Our 50th reunion was truly one for the ages! Everyone who was there had the kinds of experiences reserved for rare occasions like this. No record attendance was set, but the almost 280 of our classmates, plus many significant others, contributed to the remarkable number.

This is my 90th and final column, being co-written with my successor, John “Tex” Talmadge. You all had access to the schedule of events on our website, so you know things started on Thursday at Moosilauke where more than 40 of us gathered for the hiking and the night at the Lodge. Friday’s registration at the class tent rewarded us with the surprise gifts we will take with us and treasure for years. The rest of the weekend was filled with interesting events, all of which enabled us to relate to the old friend or the newly discovered classmate next to us. There were events such as the barbecue with the ’19s on Friday, followed by panel discussions about the Parkhurst takeover, George Wallace speech protests, formation of the African American Society on campus, the Glee Club performing in somber remembrance of those departed, receptions at the professional schools, formal Baker lawn dinners, class tent breakfasts, and lunches with President Hanlon speaking and accepting substantial checks the class has raised for this reunion. We have no space to list all the people who attended, so please go to the class website or the newsletter to see all those with whom you could have interacted.

Memorable forums were “Enriching the Years Ahead” and “Contemplating Our End Time,” wherein we had panelists discussing activity options for our retirement years and suggesting philosophical approaches to deal with our final years. Our chosen class gift, the renovation of the DOC House, has been warmly accepted by the College and the entire Hanover community. The plans are beautiful, and the result will be a significant addition to the campus and the town. Funding is not complete, so please add your donation to this meaningful gift from our class.

At our class meeting we elected officers for the next five years. Happily, nearly all our competent group chose to stand for reelection. The only people leaving their positions were our president, a vice president, and me. All were ably replaced by Jim Staros, Dudley Kay, and Tex Talmadge. The continuity and success of our class is ensured by the presence of so many qualified people willing to serve.

Our class is legendary for controversy and complexity, but the word best describing our 50th is unity. After such a successful event, with so many people commenting about the joy at having attended, we would be remiss if we did not recognize those whose efforts made this possible: our reunion co-chairs, Rick Willets and Paul Tuhus, and the communications people, webmaster Peter Elias and newsletter editor Allen Denison.

There will be more on the reunion in subsequent columns, but finally, let me thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be your secretary for 15 years and welcome Tex Talmadge. Reach him at (214) 673-9250 or johntalmadgemd@gmail.com.

—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3949 Maple Ave, Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75219; johntalmadgemd@gmail.com