1949

The 55th reunion was a rousing success, with 76 classmates and an almost equal number of lovely ladies attending. Highlights were the presentation of the prestigious Alumni Council Award to our own John Stearns and Gold Pick Axes Awards to Lee Bronson and Daniel "Deke" Jackson. Paul Bjorklund, proudly representing so many of you, presented President Wright with a check for $175,049. We were treated to a beautiful concert by the Upper Valley Glee Club and attended a moving memorial service for the 208 classmates who have died. Unfortunately, I must add another to the list, as word has come that Al Wagner died after a long illness.

New officers elected for the next five-year term were: president, Doug Thomson; vice president, Irl Marshall; secretary, Dean Merrill; and treasurer, George Hartmann. We are also blessed that Bill Ballard will continue as newsletter editor, as will Paul Bjorklund as head agent, Vail Haak as gift planning chair, John Stearns as mini-reunion chair and Paul Woodberry as chair of the Gold Pick Axe Awards. Not enough can be said for the hard work that Vail Haak put in for us to achieve such a great 55 th. Thanks should also go to Paul Woodberry, whose ideas and perseverance achieved the placement of two impressive granite benches in front of Hopkins Center and three at the Ravine Lodge. Interesting article in the local newspaper about Bob Nutt. He was browsing an antique store and discovered a document that caught his eye. Research revealed that it was a bill of sale indicating that one of his ancestors had owned a slave. The Dartmouth figure skating team, coached by Mike McGean, won the National Intercollegiate Championship. Rod Finkbiner is now fully retired from his medical practice, remarried and reports avery interesting experience visiting South Africa to share medical knowledge with special emphasis on AIDS. Ed and Anne McBumey are home in lowa aftera trip to London, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Ed reports a warming story of a refugee family from the Sudan, who are settled near their home, and whose father they knew well when they lived in Abu Dhabi. Noble MacFarlane, retired for someyears from his pediatric practice, spends his summers very close to Cedar Point, Ohio, the roller coaster capital of the world. He and Claire, however, are not issuing class invitations to you. News from Hanover features the closing of Serry's and the sale of the Dartmouth Bookstore, which will be remodeled, restocked and reinvented. This is my last column. Dean Merrill takes over. Help him as you have helped me.

P.O. Box 1194, Grantham, NH03753; bjndougtoo@aol.com