1952

There must have been a 50th reunion for the class of 1900 in the summer when we turned from sophomores to juniors. It was not something we paid attention to, like the family history our grandfather tried to explain to us: if not irrelevant, unimportant. The important things were our new major, the leadership roles we were beginning to take in TheDartmouth, the radio station, the DOC, the basketball team or whatever. The girl we met during the summer was a bright flash. The North Korean drive through Seoul and Taegu to Pusan was very worrisome. So many more important things. But now we are the grandparents talking to our grandchildren. We are the Dartmouth class pointing to our 50th.

This time, thanks to a sea change and to president John North and former vice president Bill Breed, the class of 2002 is interested in our celebration and will be present with us in June two years from now. Most of us have gotten through our 50th high school reunions but, in the case of one 70-year-old, Amherst Central High School refuses to let go of Don "Dimp" Wagner, their class of 1948. The school, in Snyder (near Buffalo), New York, is far from wealthy. Its public resources are devoted to educational demands, with no funds available to replace a 50year-old field facility and cinder track that was a menace to runners. Dimp took a leading role in a private campaign to raise the needed cash and wound up nine months later at the groundbreaking for the project which is named for him: Donald R. "Dimp" Wagner Alumni Field. The ceremony attracted more than 2,000 alumni from all over the country, followed by a gala dinner-dance in downtown Buffalo.

Dimp and his wife, Loveday, now live in Annapolis, Maryland, with their West Highland Terrier Sherpa. When Dimp left the U.S. Army, he returned to Buffalo, lived a bachelors existence for 10 years at the Buffalo University Club and sold life insurance and mutual funds. He left that to join Grabber Cos. selling and distributing screws for the construction industry. He located his end of the business in southern New Jersey and stayed there for 30 years.

A few squibs:

Jim Weidman was elected to his third term as supervisor of the Town of Chautauqua in western New York State. Unopposed.

Buck Henry peered with an impish expression out of a Rochester Democrat & Chronicle story about a Lake Placid film forum in June. Next to him in the picture was director Millos Forman. Did anyone see him there?

Deke Dorey produced the very best description of his personal relaxation device: narco-lounger.

Julian Robinson and wife, Mimi, have fulfilled a 48-year ambition to move to Martha's Vineyard. They have just completed their first year as permanent residents and love it.

Sandy Wiper is one of five Cape Cod Shriners who raised more than $13,000 for charity from a Shriner golf tournament and a four-hospital crusade held at Stop-'n'-Shop stores on the Cape last year.

P.0.Box 8, Scottsville, NY14546; ('716) 889-3000 (phone); (716) 889-3044 (fax);henty_williams@msn.com