1950

Last month space limitations precluded my giving proper praise to some members of the reunion committee, who gave us our fabulous 40th. Len and Sue Matless and Dave and Karen Taylor once again paid the price for being willing wives and members of the class, of being great organizers, and of living in Hanover! They gathered a marvelous team, most of whom have served on previous reunion committees: Ed and Marlene Tuck were registrar and treasurer, respectively. The outstanding meals were coordinated by Joel Leavitt and Jim Harms, who is living in Quechee, Vt., Joe Medlicott headed publicity, and Alex Hoffman, class awards. Betsy Pinkham represents our widows on the executive committee. She encouraged seven to join us: Sally Burrill, Christine Carey, Mary Jane Devitt, Joan Dolan, Edie Gardner, and Maggie McDonald. They added much to our happy times and memories.

Newc Eldridge supervises our class tree program. At reunion he oversaw the planting of two more trees in prominent places: one at the southeast corner of the Green, given in memory of Larry Batty by his widow, Eleanor, who was present; the other on the west side of Baker Library, in honor of outgoing President Joel Leavitt, given by a number of his friends. Newc and Dick Echikson provided handsome green sport shirts and white baseball caps for all. In April Biz and I were with Newc and Sally on an Alumni College Abroad tour "Waterways of Holland and Belgium." Much culture, scenery, and frivolity.

We mentioned last month that the class authorized our '50 Endowment Fund to honor John Dickey through the College sponsored Dickey Endowment for International Understanding. The class will control the money until we have sufficient funds for the interest to bring outstanding speakers to the campus, as the Great Issues course did for us. We are aiming at the year 2000, and hope many will contribute generously to this exciting project. Please send checks made to Class of '50 Endowment Fund to Ben Shaver, 195 West Paddock Circle, Arnold, MD 21012.

The March issue of "Compass Readings" published a highly complimentary article about Don Hall, chairman of Hallmark Cards, largest greeting card company in the world. A highlighted quote from Don: "For us excellence is an aspiration, an attitude, a pursuit, a way of life. Excellence is all of us working together, aspiring to the fullness of our potential determined to do everything better than it has ever been done before." I am reminded of President Dickey's emphasizing similar ideals to us 40-odd years ago.

Howard Stanley Hutchins died on July 4 of a brief illness. He left Dartmouth after two years to marry and work in Hanover, his birthplace. We extend our sympathy to his widow, Mary, of West Lebanon, and his six children.

In August Biz and I had a happy visit with Barbara and Charlie Wilkinson in their beautiful, historic home on the Green in Longmeadow, Mass. In July we had a great cruise with Nancy and Jerry Mitchell '51, owners of Dartmouth Travel, to the Baltic, including Poland, Estonia, and Leningrad. In Stockholm I posed under a commercial sign which read "A TOUCH OF CLASS." At that moment my camera jammed! I hope there's no message there!

1704 North Park Drive #201, Wilmington, DE 19806