Former Trustee Ann Hackett
'76: “What a treat to receive your book and note! I look forward to reading the book but have already read your entry and the Introduction. I had no idea! Now I want to hear what happened when you went
to Israel!
You are so amazing and an inspiration. This book is a fabulous idea and
I hope Dartmouth shares the idea with other classes to spark
other creative and memorable class projects.”
Former Trustee David Shribman
'76: “I was delighted to get a copy of your book of reminiscences about
sports and Dartmouth, two of my favorite subjects. I spent a lot of time leafing through it when I should have been working, and then I read the book cover
to cover at home. I was especially honored to have been quoted in the book, a
treat I did not expect. I wanted to share one story that grows out of this book. The first time I went to Dartmouth
was in October 1962. I was eight years old.
I remember everything about that weekend vividly – the drive from the North
Shore, the crisp coolness of the October weekend, even the room in the
Occum Inn, may it rest in peace, where we stayed. And I remember the game, and
Tom Spangenberg’s
interception return. I forget some things that happened yesterday, but I remember,
with real vividness, that play – my first real sports memory. I remember
every yard of that play and have cherished the moment for nearly a half-century. Later
I would serve on Dartmouth’s board with Bill
King, who was then and now a hero of mine, the very personification of Dartmouth virtue and values. This
is a wonderful book, and a great contribution to the Dartmouth
bookshelf. As I typed these words I realized how much they sound like the kind
of blurb you find on the cover of a book, but in my case I mean it.”
Joe Medlicott '50, Writing Instructor,
Dartmouth Alumni College: “SPORTS: A GENERATION’S
COMMON BOND arrived here a few days ago. Congratulations! It’s a fine work, and a special wah-hoo of praise for you for dreaming up this project and seeing
it to such a marvelous conclusion. Documents like this are read and re-read by
classmates for many years. Although not all classmates are jocks, there’s
a bonding that happens among athletes that’s understandable to me. It’s
like the ‘band of brothers’ I knew in the 82nd Airborne Division. Survivors
of that era and that outfit still gather and warmly embrace as only ‘been there – done that’ men can manage. In a word, Ron, this is a wonderful work
and your classmates should erect a statue of you on the campus to honor all you’ve done for Deare Olde Dartmouth and
the class of 1964. Moreover, the book is a handsome piece of printing: nice paper,
just the right size, readable (that is, large) print, and a binding that’ll bear all the attention (abuse) such books
get for a long time. I re-read your “Choices” again, too. It’s a gem, a jewel of a piece of writing and deserves an honored place in this collection. I’ll bet a good many of your classmates will pound you on the back for you when
they read that piece. Keep up the good work.”
Dave Smoyer '63: “I am enjoying the book. The individual pieces are different
and mostly interesting. I only know about 1/4 of the guys. For you who know them all, it must be fascinating to read! What
a labor this must have been – clearly much appreciated by many.”
Ken McGruther '65: “Great concept – enjoyed the book and passed it on.”
Tucky Mays '65: “So glad you have written this book. Would love a copy.”
Jim Hamilton '65: “I just finished your Sports Book and enjoyed it and your concept of publishing a kind of anthology
of an important part of our generation’s time in college.”
This book has
had a powerful impact on everyone who reads it. See this response from
Taran Lent '96: “I am indeed the proud owner of “Sports
– A Generation’s Common Bond.” I was actively in the market
for a copy, but even so, there was no chance of walking away from the Beta Trustee meeting without one as Bob Bartles’ salesmanship
was truly extraordinary. I’ve only read a handful of stories so far, but
I am really enjoying the book (not sure why, but having a 3 month old son has reduced my reading throughout). The forward from President Wright
was outstanding. Fascinating to know his perspective on athletics. Would be interesting to contrast his views with those of former Dartmouth
presidents (at least those that ever wrote about the role of athletics on the college experience). As a member of the class of 1996, I am surprised how many of the names I recognize in the book. Either from knowing their children, Beta Lore, all Ivy plaques in the weight room, the Hard Nose plaque
in the training room, etc. Craig
Creelman was the first person I ever met at Dartmouth,
literally as I got off the plane from Denver, CO. He turned out to be my UGA my freshman year, and then later a fraternity brother. It was really cool to finally meet his dad and then read some of Scott’s
football stories. The Dartmouth Community is certainly tight knit, even across
the generations. One of my favorite sports stories is about my friend Whit Spaulding,
who now owns the Wheelock Bookstore. He is a person that is defined and motivated
by doing things others tell him he can’t. He was dating a woman that was
a member of the women’s varsity swim team. She was always bragging about
how special it was to be a varsity athlete. Whit was always kind and told her
how proud he was of her. But finally her self-adulation got to him. He said, “I think it is great that you are a varsity athlete, but if I wanted to, I could be one
also.” She doubted that and told him so.
