1949

This is my first opportunity to report to the class on Bill Clinton's visit to Hanover. The truth of the matter is, however, that DAM covered it elsewhere and, more to the point, your secretary was elsewhere when the big event took place spending a couple of weeks investigating Bordeaux's vineyards. Besides, you may have had other things on your mind...like your own vacation.

Bruce Crawford did and took the time to write about it. At the beginning of June he and Leigh flew via London to Venice and took the traditional gondola ride before boarding a cruise ship that transported them to Greece, Turkey, Romania, and Russia. The historical highlights, says Bruce, ranged from Roman ruins to Biblical sites. They also saw the pathos of Romania and the pollution threatening the Acropolis. They visited a Greek village where the Nazis had executed all the males. And they saw warships in the Adriatic, 30 miles off the Croatian-Bosnian- Serbian coast. A sobering experience, you could say; nevertheless they definitely recommend the itinerary.

Maybe you're heading west on your next vacation to, say, Aspen. Then stay at the Mountain Chalet, an original ski lodge that celebrated its 40th birthday this year. The pioneering owner is Ralph Melville, who caught the skiing bug in Hanover and then helped turn Aspen into prime, really prime, real estate. His original nine rooms are now 44, plus a handful of apartments. Ralph estimates that between 60 and 90 percent of his guests during the ski season are repeaters, perhaps the best indication that he knows his business. A hands-on innkeeper, Ralph was recendy quoted in The Aspen Times: "Retirement for me is just working half days 7 a.m. to 7 p.m."

When the College's capital campaign passed the $400 million mark a few months back, it was a $1 million gift from the Robert L. Rooke Trust that did it. Mr. and Mrs. Rooke were the parents of our Robert Rooke, William Rooke '52, and Dorothy McCulloch, wife of Trustee chairman emeritus Norm McCulloch '50. The gift is earmarked, in part, to provide for the Robert L. and Alice W. Rooke Reading Room in the soon-to-be-renovated Webster Hall, future home of Baker's Special Collections. The balance will be added to the endowment of the John Sloan Dickey Center. The class extends its thanks to the Rookes for this signal endorsement of the College's future. The campaign, incidentally, is now closing in on $440 million.

President John Stearns, at the spring Class Officers Weekend, detailed a half-dozen objectives all '49ers should keep in mind. Strengthening our Alumni Fund effort. Focusing on our 50th. Scheduling a second executive committee meeting each year. Reviewing and enhancing class projects. Pursuing bequests and trusts. And, perhaps most important for implementing the above, building even greater class cohesiveness. Call it a vision thing.

A recent note from Ginny Huggins reported on Tom's death. An obit in this issue of DAM recount Tom's amazing battle against cancer and his serious contribution to his community. Condolences to the family.

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

Ralph Melville caught the skiing bug in Hanover and then helped turn Aspen into prime, really prime, real estate. 808 NUTT '49