1943

In an effort to generate some fresh copy, I picked ten names at random, '43s who missed our 55th, and wrote them asking for imput. To my pleasant surprise I received four letter replies by copy deadline.

Stan Bolster missed reunion because of travel and health considerations of his wife. Nevertheless, he noted that fellow Mainiac Jim Wells admonished him for missing the affair. Stan wrote at length and thoughtfully concerning the Freedman years. Too lengthy for this column the message's thrust: to attract top faculty you need to provide research opportunities as knowledge proliferates so rapidly in all fields today. The trick is to accomplish this without sacrificing student accessibility to senior faculty. Dartmouth has done this—a tough balancing act. Frank Dain wrote a short pithy note—as only Frank can. Never a fan of Freedman, he hasn't changed his mind. However, as to the occupant of the White House who received his vote in '92, he writes: "He is a beguiling guy, and I was beguiled. I think in the end he is going to go down as a presidential disaster. It will come down to whether the incredible pol will end up triumphant over the incredible phallus." Paul Randall pens that the packing is completed but that he and Betsy will be living out of suitcases until their new abode is ready for occupancy. He passed on a note from Ralph "Bud' Welsh 44, a grade-school chum of our deceased classmate, Bob Alesbury. Larry Johnson explained his absence from the 55 th was occasioned by a 75th birthday bash for wife Lucy. Healthy and active, Larry thinks the College is in good hands but worries about the rising cost of tuition and does not believe a needs-blind admission policy is an adequate answer. Larry continues to spearhead Tuck's money drive for his class. Scott Mitchell, a recent widower, continues to coach tennis at Catawba College m Salisbury, N.C., and didn't make reunion because of a busy travel schedule visiting numerous offspring. I had a brief telephone conversation with frankHartmann, who missed the reunion due to health problems. Howie Leavitt passed on a note from Charlie Donovan that included a reference to Dartmouth Medical School's rank as seventh in the nation; also a clipping from USA Today profiling BillSeidman and his latest rescue mission as advisor to the Japanese and their wobbly financial predicament. Hex Harrxgan isn't totally isolated from Dartmouth affairs in Brevard, N.C., occasionally attending D. club luncheons in Asheville and Hendersonville. Hex was sorry to miss our 55th, enjoys decent health, but no longer offers editorial comment on the state of the world. Chan Stevens, a Cape Cod neighbor, is still struggling with health problems following his stroke of a year and a halt ago. He and wife Amy follow class domgs closely.

Sadly, I have to report Charles "ChicWebb's death in late June. We offer condolences to his family.

I sign off with this quote—maybe from Y. Berra, maybe not—"Nostalgia ain' t what it used to be."

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