1949

Back in October a nice story in The Boston Globe about the rowing feats of Ralph Burgard and wife Marj. At the Head of the Charles meet, Ralph finished second in the senior masters single scull race and Marj won the women's division. In November Ort Hicks celebrated his 75th birthday in style. The United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors gave a free concert in Woodstock, Vermont, courtesy of Georgina to honor the day and Ort's long involvement in musical accomplishments. I understand that only about 20 percent of eligible alumni vote in the elections for Dartmouth trustees. Given the volume of complaining letters in this magazine and other grumblings heard periodically, this is hard to believe and I urge every '49er 10 vote every chance you get. Matt Fenton showed me some ma- terial about his late best friend and classmate, Harvey Nolan. Harvey won both the Navy Cross and Silver Star as a Marine officer in Korea. The citation for the Navy Cross is particularly impressive since it describes his action as a platoon leader, painfully wounded but leading his men in a fixed-bayonet charge to dislodge the enemy. I remember talking with Harvey about the fact that we were probably bivouacked within yards of each other on Peleliu in 1944. Harvey's son is a Marine pilot. Jane can be proud of her Marines. John Kent Cooley looks prescient these days. Remember at our 50th John Kent had a book signing at the Dartmouth Bookstore for his new book Unholy Wars, the cover of which featured Osama bin Laden. In October a British newspaper article reported that the book was well displayed in Peshawar bookstalls and often cited in reports and studies. I am pleased to report that I saw Johnny Rusham in November and he is doing really well after his bout with cancer. Our "Ace" and vivacious wife, Doris, are flying high. Ed Graham writes about the happy event of the wedding of his daughter, Sarah. Despite many trepidations, the day was not spoiled by the fact that it was officiated by judge Q. Kopp. Dave Heusinkvelt writes that his retirement from the practice of general surgery has slowed him not. He is auditing a broad range of courses at Lewis and Clark, in Lewiston, Idaho, and doing some European traveling as well. Sadly, I must report the sudden death of our president, Burt Proom. Burt had been an outstanding hardworking leader for both the class and the College. We are all going to miss this man.

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