1935

OK, one more plug for the mini-reunion, or as chairman Bill Fitzhugh calls it, Gathering of the Clan: dates are October 2-3. Bill's program for the weekend (you already have) sounds exciting, and I'd like to say I'll see you there. Best I can do is the class meeting Saturday morning, I hope. The schedule doesn't call for it, but the reunion should give classmates an opportunity to have their first view of new prexy jim Wright. Of all the stories written about Wright's appointment, The Boston Globe said it best, and in the fewest words: "After a six-month nationwide search, Dartmouth College Trustees went down the hall and picked one of their own to be the school's 16th president in 228 years." Other important college news is from the '98 Alumni Fund, another record-breaker, over $l8 million in cash, 50.8-percent participation, 252 five-figure gifts, seven in six-figures.

My last column said (space reasons) I would have more information on the Widows Program, an ad hoc group headed by George Colton that was organized after the death of Ruby Field. Ruby, you'll remember, was a dynamic self-starter, and she chose to keep in touch with class wives in situations like her own. Ruby lost her Ralph in 1970; she died five years ago. Every Christmas Ruby sent greeting cards to all class widows, a tradition which continues today through the help of George, Bud Fraser, Wiley Hubbell, Eleanor Smith (Dave), Lois Brown (Sandy), and Carlyne Ziemen (Sax). The task steadily grows, now totaling some 180 widows, or close to the number of us still alive (YankPrice's count of the latter in February was "about 200").

General news about the Great Class is pretty thin. I've heard from no one except Eleanor Smith (e-mail) concerning the widows program, and a phone visit with Bill Mathers about his Northeast Kingdom lawn party, moved from July to late June, and what the date change did to this annual event. Only 17 members of the Great Class could make it, not counting Bill and Myra; even the person who proposed the June date was a no-show. The Mathers household, to put this kindly, was left with "lots of leftover food." The loyal few who attended (as many more were invited) were Doc Beach, Barbara and John Gilbert, Margo and Eric Hawke, Lou Hawkins (Lou came with her bathing suit for the traditional solo dip in the Mathers' pool), DickHube, Louise and Put Kingsbury, Geraldine and Nick Jacobson, MauryRapf, Mil and Ed Reich, Margaret and Don Radasch, and Yank Price. I reached Bill after he had finished nine holes of golf, bad knees and all, heard him complain about his game, and asked if his party had run its course. No way, said Bill, "Next year in July."

The best news this month is no obits to report. Keep it up, and let me hear from you.

River Mead Road, Peterborough, NH 03458;

Master collector "Bucks"Weil Jr,p.36