1918
Rudi Hesse, who holds a very responsible job at Macy's, N.Y.C., and who was vacationing at Hanover during the Secretaries Meeting, attended by the ever faithfuls, DickHoi ton and Bill Christgau, will be back at Reunion, then visit his two daughters and grandchild in Colorado. Don Snyder, one of Staten Island's foremost lumber dealers, has turned the business over to his two sons, John (St. Lawrence), and Don (Colgate). Faithful prodder, Red Hulbert, who spent his life with Gen'l. Motors-Overseas, reported that Charlie Benesch, the '18 plute who lived in Hitchcock and was on the Glee Club and in Dramatics, was in St. Pete, Fla., last winter.
Jake Bingham, N.H. representative for Boston & Maine R.R., is the salt of the earth. So was his brother, Andrew '16, also his father and mother. Jake's grandfather was a member of the Supreme Court of N.H., and an alumnus of Dartmouth, I believe. So was his great-grandfather, Andrew Woods, of Bath, also the great-grandfather of Amos Blandin, whose father was Justice of the First Circuit Court of the U.S. for many years. These are the words of Bill Colby, who gives as his address, The Farm, Bow, N.H. Walt Nelson, who was drenched in Florida last winter, swears Hazel will divorce him unless he retires in Florida.... The class will be forever indebted to Hal Doty and Howie Park for the loan of their Old Dartmouths for nostalgic effects in class notes....
A Wah Hoo Wah for Gene Markey, on two counts: first, he was given the Legion of Honor by the French Government. Also, he has a splendid article in the April 28 Sports Illustrated, "My New Kentucky Home" - delightful word pictures of a fascinating country:
I arrived in Lexington only 5 years ago, a carpetbagger, with airplane luggage, and I doubt if any reconstructed Yankee ever dwelt so peacefully in a Confederate civilization. Under high trees which are remnants of the great primeval forest, farms are set off by white fences, black fences, or stone walls that were built by slaves. Weep some more, My Lady, oh weep some more today! Not that my wife is the weeping kind, but she might shed a tear on May 3 if she has no Derby colt. Most years her Calumet colors go postward in the Run for the Roses, and 6 times she has won that coveted gold cup (May 4 newspaper captions all over the country —"Tim Tam wins $160,500 Derby").
Let's hope by the time this appears, there will be a realization that Ruth and Jack Draper, the old cronies of Bennie Mugridge and Frank Harrington, will have been at our 40th reunion. Ellen and Duke variously reported last winter in Porto Rico and everywhere else, joined the Bill Cunninghams '19, and Martin Remsens '14, at Pinehurst and Sea Island. Steve Mahoney's son, Steve '50, is doing a good job with Steve's Burke, Kuipers & Mahoney, Inc. - does wonderful promotional work.
If you want a knockout reception at an '18 dinner, stay away for years and years, then suddenly bust in. The ovation given Bill Ryan, whom no one had seen for 15 or 20 years, was stupendous. Bill lives in Wilton, Conn., has 5 children; the four oldest are sons. In his early days, Bill and Dave Skinner sold bonds for the National City Bank, with a lot of other new graduates. Later, I think Bill lived for a few years in Italy. A treat it was to see him, and how Pete Colwell would have loved it - for he often dropped Bill a postcard. Good news has it that Dwight Sargent is out of the hospital, and will be in top shape for his scheduled, talks on the west coast, and his and Peggy's trip to Alaska after that. Thrilling, too, was the desire of everyone to anchor on to Phil Boynton in this area - a real good addition to the N. Y. crowd. Missed badly was the miracle man Johnny Johnston, who was mending his fences down in Tennessee. Missed also was good old Roger Howland, who sent a telegram. At the dinner Curt Glover and Hal Day (Mr. Amer. Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corp.) were discussing bath tubs of Persian brown, Pembroke style. Apparently the Boston '18ers who enjoyed a wonderful weekend with Priscilla and TomShirley are all planning a big safari when Curt's new home is christened in Darien, Conn. Looking mighty well, after his spell in the hospital last year, was Lester McElwain. Dan Shea showed the good effects of his relaxation in Florida. Howie Park told interestingly of his business trip (delighted Ann went along too), through England, France, Germany and Denmark, and it was apparent that Ann after warming up her high school French in Paris was able to get around everywhere.
Mercedes Benz Bob Knowles and Ethel enjoyed themselves so much in Florida last winter, they talk of hastening retirement. Also at the dinner and ever dependable was Dick Holton, and it might well be that Helen and Paul Miner (as a prodder Paul is tops) might next year explore the possibilities of Sarasota as a retirement area. Challenged by Frank Clahane on the reunion tax of $49, Chris made up with sound and motion what he lacked, if anything, in logic. Reunion fees for all classes run pretty much the same. DKE Ned Ross, the old roomey of Frank Harrington and Doc McBride and who rightfully thrills over the grandfather role he is now playing, and who was a member of the same lodge as George Dock '16, said this of DKE Herm Whitmore that night: "A great man, a terrific pilot, and a damned good business man." Also present at the dinner was Red Wilson of the Tricontinental Financial Corp., and Syl Morey who is running the big annual reunion of the Battleship Florida on which Syl served in World War I, to be held in September in N. Y. City.
