1948

Today I wrote obituaries for five classmates, Moose Concannon, Ray Howland, Gordie Noe, Ed Rutherford and Dave Story. Each one had an interesting life and a few words at this point can not begin to describe what these men have done for their families, communities and the nation. To us, they were friends, people we encountered in classes or in the wilds of New Hampshire or sang with or broadcast with or were fraternity brothers.

For some we've been able to share experiences during reunions or have stayed in touch via these pages, the newsletters and even the Internet. But it seems to me that when we don't have a chance to spend some time together on campus it just isn't the same. So I'm addressing this column in particular to those of you who have never bothered to come back to a reunion.

Let me suggest that regaining the Hanover Plain to spend some time with friends of long ago has absolutely nothing to do with whether the Indian no longer symbolizes Dartmouth, the College is coed or the various political boo-boos it has made over the years. Nor does it reflect on the records of the football and basketball teams.

We gathered on campus many years ago and found a wealth of friends, experiences and a good place to learn. It was unique among its peers. It was run by Dartmouth Men for Dartmouth Men. Nothing can change that because we lived it. Our greatest opportunity to regain a piece of that good feeling is to return to Hanover and spend some time trading good reminiscences with our buddies of long ago. It also gives us a chance to find out about the intervening years with classmates and not have to rely on obituaries to catch up.

To tempt you a bit more, most reuning classmates will be housed in Buchanan Hall in the Tuck School cluster. These are relatively new airconditioned dorms where two single rooms share a bathroom. This means that you won't be kept up by carousing younger classes. Meal service is close by for breakfast unless you want to hike down to Lous. Hap and Hals and the Streamliner no longer exist.

Chairman Ray Richard assures me that there will be plenty of time to schmooze with classmates, even though golf and tennis are on the agenda for our athletic types. A "Nostalgia Hour" is planned and you are encouraged to dig into the scrapbooks and photo albums in the attic and basement to bring your memories to share. The usual clambakes and banquets are planned in attractive spots for your appetite relief and the übiquitous tent provides plenty of opportunity to exchange 55 years of experiences, not to mendon don those stories of evading Pudges justice while shading the regulations.

Advance registration is well above norm for a 55th and there is still time to get on board. If you want to check to see if someone is coming or encourage them to join you, call or e-mail me or Ray (802)785-4142. See you in June on campus!

Bob Herrick, 6442 Cardeno Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-6929; (619) 459-5133; bobherrick@aol.com

REUNION June 9-11 2003