He countered with, “name a sport.” She went with what she
knew and challenged him to be a swimmer. Whit trained hard and tried out for
the team the following season as sophomore. He showed up wearing normal swim
trunks while everyone else wore Speedos. He made the team, but just barely. He never became an accomplished swimmer, but the amazing part of the story is that
by his senior year his teammates named him captain because of his work ethic and the team dynamic he fostered. His old flame (by then), never congratulated him, but I imagine she had to be impressed. Whit leveraged his new swimming abilities and went on to become a navy Seal. After an injury on a mission knocked him out, he returned to Hanover. He was trying to figure out
what to do next. He recalled an experience he had as an undergraduate where the
owner of the Dartmouth Bookstore had treated him very rudely. Whit didn’t
want another Dartmouth student to have that same experience,
so he started Wheelock Books, the student friendly bookstore. The mission was
simple, put the Dartmouth Bookstore out of business. Interesting that the Dartmouth
Bookstore closed its text book department in 2004 due to declining sales, and ultimately decided to sell out to Borders. I guess the point is that for many people, the experiences you have as an athlete
influence what you do professionally down the road. For Whit, that meant having
the confidence and ‘can do’ attitude to face a challenge that seemed impossible and to succeed against all of
the odds. I look forward to reading the rest of the stories and staying in touch.”
Scott Sipple '84: “I have already read through all the tales of people with whom I’m familiar in your incredible
book. You may be the most hands-on editor I’ve ever seen. Great job on the book! It’s been a great read and it’s
a tremendous compliment to you and your classmates for having done it so well.”
David Dawley '63: “Great to see Bartles and have already read a few stories in your book – well done and particularly
fun to catch up with brothers and others whom I knew. Loved Ric DuPuy’s piece on inter-fraternity wrestling
since I was in the finals a year earlier with Jim ‘Mantis’ Leavitt
as coach. Leavitt and I still stay in touch, and I
remind him with pain how he cost Beta and me the title. I was tied with a '65
who happened to be the coxswain on the crew I coached but more importantly was a high school wrestler from Pennsylvania. I had never wrestled, but I looked
at Leavitt as we were changing positions in the last minute and asked about riding time. He said there was no riding time so in fact we were going into sudden death after regulation. Knowing that, I took a chance that backfired and Tom
Miller got an escape, reverse or takedown – can’t remember which. After the match, I learned that I’d had riding time, and that would have given
me a point and the victory. Damn coach!
Like Ric’s double finger flip, some things you just never get over. Congratulations
on the book.”
Mike Jackson '62: “There is nothing like good sport stories.”
RESPONSES
OF OTHERS
Coach Whitey Burnham: “The book is a classic! Love it. There are all sorts of memories
in life, but there is something just a little bit different about the memories shared by those folks who have been intimately
involved in the realm of athletics. It’s a kaleidoscope. The mystique of team chemistry; the thrill of seeing a particular skill you had been working on come to
fruition; coming out on top when supposedly you were the underdog; that horrible feeling of experiencing everything going
down the tube and not being able to rescue it even though you are working your butt off; but mostly, that camaraderie so special
among athletes which can never quite be duplicated or found anywhere else again, and it lasts forever. Several of my friends have purchased and read the book and have indicated how much they enjoyed it. Your idea of putting a copy in the hands of a prospective donor makes a lot of sense. I hope the Development Office will agree to do so.
