1927

The Biggest 50th in Dartmouth History...

FIFTIETH REUNION

And what a glorious reunion it was - over 260 classmates, wives, and widows came from the north, east, south, and west to help 1927 earn the coveted cup for the largest number of members in the history of Dartmouth ever to attend a 50th reunion.

Although this is being written June 20, because of an impending vacation, you will not be reading it until September. By that time you will have received Tom Gillespie's "Speakeasy" with a fuller account. Accordingly, and also because of a lack of space, we shall cover only highlights here.

Credit must be given to Rog Bury and his large committee. You saw the names in numerous announcements earlier so we won't relist them all. However, every last detail was carefully planned and meticulously carried out, to the nth degree, with many, many impressive and heartwarming events which all of those who attended will long remember. Many thanks to you, Rog, and to your entire committee. We know that each of you spent hours and hours in planning for our enjoyment. And, of course, we should not fail to give a hearty hand to Peg Funkhouser for rounding up so many of the widows.

The weather, unfortunately, did not cooperate particularly well. Cloudy skies, cool weather most of the time, and a series of scattered and unpredictable showers, even downpours, although discouraging, were not sufficient by a long shot to spoil the weekend.

Although a number arrived earlier, the droves really started to gather at noon on Friday, June 10. It was heartwarming to see Rog Bury and Jay Willing, reunion treasurer, seated at two long tables in front of Middle Mass passing out badges, instructions, and tickets, and, of course, collecting money. Also at the table were Boband Franchot Long, who distributed souvenir ties and tiles. The latter, designed by GordonSmith, were 6" by 6" and depicted the 1927 Dartmouth Pine in attractive green and white. As crowds milled about greeting old friends, we noticed two men carrying senior canes, several wearing previous reunion green hats or caps, and one hardy soul. Bob Page, wearing his blue and white junior blazer - which still fit.

Friday's afternoon program included a two-hour bus trip around campus to Balch Hill and other familiar sights as well as the new and impressive medical school. Then there was beer in the large tent in front of Middle Mass and at 7:00 p.m. a class dinner with open bar, which pleased all. After the dinner, Allice Wormser displayed a Dartmouth sampler she had designed for Sam. Marion Anglem and Madelyn Fowler showed the large sampler, to hang in Dick Hall's House, entitled "27 Remembers 50 Years," on which many of the 1927 wives had labored. Later, there was hilarious music in the tent until the wee hours with Nat Morey (who else?) at the keyboard, Jack Andrews on drums, Charlie Huntley on the slippery-slide trombone, Al Welty on his homemade one-string bathtub bass viol, Keith Preston (Hamilton '27) on trumpet, plus several ringers from other classes.

Saturday was a busy day. A sumptuous breakfast, including creamed chipped beef, at Thayer Hall with old cronies was followed by a memorial service for deceased members at Rollins Chapel. Allice Wormser was at the organ and our Reverend Chuck Brewster's eloquent remarks were particularly moving. Then the class picture was taken on the steps of Webster Hall, followed by the usual business meeting. Ken Murray, Gus Cummings, and TomGillespie were reelected president, treasurer, and newsletter editor respectively. Paul Hannah,Chuck Baker, and Jay Willing were promoted to first and second vice presidents and assistant treasurer, in that order. Charlie Paddock got the nod for class secretary. Frank Strong reported that the usual fall reunion will be held in Hanover on October 22, the weekend of the Cornell game. Gus Cummings indicated that the Class was more than solvent, and Chuck Baker reported sadly that 267 of our members have died since 1927, including 64 during the past year, leaving 322 living and active members as of this date. Committee reports were also presented by Tom Gillespie, Rog Bury, HaleHam, Paule Revere O'Connell, Bob Williamson and others.

At noon there was an overall alumni luncheon followed by an alumni meeting in Spaulding Auditorium at Hopkins Center. Paul RevereO'Connell presided as president of the Alumni Association, and Paul Hannah gave an excellent talk as the main speaker. Our class was particularly moved when our late Sam Wormser was given the unusual distinction of receiving posthumously the annual award for distinguished service to the College. Following this was the much-anticipated rededication of Dick Hall's House. Unfortunately, because of rain, it had to be held in Webster Hall instead of outside of the house itself. Two representatives of 1977 accepted from the class of 1927 the responsibility of carrying- out the desires of the Hall family until their own 50th reunion in 2027.

Perhaps the most gala event of the weekend was Saturday's formal cocktail party at the Top of the Hop lounge in Hopkins "Center. The music, again supplied by Nat Morey and his merry men, was tremendous, as was the dinner which followed. Charlie Bartlett was m.c., President-Emeritus Dickey was the main speaker, and Curt Wright recited one of his hilarious poems. We were also entertained royally by "The Dartmouth Aires" (male octet) and "The Woodswind" (female octet). Later, there was more music, dancing, and fraternizing in the tent until the wee hours of Sunday.

Concerts by the Glee Club were held on both Friday and Saturday nights, and we have to admit in all honesty that the women on stage did add a certain zest to the performances.

Sunday was graduation day. At 11:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of Baker Library, our class led the procession and then sat as a group next to the more than 900 seniors. Later, the Class, with wives and friends, sauntered to the Bema, where Messrs. Arnold, Fowler, and Wright regaled us at the scene of the 1927 Pine with their skit in colorful costume of the first confrontation many years ago between Eleazer Wheelock and Chief Wah Who Wah. Sample bottles of Eleazer's Elixer were distributed. Then came the last official event of the reunion, a final luncheon, held at Thayer Hall instead of in the Bema as planned, because of the threat of rain.

Now, after all that, your new class secretary closes his first report to you with a serious entreaty. If 1927 is to continue to be as closely knit a class in the future as it has been during the last 50 years, given the inevitable gradual decrease in our ranks, it behooves us to keep more in touch with each other than ever before. Accordingly, I have selected a slogan which I shall pursue relentlessly, namely - "Communicate-communicate-communicate."

So please do.

1927's memories are jogged by a skiing scene of auld lang syne.

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