Also at that N. Y. City '18 dinner, May 1 was Bennie Mugridge, flushed with the happiness of a good contract he had negotiated - good for both sides. In the 4-day negotiations in Miami Beach, Bennie got only 4 hrs. of sleep all told. This new labor contract resulted in a settlement of the wage scale and fringe benefits that the flat glass people would enjoy; his clients being Libby Owens Ford, and Pittsburgh Plate Glass. Bennie for some time was with Rogers & Slade, in N.Y.C. - prominent firm of Management Consultants. With all his work, Bennie has given of himself unstintingly, together with Chris, writing personal letters to the whole class, encouraging them to come back to Reunion.
At the dinner that night, there seemed to be some doubt as to whether Phi Beta Kappa, Walter Ross, now retired (worked all his life for Bell Tel. Labs, radar - under-water sound - etc.) would be back at reunion. Walter gave us one of our most delightful '18 dinners last winter, showing the pictures he and Gin had taken in their safari last summer in perfect weather through the west. Maybe the absence from reunion of Gin and Walter will mean not only that we'll miss the wonderful pictures they would take at reunion (George Davis, Fred Cassebeer, Harvey Hood, yes, every one with a camera better take all the pictures they can at reunion, and please send us duplicates for the class to enjoy), but we may benefit with new slides the Walter Rosses will take on their new trip.
Never underestimate the power of a woman! Bennie's secretary Reggie has given of herself terrifically to make this reunion a great success. Betty and Tom Robbins' daughter, Jeannie, was elected Kake Walk Queen at the U. of Vermont Winter Carnival in February. Snapshots of the Queen well show Jeannie's good looks come rightly from her father and mother.
Dusty Rhodes' son, Westall, was married in California last Jan., and while at the U. of Southern Calif., he was Associate Editor in charge of photography for the Year Book, and had been in active service (Navy) in San Diego. Three cheers for Lymie Burgess, a tax representative for Prentice-Hall, Inc., who was one of 5 members of the June 1957 graduating class at the WNEC School of Law who were notified that they passed the Mass. bar examination, held last Dec. The old hockey goalie, Fred Morse, told how last winter he wanted some warmth, so instead of going to Florida, he went up to Stowe, Vt., and never shivered a shake — "Fine skiing, improved my downhill speed 200%, but form still lousy. Nothing like Holton's."
Rugged cattleman, Bill Wright, from Mary's River Ranch, Deeth, Nev. (U. S. Chamber of Commerce; active in Stanford U. Library fund raising activities), wrote a few weeks back, "The perennial election year suggestions are being tossed around: That is," "that I become a candidate for the U. S. Senate, but that seems too remote to discuss and I'm not giving it much serious thought. I have been unwilling in the past to make the sacrifice required to run for office, primarily because of business entanglements and moral obligations to my former partners."
A postcard from Clarence Opper says: ran into Hal Doty in a restaurant. We were 'introduced' by Bill Brett, the Director of the Mint. He was, I think, '16; would have recognized Hal in spite of 30 years or so without the 'introduction.'" Eddie Ferguson writes that he received a letter from Wendel Raycroft '17, which said that since he graduated in the class of '18, he should at least be made an honorary member of 1918. You're in, Ray. Feel your aches and pains, and think ever of retiring? Whoa - look at it another way. Listen! Bill Colbath '18, ex-roomey of Walter Willand, Property and Supply Officer at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Me, married four years ago, has a little girl nearly 3 and a boy about 8 months, - 7 children - and a happy family they are indeed. The Colbaths spend their summers at Kennebunkport, Me., and although his wife cannot come back to reunion, we hope we'll have the pleasure of seeing Bill for a while, anyway.
Otto Kubin, Stuart, Fla., realtor, we enjoyed a visit with in April on the way back, and found Otto under the trees, looking out over the beautiful St. Lucie River, and he looks fine, and has the same old bounce as in Hanover. There's a good chance he and Helen will make reunion, on their way up to Canada. Didn't want to be quoted but he opined "times look a bit like the •26 Florida bust all over again." Also passing through Daytona we had a nice visit with Isabel and Johnny Simmons, who are fortunate in having a home with Isabel's 92 yr. old mother, - the same home which her two younger sisters occupy downstairs at the ages of 89 and 91. In acknowledging a wedding gift from Stan Jones, thoughtfully sent to Herm Whitmore when recently he was married again, Herm went on to say "Laura is moving to California with me. We bought a new house just recently so we can start a fresh life." Only 60 days ago, from Las Vegas, Stan Jones received a postcard from Johnnie Cunningham, inviting him to be his guest, and he says, "... and the scenery in swim suits - Brother - this life has insurance beat plenty - caught 19 bass yesterday."
In the Ridgewood, N. J., Herald News was this item: "The legion of friends of Carlton (Bub) Frost will be interested to know he is resting comfortably after an operation at the Valley Hospital. A crack tennis and squash player, he has taught the fine points of the court game to hundreds of boys and girls and older players at the Upper Ridgewood Tennis Club for the past 25 yrs., and has developed many leading players in the areas."
John Alden Thayer, realtor of Delray Beach, got a call from Hi Belding at Pompano Beach. Johnny says he is getting good and increasing action from his little local column.
Secretary, Room 704, 441 Lexington Ave. New York 17, N.Y.
Class Agent, East New York Savings Bank 2644 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn 7, N.Y.
