50th Class Reunion: BGSU

Last weekend we took our Airstream to Bowling Green Ohio to help celebrate our graduation from BGSU in 1957. It was a grand homecoming event, and we were treated as honored guests. There were many special events for our class to include receptions, meals, a walking tour, and a bus tour of the campus, which is at least three times larger that it was 50 years ago. Our tickets for the Homecoming football game were excellent, and our team won handily over Western Kentucky.

The greatest fun was reminiscing with old classmates, most of whom we had not seen for 50 years. We could not believe how old THEY had gotten. One of our more vocal classmates (people don't really change personalities) kept shouting, "Where's the queen?" She (Homecoming Queen 1957) was there, but we do change in looks. Jerry was delighted that he had selected his "queen." Many marriages have disolved, and many members have gone on to Glory. We felt blessed to be so active and healthy.

We made sure that we toured the old library (now Office of the President and other executives) where we had spent many evening hours "studying" while holding hands and quaint Prout Chapel where we married three months after graduation. Jerry also toured his home town of Rudolph. The little white house that he and his mother lived in is still there. Hopefully, it now has plumbing. The old brick schoolhouse where he attended first and second grades stands, but is now a civic center. We held our wedding reception there on September 7, 1957. It was all our $400 wedding budget would allow.

We also took time during the few days we were in the Bowling Green area to visit Gloria's sister and family in Leipsic. Gloria spent a couple of hours at Delta Gamma, her sorority (best on campus in 1957). During the 1970s , Jerry's fraternity lost it's charter for engaging in extra curricular activities unbecoming an ATO. The good news is that a new Tau Colony has been founded, and there will be a new ATO charter issued in December. Jerry stopped by their tent outside the stadium, encouraged them and pledged his support for their new chapter. In the spirit of Old Alpha, we enjoyed separate meals with three of Jerry's favorite brothers from the fifties, Ray, Don and Jim.