1949

Last month it was revealed here how much everyone seemed to enjoy our 45th Reunion. Now we should give a serious nod of thanks to those classmates who turned hogs' ears into a silk purse. Principally they are, respectively, our present and former presidents John Stearns and Vail Haak, plus Gordon Thomas, Bud Hughes, BobMuenzberg, John Adler, John Simpson, and Jim Sullivan. If your name should be on that list too, let me know. And if you'd like your name on the list of volunteers for the 50th Reunion, well, let me know that and I'll pass it along. It's not too early to plan ahead for the ultimate get-together of this here millenium.

Punchy Thomas reports that there were no complaints filed about the 45th—and no glitches occurred. Pressed a bit by this reporter, he admitted there were a couple of moments when glitches loomed, but no one ever noticed.

One potential trauma was trying to get Allen Brooks to remain at the tent (for the presentation of his Gold Pick Axe Award) when he was bound and determined to go home so that he could leave early the next morning for his summer vacation on his island in Ontario's Georgian Bay. The lies and cajoling that went on were enough to make a grown man cry. Did Allen catch on? Well, he stayed, and was suitably surprised and gracious.

Short-term, there is still time to make plans to attend this fall's mini later this month, the weekend of September 30-October 2. The occasion includes the Dartmouth-Fordam football game. This will be the cusp of the fall foliage extravaganza that we New Englanders plan each year for your entertainment. In fact, your reporter overheard the aforementioned Punchy, a Vermonter, say that this would be the weekend that the sugar maples will turn "orangey-goldy." Can you miss that? There are a bunch of rooms reserved just for us at the Lake Morey Inn, a half hour north of Hanover right off I-91. Call them directly for a reservation at (802) 333-4311 and mention '49.

We have the Faculty Lounge reserved for the Friday night soiree, although you will have to imagine a bonfire since Dartmouth Night won't happen till a couple of weeks later. Sounds like a good opportunity to find out how the football team will fare this year, sans Fiedler. And let's hope said Fiedler fares well with the Philadelphia Eagles.

One final item about the class meeting that was held during the reunion in June. In accepting the presidency John Stearns emphasized that his administration would seek to get every '49er in under the tent (a metaphorical tent, not the one on Tuck Drive). To make his point he added, "I don't care if you think the world is flat, we want you to be our classmate." Unfortunately, time ran out and this important geographical issue was not resolved. Please let me know what you did on your summer vacation. Please.

RR #1, Box 215 A, Fairlee, VT 05045