50-Year Club during a gala luncheon, members of the Class of
1955 gathered for their 50th anniversary
Members of Wichita University’s Class of 1955 gathered May 12-14 to reminisce with classmates, reconnect with the changing campus and be inducted into the university’s 50-Year Club.
Activities featured a class reception, brunch at the Woodman Alumni Center and campus tours highlighting the National Institute for Aviation Research, the Ulrich Museum of Art and Charles Koch Arena.
Of special note were a campus-history tour hosted by Dean Emeritus Jim Rhatigan and a high tea in honor of class members and hosted by WSU First Lady Shirley Beggs hn ’05 and Vice President for University Advancement Elizabeth King.
At a gala luncheon in the Rhatigan Student Center, attendees were inducted into the 50-Year Club and received commemorative medallions from WSU President Don Beggs hn ’05 and WSU Alumni Association Executive Director Debbie Kennedy ’94. Dale Richmond, Cleo Littleton, Joan (Worline) Gilley, Emily (Henderson) Rude and Bill Wentz spoke on behalf of the class, calling to mind familiar 1955 hangouts such as the Alibi.
Also during the luncheon, WSU Alumni Association President Kathy Sexton ’89/92 recognized Joe Childs for having the most grandchildren (16!) and Pauline (Dobrott) Crowley for traveling all the way from Virginia Beach, Va., to attend reunion festivities.
Other out-of-town guests were Dave Bowersock of Saddlebrook, Ariz.; B.W. Bronson of Osceola, Mo.; Don Christenson of Austin, Texas; Richard Dyck of Conroe, Texas; Floyd Farha of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Jeannine (Kell) Garnett of Houston, Texas; Gilley of Florissant, Mo.; Carol (Stanley) Harrison of Goddard, Kan.; David Hilton of Olathe, Kan.; Ronald Hume of Menahga, Minn.; Pat Ann (Warner) Konecny of Derby, Kan.; Lee Lohrenz of Kansas City, Kan.; Ted Schweiter of Mill Valley, Calif.; Wendell and Reba (Shank) Smothermon of Liberal, Kan.; Don Weber of Ocala, Fla. and Wentz of Valley Center, Kan. Also returning to campus were Larry Armfield, Patricia Couger, Mel Davis, Elaine (Evans) Eisenman, Nancy (Baldwin) Farrow, Elaine (Malone) Gile, Dale Greenlee, Jim Haught, Littleton, Barbara Maas, Richmond, Robert Scull, Joan (Thies) Seaton and Dick Wells, all of Wichita.
Many thanks to this year’s reunion planning committee of Jeanette (Farha) Bayouth, Childs, Ben Grisamore, Ed and Sara (Goeller) Lomax, Betty (Kellum) Partridge and Rude. Eldon Hamm of Ellinwood, Kan., also served on the planning committee but was unable to attend.
If you’re a Class of 1956 graduate, mark your calendar now for your 50th reunion in May 2006.