Thanks again Ron for letting me be a part of the project. It was my pleasure and I clearly enjoyed being involved. Stay
in touch. Warm regards from the northern end of the trail.”
Carrie Pelzel, Vice President for Development: “I want to thank
you for the copy of Sports: A Generation’s Common Bond and let you know that
we are reviewing it to see how it might fit into our overall plans for acknowledging gifts to athletics at Dartmouth. My colleagues in the stewardship office have just begun their review of the ways in
which we thank alumni and others who support sports at the College. As soon as
they submit their plans to me and we have a final recommendation I will be sure to let you know. Don Mahler’s
feature story about the book and the money it will raise for internships in the Rockefeller
Center was compelling. I
hope the publicity inspired many to purchase it for themselves!”
Thad Seymour: “What a labor of love! Thank you for sharing a copy
of your wonderful book. I have brightened the holidays with my reading in it,
especially as I have encountered so many old friends, students and coaches.”
Ann Smolowe, Dartmouth Development Office : “I
also want to extend my belated kudos for the publication of your latest book of personal sports stories. I loved reading Whitey’s entry in particular, and wish that his messages could be trumpeted louder
to some of the alumni with whom I work who continue to judge the success of our athletic program (especially football) by
win/loss records. As a former collegiate alumna athlete myself, I agree with
him that this is a shallow, one dimensional yardstick of measuring success. I
look forward to Whitey being honored this spring at the Burnham Field dedication, and hope he’s given the opportunity
to tell some of his stories. I can’t tell you how many alumni have told
me how much of a mentor and influence Whitey had on their Dartmouth
experience! And, speaking of mentors, I may have already told you that I also
got a kick out of reading Bob MacArthur’s
story. He was among my mentors during my Dartmouth Outward Bound
School days, and I didn’t even know at the time (or, if I did,
I forgot) he was an alumnus! Anyway, this book is a treasure with some stories
that are real gems.”
Friend: “A much belated thank you for the anthology of sports
stories on you and your classmates. I have kept it in the kitchen and picked
it up to read a story or two over lunch or a glass of wine. They really are wonderful,
and I don’t think it’s just the congruent age cohort. Thanks for
sharing it.”
Friend: “As a Dartmouth
daughter-in-law, wife and mother (and also a Vassar graduate), I am an inveterate admirer of the
Big Green. I loved the stories in your book and the ‘life lessons’
gained by these athletes.”
Coach Mike McGean: “Ron’s
book is as wonderful as is Robert’s contribution. I had a rather amazing sports life as a kid too.”
Andrew Samwick, Director of Rockefeller Center: “Great story, Ron, about you in the
'64 sports collection.”
Loren McGean '89: “What a truly amazing tribute you have created with the '64 sports book. I am attempting to read it slowly and savor every story. It
is just fabulous. Thank you for creating something that will be so special for
so many special people.”
Dick Jaeger: Called Bob Bartles: “He was all excited about the book
and couldn’t stop talking about it.”
GOLF
If you love golf,
go to www.Dartmouth64SportsBook and read the essay The Old Men and the Tee by an
anonymous author. Here is what Whitey Burnham had to say about it:
“At
84, I can certainly identify with, The Old Men and the Tee. If you were to talk about the condition of the 16 guys I play with three times a week it would turn into
a two hour organ recital. But we hope every day that the young guy (71) with
the lowest handicap shows up so we can all get the maximum strokes. With each
foursome playing the other in a 50 cent Nassau it becomes
highly competitive as you can well imagine. Regardless, the beer still tastes
good after the eighteen and you wouldn’t believe the repartee that takes place.
One of the great things about getting older on the golf course it just might become easier to shoot your age. If I told you about an 88, I should have bragged further and disclosed that for the
first time in my life I shot my age and as a matter of fact shot under it (82) this past summer. If I can stay flexible, maybe I can do it again. At any rate
it was fun. Clearly this article you sent would have fit in nicely with the book.
Hopefully, it was a Dartmouth man that wrote it, but not a '64, they’re not old enough.”