1969

"Your class rocks!" was the description of our group by the student assistants assigned to us. And this was after being with us just one day.

As my predecessor, Rick Willets, said last issue, those of us who attended enjoyed a terrific reunion. It was my first reunion, and this is my first column. I hope to maintain the standard of good cheer, camaraderie and insightful information established by Rick, but he has set a very high bar.

The people who organized our gathering did a marvelous job. From the spacious and well-appointed class tent on the lawn in front of Streeter Hall to the buses transporting us to dinner at the Skiway's McLane Lodge, we enjoyed first-class treatment.

Upon registration we all received fleece vests, which were suitable for some other season; four wine goblets with the crest, which we could use immediately; and a wonderful CD of Paul Zeller's Dartmouth Glee Clubs recorded in concert during 1963-65. If you are interested in the CD, contact me and I can direct you to one. I add the description of those delightful gifts to encourage more of you to attend in the future and take advantage of these bennies.

The old tradition of prior reunions was maintained as nightly songfests around the piano in the class tent attracted a gleeful crowd. Bob Lundquist assumed his usual position at the keyboard and '6os tunes rocked into the summer air with strong support from soloist Terry Robinson and an ever-changing cross-section of other attendees and their partners, ineluding Ken Paul, Mike Vasey, John Meyers, Steve Adams, Roy Hitchings and more. See the class Web site for photos of much of this.

Not without its drama, the reunion included a police chase in which Bill Owen, Art Schneider and Jeff Bloomberg were pulled over by the Upper Valley's finest when they drove their golf carts off the course and on some sidewalks in search of food. Apparently, five alert citizens phoned in complaints and the threat level was raised to magenta before the chase ended. As is the case with our class whenever you find three of us together, there was at least one lawyer and the situation ended with a stern rebuke and an escort back to the golf course.

Almost as entertaining and certainly more informative were the numerous panel discussions, seminars and tours available to us during our three days. Dan Papp moderated a discussion on the U.S. and world relations post-9/11 that included Don Pogue among other panelists. We had a remembrance for our 38 classmates no longer with us and, unfortunately, I must add that Harry Doyle died on June 19.

There is news beyond the reunion, so I will preview the next column with upcoming good happenings for Rick Lounsbury, a Scott Balcomb sighting and an unexpected meeting with Dave Wakelin.

There is no official mini-reunion, but several of us are planning to attend Homecoming on October 30, and more company would be appreciated.

Please keep in touch with our '69 Times editor Allen Denison, me and each other.

6356 Tasajillo Trail, Austin, TX78739; wheat69@earthlink.net