61ers- Bookmark this website and visit it often.

Sorry from the Pres for not updating the Web Site earlier- needed some time off from Lehigh.

We’re back and things are happening for Lehigh 61

How about our 50th?

We’re still talking about what a great time was had starting with the Friday symposium. It continued with the Saturday parade and party, the pig roast at Moyers and Lehigh’s commencement on Monday. See Bob Paternoster’s newsletter for more details about reunion happenings. Reunion highlights and videos are linked here including our first Petty Flag after 50 years of “56 frustration.

Some late news…

Stemming from the Greek Symposium, 61 will stay involved with Lehigh’s Greek Alumni Council in striving to return houses no longer active.

The Class of 65 adopted the incoming 2012 class with a class goal to outdo the 61s. From adoption to commencement we were with 2011. As mentioned at our class dinner they exceeded our matching goal of 611 class gift pledges. The video we made for that initiative is on Utube for those of you who missed it.

On the field Air Lehigh is back on the gridiron as well as the fabulous Moyer-Spill tailgates.

At the Tower Society Meeting Pete Hagerman was again honored for his service to Lehigh receiving the James Ward Packard award recognizing  the talents and support Pete has given unselfishly to Lehigh. Great picture with President Gast is attached here.

Lafayette game is home this year- a chance to reunite and see a great team. If you plan to come and are interested in a 61 rally after the game, drop Paul an email. After all we planned for the 50^th it should not be too hard to arrange a little get together.

Lastly, keep Lehigh in mind- annual giving, reunion pledges and bequests. 61 has made Lehigh a better place and we hope to see this continue.

And the Kingston Trio made it more than memorable. Jack Davidson said it best calling this current trio “a gold standard replica of what we enjoyed so much”.
Yes, they hung Tom Dooley for the 14,732nd time and Charley’s wife now hands him a Starbucks as the train comes rumbling through and we well remember where the flowers have gone. This was a very special evening for a very special class. If you were there, you felt it from the start (and we had at least 45 class members plus spouses and friends amongst the crowd of 650).

Funny, Jack Davidson recalled the resistance by Lehigh for us to blow our $3000 blazer revenue on a concert for an up and coming group in 1959. In the fall of 2008,Lehigh challenged 61’s wisdom again as we suggested a second coming. Karla Morales of the Development Office says it all: “What a wonderful concert! I must tell you–and the other fellows’ involved -that the KT concert was all the talk at Reunion Weekend! Great vision, good work. Kudos to the class of ’61!”

So many to thank: Ed Watters and Joe King for believing from the get go; the financial backers from the class that put their money up against a short deadline; Ken Weaver for marketing the concert and inspiring Jack Davidson to join us against incredible obstacles; Jim Williams for publicizing the concert with WDIY and The Morning Call; George Spill for making the early events of the day both fun and meaningful; Larry Moyer for the souvenir program that captured the spirit of the concert so well; Chad Davis of the alumni office for coordinating all the logistics of the event from its earliest conception to getting the Trio on the plane the Day after, not missing a beat in the time between.

Jack Davidson! A story within the story. We are all blessed to cross this man’s path. Enjoy the Video and Jack’s classic remarks about then and now. It is not hard to realize why we were thrilled to honor his return to campus. Take a moment to enjoy the Photo Album Ken Weaver made for Jack and his family. To all the Class members who came, thanks for the support. To those of you waiting for the 50th, we’ll make it special, but count on hearing about the 48th.

As they say in Georgia, “We done real good, y’all”

Class officers Joe King, Paul Smith and Ed Watters flank the 61 Challenge Scholarship winners and finalists at halftime of the Cornell game on October 4. All finalists received plaques while the 3 winners received $1000 each from the Class of 61 Scholarship Endowment funds.