1952

There were a lot of varsity sports played at the Dartmouth of our time and their team members look back on them fondly. Of course, most of these, such as football or lacrosse, belong exclusively to the players' college years. Nobody has played them since. But it's probably different with tennis and golf. Do their '52 team members still play them?

Bill Randall, now retired as a Milwaukee lawyer and banker, was captain of the '52 tennis team. Bill can't remember what the teams won/lost record was but he knows that they beat Harvard for the first time in many years. (Secretary's note: And it would be almost 50 years before there was another tennis win over the Cantabs.) Bill still plays tennis but claims that he's lost ground and can't even win from his wife, Wendy.

Doc Dey lives in Connecticut, where he's come out of retirement voluntarily to run the National Organization on Disabilities' program for job readiness and placement. He lettered in both football and tennis. He's never since played football but he's certainly played lots of tennis—until two years ago, when he developed back problems

Mendy Balkin divides his time between Boston and Florida and recalls clearly that the '52 team tied with Princeton as Ivy League champions. Mendy played No. 1 doubles with Captain Randall, and Mendy still plays. He looks back happily at the bond the tennis teammates had with one another.

Albie Collins, who surely still does play tennis and also runs a big annual tournament, says that actually our '52 season team was better than good. He's adamant in his claim that they won the New England Tennis Championship. Albie and Doc played No. 2 doubles. Our No.1 singles player was Tom Allen who, retired from the insurance business, lives in Florida.Tom played competitive tennis for many years until a health problem sidelined him a while ago.

Our golf team was low profile—so low profile that betcha you didn't even know that Dartmouth actually played varsity golf! Only two '52s were on the team in our senior year. Jack Boyle was one of them and he loved it. Their home course was the Hanover Country Club. They had matches throughout New England and a southern road trip where they got to play some nifty courses such as Winged Foot, Pinehurst and Pine Valley. Jack continued to play (a lot of) post-college golf and got his handicap down to 1. Its higher now, but he still plays very well and still loves the game.

Bob Griswold lives in Rochester, New York, and was the other '52 on the team. He remembers them having a significant home advantage on the very difficult Hanover course. Bob still plays but his handicap has risen a little from its best. He was actually golfer! Ahandicap of zero! Wow!

So the varsity athletes who played golf and tennis came away with sports that seemingly last a lifetime.

ES. And don't forget to bring your "A" game to our 55th June 11 to 14. The turnout is looking very strong!

P.P.S. Open up on dartmouth.org/classes/52.

189 Mountainside Road,Mendham, NJ07945; dexotex@aol.com

REUNION June 11-14 2007