1918
Tom Shirley, who with Priscilla, expects to be in California in the early spring on a visit to his daughter Betty and her family, has asked me to write a column about Florida, '18ers who reside and visit here, the 1918 POW-WOW and life in general in the Sunshine State. This is quite a large order, especially since the number of classmates who actually live here has grown from thirteen to twenty-three since I undertook a similar job five or six years ago. I am sure that vacationing '18ers have increased in a like proportion. But we know that more of you are coming, some on a full-time basis, and each of us hopes that it may be in his vicinity. Florida is a big state and every Chamber of Commerce will tell you that its area is the ideal spot in which to settle.
While Clearwater, on the Gulf of Mexico, does not attract the number of tourists that some east coast resorts do, we have been fortunate this winter to see many classmates. Dwight Edson flew over from Houston where he is still active in business. Others in town were Russ and Gene Howard from Oskaloosa, lowa. Although retired as bank president, Russ has many interests there, including a continuing term as Trustee of William Penn College. Some time ago he headed a committee to welcome and induct the late Henry R. Luce as an honorary citizen of Oskaloosa. We were delighted to spend an evening with John and Isabel Simmons, residents of Daytona Beach, and to recall Hanover freshman days. It was good to have Bill and Fran Blanchard from nearby Sarasota stop in. Bill is very busy as owner of a building supply business but has found time to take Fran to Europe, Japan and many places in the Far East. Helen's brother, Hugh Whipple, spent a couple of nights with us after severe surgery in Medina, N. Y. Also from Medina were Tomand Elizabeth Robbins, who are just celebrating the arrival of their tenth grandchild. To our great joy Phil Boynton turned up March Ist for his twenty-first season but all this was tempered with sadness by the absence of Marjorie, a grand person and wonderful wife.
A fine visit also with Ralph and RikaNorton from Middlebury, Vermont. Ralph has been President of the Corporation operating The Middlebury Inn, a fine hostelry, and lately has done much work of a financial nature for the Episcopal Diocese in his Vermont area. Mel and Frieda Southwick from Sewanee, Tenn., spent part of the winter on adjacent Treasure Island until suddenly called to Massachusetts by the serious illness of Mel's 95-year-old mother who. I am glad. to say, is now recovering. Mel found Florida a pleasant change from hard floors and oriental rice dishes as his memories went back 25 years to the days when he was a prisoner of the Japanese in Hong Kong. Also near us are Jack and Doris Rosnell, Ive and Carolyn Prowattain, Jud andLee Birkenmayer, Mandell and Ruth Crothers and Charlie Benesch, the latter the star of our famous Sophomore Smoker Show put together by Gene Markey and SiegJudd.
To you '18 low handicap golfers in search of a stiff challenge we suggest that you try to take on Harold Glendening of Orlando or Frank Griswold at Naples, 130 miles to the east and south of us respectively. But unless your game is real sharp you had better make this just for fun. Your pinch-hitting scribe manages to keep busy with a fair size garden and lawn, together with some civic affairs in a newly organized town, and often finds that his reflexes can be a problem on the tennis courts.
Lest I dwell too much on my habitat, let it be known that the real spirit in Florida '18 emanates from the east coast Miami area. Here the stalwart six, composed of Howie Park, Cliff Daniels, Al Gottschaldt, Gene Markey, Dan Shea and George von Kapff, acting as a committee with Howie as Chairman, have been responsible for the famous POW-WOWS at Fort Lauderdale. Much work went into making this year's affair at The Sheraton so successful. '18ers who were lucky enough to attend a Penthouse dinner and luncheon the following day were: Eric and Rose Ball, Hi Belding, Jud and Lee Birkenmayer, Cliff and Adeline Daniels, Al and Becky Gottschaldt, Ed and Luke Healey, Russ and Gene Howard, Charlie Jones, Tom and Marty Jones, Steve and Dorothy Mahoney, Edith Knowles, Gene Markey, Paul and Helen Miner, Ed McDowell, Howie and Ann Park, Tom and Elizabeth Robbins, Jack and Doris Rosnell, Dan Shea, Neil and Lenah Sheldon, Tom and Priscilla Shirley, George von Kapff and Hugh Whipple. We were also very glad to have had with us a number of Hanoverians and their wives from 1919 and 1920. As an M.C. Howie was a stand-out. Tom Shirley and Steve Mahoney brought us up to date on the progress, so far, of plans for our 50th. A nostalgic note was introduced by Ed Healey when he gave a touching rendition of an old song written by GeneMarkey, with Gene himself looking on approvingly.
Many faces that we hoped to see were missing, among them Dave Skinner who wrote that he would be in Iran at the time. Let us hear about your trip, Dave. Jack Slabaugh regretted that an important Blue Shield conference in Miami was scheduled for April and he could not spare the time from his legal work for both events. Also Dick White's son was operated on in Buffalo and a trip there would conflict with the POW-WOW. Chuck Palmer writes TomBryant of his pleasure in continuing as a member of The Century Club. Chuck spent part of February lecturing in Hanover and visiting his two grandsons there, one to graduate this June and the other at our 50th. Cort Horr's 18-up notebooks that he thoughtfully sent down were much appreciated. Red and Nancy Hulbert had planned for so long to attend the luncheon but an unfortunate delay at the New York Airport caused them to miss it by only an hour. We all shared their disappointment more than we can say.
It goes without saying that much news, interesting to classmates, has been overlooked in this write-up. Also some mem- bers' names have not been listed, and for all these things I ask your forgiveness. It would take a full-time roving reporter to keep up with the Florida '18 picture. So much for all this, if you are still reading, and let me say that while we have a lot going for us in Florida with the sunshine, sandy beaches and mild waters, we must admit that we do miss the fresh fragrant mornings and the evening wood notes of the hermit thrush in the hills of New England with their sparkling clear streams and flaming foliage, particularly over Memorial Field on a Saturday afternoon.
Secretary, 137 Annawan Rd., Waban, Mass. 02168
Class Agent, Apt. 2, 95 North Lansdowne Ave. Lansdowne, Pa. 19050
