1948

This DAM comes out 50 years to the month after President John Sloan Dickey handed many '48s and seniors of other classes our diplomas one by one in the Bema in the 179th year of our College. Remember? (Many '48s could not be there, as we are of diverse timing due to WWII.)

When you read this, our 50th will be about to begin. We will surely have a great time, but we will miss our more than 100 classmates gone from this earth, also those who might have come. (Son of Eleazar, it's not too late!)

One possible is retired internist and diabetes specialist Norm Saunders, who may not attend due to painful rheumatoid arthritis. (Norm may get in touch with National Arthritis Foundation's Bob Jeavons in hope these fellow sufferers can help each other.) Others who probably won't get there include life-long friends Bill Ivins and Howie Westney who have an awful conflict at their families' old school the same weekend; "Old Sarge" George MacGillivray who no longer moves around easily; old third-floor Wheelerite Jim Garrison, whose health won't allow him to join roommate Jere Poole and who will phone WaltCairns from those never-forgotten freshman 1944 days when Uncle Sam wanted YOU.

Among those to be in Hanover: machinery manufacturer Jack McKeon, who played hockey and remembers a North American championship game in 1946 against McGill when he and Bob Merriam played in a Providence rink soft enough to swim in (Jack often sees Davy Auld); insurance exec Abe Abrahamson, back in Hanover for first time since 1973, when he remembers lan Macartney's writing "Drut, where are you?" on a wall disc signed by many '48s when I didn't show; AlGustafson, Charlie Kaufman, and Phil Viereck, who may climb Moosilauke before Reunion (weather permitting), Phil in spite of replacement hip and honorary title "Mr. Philharmonica" given by his North Bennington school; Gus Metzel, who properly advised it was John Cameron who replaced Walt Kliebe in North Mass room of Lou Springsteen and the late BozKirkpatrick Bob Cormack and WoodyDeYoe, who couldn't play in Crosby's intramural hockey match against V-12 Middle Mass in 1945; retired navy captain Gene Finke, who spent years in Vietnam, won the Distinguished Service Medal and two Legions of Merit, more recently was mayor pro-tem of El Paso, and may play in Reunion tennis tourney run by Lany Brisbin and John Van Raalte; Roy Wilson, who, with Bill Campbell and Dick Russell, owned that room in South Mass which kept Dick Dahl in Dartmouth by eating his Dahlbergers; Russ Palmer, object of recent article about his top leadership role in golf involving the tour and PGA.

Other '48s coming back for probably first reunion since leaving Hanover: JackBecker, Jack Bobbitt, Shant Chebookjian,Tom Gallant, Dave Kadyk, SamKatz, Al McKee, Nat Merrill, FranRimbach, Murph Robins, Rollie Sontag,Hank Woodard.

In closing my final column but one, please join in thanking Fran Hummel, John Hatheway and the reunion committee for fine job done in setting up the 50th. Max kudos also to Marv Axelrod, Bud Elliott,Jim McLaughlin, and Ken Young for truly outstanding efforts in bringing little '48 to the forefront among class financial supporters of our old College, and to Bob Herrick and the Hukes for The Outstanding '48 Book! See you in Hanover!

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"You haven't changed a bit." June 12-14, 1998