left to right: Jan (Shoff) Deering, Charles Doze, Alice (Zinn) Sutterfield,
Jan (Achelpohl) Swanson. Second row: Byron Hays, Joe Fennessey,
Dorothy (Briggs) Vogt, Wayne Harrell. Third row: Cliff Johnson, Bob
Moffett, Don Anderson. Fourth row: Don Bowin, Gil Tatman,
John McCarty.
It was a time to share memories and meet friends from years past when graduates of the University of Wichita Class of 1958 re-connected on campus Oct. 2-4 for their 50-year reunion.
A wide variety of activities was packed into three days, including a welcome reception at the Woodman Alumni Center, an art tour, a reunion dinner and Saturday brunch.
Reunion attendees had a number of sports options, including watching the nationally ranked WSU volleyball team in action and taking in pre-season softball games. In addition, there was fun at a Saturday afternoon family carnival.
The reunion’s centerpiece event was the 50-Year Club Luncheon, during which Class of 1958 members were inducted into the 50-Year Club.
Luncheon guests were welcomed by WSU Alumni Association Executive Director Debbie Kennedy ’94, who recalled some of 1958’s highlights in the world of popular culture and at WU. WSU President Don Beggs spoke about the university today and helped present commemorative medallions to the newest 50-Year Club members.
(Hamker) Anderson ’57 share a
|conversation after the 50-Year
Club luncheon Oct. 3 at the
Rhatigan Student Center.
Also featured during the luncheon were Don Bowin ’58 and Jan (Shoff) Deering ’58, who shared Shocker tales of life at WU — often bringing the audience to laughter.
WSU Alumni Association President Dan Unruh ’86 awarded a number of special gifts to these reunion-goers: Joe Fennessey for having the most grandchildren (18); Janice Swanson for the most great-grandchildren (six); Gil Tatman for having the most family members who have attended WU or WSU (seven); Donald Bowin and his wife, Jean, for having been married the longest (59 years); and Alice (Zinn) Sutterfield and her husband, Jim, who traveled the farthest to attend the reunion — all the way from Corning, N.Y.
Joining the 1958 classmates for the luncheon celebration were a number of university administrators, including Gary Miller, provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jim Rhatigan, emeritus dean of student affairs; and Ron Kopita, vice president of campus life and university relations, as well as these members the 50-Year Club: Richard Clausing ’39, Elinor Keesling ’44, Bill ’48 and Pat ’48 Chamberlain, Dick Curry ’48, Ruth Scheer ’48, Jo Brown ’51, Hank Farha ’51, Bill Wentz ’55 and Eugene Swanson ’57.
As is the tradition at the luncheon, the event closed with attendees singing a chorus of the university’s Alma Mater, which was led by WSU First Lady Shirley Beggs.
