The great class of 1971 earned some (in my humble opinion) long overdue recognition at the recent Class Officers Weekend. The following citation for Class of the Year runner-up is a tribute to president Peter Pratt and his tireless executive committee. From Rick Ranger ’74, president of the class officers executive committee: “The class of 1971 prides itself on doing things their own way and in their own time. And boy, are they doing things. The past year saw an impressive schedule of mini-reunions, regular classmate correspondence by e-mail, a strong reunion effort, an important class project in the Hovey mural book, a connection with the female exchange students, and dues and Dartmouth College Fund [DCF] participation rates that indicate a strong class that shares ties to the College and to each other. Hats off to the class of 1971. Congratulations!”


Not resting on our laurels, we will be holding a major mini-reunion (is that an oxymoron?) next July in San Francisco. This will center around the America’s Cup competition, with sailing lessons at Anthony Sandberg’s Olympic Circle Sailing School, wine tasting, golf and great dining. We’ll also be holding another mini-reunion in Hanover the weekend of October 11-12.


As you will be receiving this issue of DAM shortly before the holidays, here’s a great year-end challenge from our three hard working head agents—Michael Maynard, Malcolm Jones and Sam Cuddeback. An “early action” DCF challenge from several generous classmates—if the College receives at least 171 gifts or pledges from us of any size by December 31, 2012 (23-percent participation), our class challenge donors have agreed to fund an additional $50,000 for this year’s DCF. Our June 30 participation goal is 40 percent. You know you’re going to contribute anyway, so make that pledge right now!


From Mickey Stuart, the inspiration behind our Hovey mural book project: Back in 1969 he, along with about two dozen classmates, spent spring term abroad in Bourges, France, with professor John Rassias. Mickey, Tom Loucks (Denver) and Tom Hancock (Seattle) are planning a mini-reunion for this language study abroad group and are publishing (with some help from our class treasury) an album of pictures and anecdotes from most of the group. They will present a commemorative copy to Professor Rassias during Homecoming Weekend. Among those involved in the project (and in some cases reconnecting with the College and our class for the first time after 40 years) are Mike Mathias (Las Vegas), John Gilligan (lawyer in Columbus, Ohio), Fred Young (Toronto), Bill Munich (California), Gratian Yatsevitch (D.C.), Rick Beaudette (Maine), Rob Rich (teacher in Durham, North Carolina), Joe Nemeth (Westhampton, New York), Peter Maeck (Lexington, Massachusetts) and others.


Willie Bogan is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York City Thursday, February 7, and we expect and hope to have 20 to 30 classmates in attendance to honor him.


On a sad note, we have lost another classmate, Pat Babbitt of Lone Rock, Wisconsin, who recently died after a brief illness. 


—Pete Webster,17 Woodbridge St., South Hadley, MA 01075; weebs71@gmail.com