1949

Some of you may remember Richard Lyon Castner, who started in the summer of'45, but in the fall the army shanghaied him and when he returned, he was assigned to the class of '51 (poor guy with all those young buckos). At any rate, Richard has sent along an antique 1949 banner replete with a leather seal as a token of his wish that he could have stayed a '49er and it is now safely in the hand of archivist Punchy Thomas, who will undoubtedly bring it to class activities if the moths don't get either the banner or Punchy first.

Old roomie Bud Petersen and Elsie celebrated their 50th anniversary this past summer. Elsie gets a good deal of credit. I couldn't stay with him more than a couple of years. Took some visitors around campus recendy and made my first visit to the renovated Webster Hallnow Rauner Library—where the fine book collection is kept. Don't miss this impressive facility (part of it courtesy of the generosity of Bob Rooke). Also while roaming Baker Library, came across a beautiful portrait of Paul Sample by the distinguished Peter Michael Gish. Took another, more mature look at the Orozco Murals, too. Still don't like them, but realize what an angry man he was and feel kind of sorry for him. At the same time, what talent and industriousness to complete that job. Come on, visit Hanover and see the sights!!

At the mini-reunion night dinner at Lake Morey Inn, the class honored Bob Nutt with the second 1999 Gold Pick Axe. I'm sure Bill Ballard will give you the entire citation in the newsletter, but Bob sure earned this with his impressive business career and his many contributions to Dartmouth and the class. Bob and Margo hide out up Fairlee way, on the other side of the hill from Punchy and ran a joint venture mowing operation with him when Bob is not out on the Hanover C.C. fairways.

Old Phi Delt friend Jack Carey is keeping plenty busy over in Rochester. Having retired from both the retail and stock brokerage businesses, he is now substituting as a French teacher in the local high school while he also keeps track of eight children and 16 grandchildren. During Reunion had a nice talk with Lorrie and Dean Merrill about their purebred beef cattle spread over in Woodstock. Dean is a director of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (isn't that the group Patch Adams took over?) and a justice of the peace. Trained for all these jobs by being a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps.

So how come you haven't sent me more material for this column?

PO Box 1194, Grantham, NH 03753; bjndougtoo@ aol.com