1932
Let's lead off with some old news (hey, watch your oxymorons) about one more classmate who has excelled. That eminent, now retired, professor of chemistry at Harvard, Frank Westheimer, had been a visiting professor at Ohio State University. Last December Frank was invited by Ohio State to give his views on a curriculum revision in science. The revision seems to have been hotly debated, and if the DAM powers-that-be didn't limit my space severely, I'd tell you more. But I do want to quote Frank on undergraduates of today: "They get better and better, and they're certainly superior to students of my college generation... who were nowhere nearly so well educated, and nowhere near as interested." Since the deplorable Dartmouth incident of February 25, and in connection with inevitable campus changes since our day, I have had occasion to tell several classmates my own impressions of Dartmouth undergraduates. Those I meet seem to be more personable, better informed, more appreciative of the College, and better educated than undergraduates 55 years ago. Frank, thanks for backing up, however unwittingly, my own opinions.
During Class Officers Weekend Art andDobbie Allen, hospitable as always, gave a happy hour for '32s in the Hanover area. President Ben Drew used the occasion to call an informal executive committee meeting, then announced two new adopted members of the great class of 1932. To Joanne and Amos Dublin we extend our cordial welcome to the Dartmouth fellow ship.Amos, a retired executive from Metropolitan life, is brother to our Tom Dublin, eminent physician, loyal class agent, and one great guy.
Bill Lieson reacted swiftly to my squib on Mai Metcalf's 1932 record for the javelin throw. Among his Dartmouth treasures he found a faded newspaper picture of our classmate in track attire. "U.S. Hopes in Javelin" reads the heading. Bill's "good local newspaper" Springfield Union picked up the Olympic story and "like a good local citizen, and Dartmouth grad, I clipped and saved." Interested to see the photo, Mai? Let me know. Dottie Lieson adds, "Bill was born, lived, and died in Springfield," but Bill gets the last word: "Anything for a laugh."
Box 286 Grantham, NH 03753
