mclntyre. Last was the presentation by Fenn, Collis, Bassett, and Robin of their magnificent fund-raising efforts to President McLaughlin: Alumni Fund, $880,117; endowment and planning, $758,447; confirmed bequests, $6,742,090; There was 97 percent participation from the class with 312 gifts from classmates and 39 gifts from widows.
The class banquet was held at the Berry Sports Center that night featuring a delicious roast beef and shrimp dinner. CharlieBlaisdell was emcee and introduced guest speaker Judson Hale '55, of Yankee Magazine. There was a reshowing of Lem Bowen's slides of the nostalgic recreation of former class activities. The formal part of the Golden Reunion ended after a buffet luncheon in back of the DOC. About 70 people continued reunioning by adjourning to a relaxing three days at the Spalding Inn in Whitefield, N.H. The only casualty of the reunion week was the unfortunate fall WesWallenious had the second night of the reunion. He sustained a broken leg and ended up at Mary Hitchcock and in time was transferred nearer home to Salem, Mass., Hospital, where he is now recuperating.
Let me add a final comment. These have been very happy years for me reporting news of the class to you all, and we thank you for your support and friendship. Bib.
Robert C. Bankart 10 Colby Road Wellesley, MA 02181
