Christopher Newport College First Decaders 1961 - 1971

From Karen Graeb Stanley:

          Quoted in last week’s article on the Reunion was Karen’s expression of “thanks and appreciation” to the Alumni Relations Office “and all the CNU staff and students who made the class of 1964's 50th Reunion such a memorable experience. I cannot think of a thing that could have been better planned and executed. It was not just ‘things’ that were so well done, but everyone's attitude and air of wanting to be helpful.” Noting that “this attitude filters down from the top,” Karen also gave “special thanks to President Trible for allowing us to be CNU's guests.” Regarding her classmates, Karen wrote, “Everyone I had an interaction with expressed the opinion that they were glad that we had come back to celebrate our 50th with the current graduating class.”

Below are additional email comments from Class of 1964 members who attended their Golden Reunion at CNU.

From Mary Carle Warren:

         What a delightful event from start to finish. I only managed to get two photos from the Reunion. I was having too much fun to think about taking photos. Thank you for your dedication to "the cause."

From Jay Dunn:

          I could not let the night pass [May 10^th] without thanking you and all those who worked to pull together the 50^th anniversary celebration of the CNC class of 1964.  For me personally, the highlight was to be named an honorary alumnus; to don the cap and gown today [Saturday] was an act of grace on the part of my alma mater.  From the social and candle-lighting events of Friday evening to today’s graduation march and parting bell ringing, I am left with “sighs too deep for words.”   

From Guy Futrell:

          Thanks for helping pull all of this together.  We had a great time visiting with old friends and seeing what great progress CNU has made.   

From Michèle Miller Meadors:

          Thank you for all you have done to locate the First Decaders. The 50th Reunion this past weekend was fantastic! I had a great time. It was wonderful to see class members whom I hadn't seen in years. The activities that were planned for us were super. I enjoyed everything. The graduation was impressive. The speaker was inspiring and the student achievements were amazing. Thanks again for all of your hard work!

From Sam McIntyre:

          Thanks for a wonderful 50th Anniversary party. It had Jane Chambers written all over it. I even came home and looked for your picture in the '64 Trident. You photograph well. 

The Class of 1964’s Golden Reunion:

Part One

Friday’s Celebration at CNU 

Compiled and Captioned by

A. Jane Chambers

          Impressive, memorable, first class, outstanding, fantastic, delightful, wonderful—these are just some of the words members of our Class of 1964 used to describe their Golden Reunion at CNU last Friday and Saturday, May 9 & 10, 2014. 

          In an email to Lacey Grey Hunter, CNU’s Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Karen Graeb Stanley expressed “ thanks and appreciation to you and all the CNU staff and students who made the class of 1964's 50th Reunion such a memorable experience. I cannot think of a thing that could have been better planned and executed. It was not just ‘things’ that were so well done, but everyone's attitude and air of wanting to be helpful,” adding that “this attitude filters down from the top and so I give special thanks to President Trible for allowing us to be CNU's guests.” Regarding her classmates, Karen wrote, “Everyone I had an interaction with expressed the opinion that they were glad that we had come back to celebrate our 50th with the current graduating class.”

          The pictures and comments below show the class, their guests, and CNU representatives enjoying Friday evening’s events. The photos from Saturday (Commencement) will be posted next Friday, May 23^rd .

COCKTAIL HOUR: 2^nd Floor, David Student Union (DSU)

          This large area at the top of the Grand Stairs in DSU is called the Pre-Function Area, because it is where people gather before attending various events that take place in the rooms adjacent to this area, including the Board Room, where our Class of 1964 enjoyed its Dinner Celebration.

DINNER and PROGRAM: Board Room, 2^nd Floor, DSU

          Following the cocktail period, our group of class members, professors, guests and special guest Mrs. H. Westcott Cunningham next enjoyed two festive hours in the Board Room. We dined on Filet Mignon and were entertained by musical selections. 

CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY: The Great Lawn

          The stage for this ceremony was the same stage that had been erected in front of McMurran Hall, to be used for Commencement on Saturday. Our Class of 1964 was honored in two ways. First, our 15 members (now official CNU alumni) sat at the front of the stage, on one side of the podium, facing the over 1200 members of the Class of 2014, gathered below and holding their unlit candles. Second, Chuck Burcher, President of the 1964 class, began the lighting of the candles. First he lit the candle of Senior Class Council President Samantha Gough; then he lit the candle of our Ray Bunn, seated nearest to the podium on the first row. Then Ray lit the candle of Marianne, next to him, while Samantha lit the candle of another classmate on the stage. And so the process continued, until a sea of burning candles was formed from the stage onto the lawn. So ended a perfect pre-Commencement day for the Class of 2014 and a perfect Golden Reunion for our Class of 1964. 

The Class of 1964’s Golden Reunion:

Part Two

Saturday’s Commencement at CNU

Compiled and Captioned by

A. Jane Chambers

From the social and candle-lighting events of Friday evening to Saturday’s graduation march and parting bell ringing, I am left with “sighs too deep for words.” Jay Dunn (’64)

Saturday morning’s program for our Class of 1964 began at 9:00 with a very nice Continental breakfast provided by Alumni Relations Office staff in a lecture room on the first floor of CNU’s McMurran Hall. Class members, three of their former faculty, and guests enjoyed a variety of fresh fruits and Danish pastries, plus orange juice, coffee, hot tea, and water before donning their regalia. Afterwards, shortly before the opening of the May 10, 2014 program, the group was photographed in front of the stage erected for Commencement at the entrance to McMurran Hall.

Our Golden Reunion group was seated under a white canopy tent near the stage. The morning was overcast with occasional light breezes and pleasant temperatures, so we were comfortable even with our black robes. Also, members of the Alumni Relations Office provided bottled water and pastries and fruits at a table within our tent. In his opening Welcome speech, President Trible recognized the class and its attending professors and had us all stand. Giant screens left and right of the stage and in other locations gave the audience close-up views of the entire Commencement, which began at 10:00 a.m. and ended about 12:20 p.m.

Commencement Speaker Frank Wolf, Congressman representing the 10^th District of Virginia, stuck to his allotted time, and although some 1,200 students were personally handed their diplomas by President Trible, the process moved smoothly and efficiently. Candidates moved quickly up one ramp, received their diplomas, and then moved quickly down the opposite ramp, where, after a hug from Mrs. Trible, professionally photographed, they returned to their seats. After all was over, there was universal jubilation.

A new tradition began following Commencement 2014 with the “Inaugural Ringing of the Bell” by Samantha Gough (’14), Senior Class Council President. Located in the recently completed Bell Tower between McMurran Hall and Forbes Hall, this bell from the famous ocean liner SS United States was a gift to CNU from the late Dr. Sarah Forbes, M.D. Well known to most who live in this area, The United States, built by Newport News Shipbuilding in 1952, for years held the record as the fastest ocean liner in the world.

Following the initial ringing, graduates of both the Class of 2014 and the Class of 1964 were allowed to ring the bell until 2:00 p.m. What an appropriate reminder this ship’s bell is of the school’s namesake, Captain Christopher Newport, and the other English mariners who with him founded Jamestown in 1607.  

This is the only known photo of CNC’s 1964 Commencement, held in the auditorium of the Daniel school building. Judge Forrest B. Wall is giving the commencement address. Some of the graduates are visible in the front, the young ladies in white dresses and the young men in suits. Are YOU in this photograph? Photo from Christopher Newport University, Sean M. Heuvel (Arcadia, 2009), p. 22.

SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Friday Evening’s Celebration

1. RON LOWDER, our website's webmaster, will provide background music for us during the cocktail hour.

2. There will be a MEMORABILIA display arranged by a CNU librarian in a room adjacent to the Board Room.

3. The MEAL and PROGRAM (6:00- 8:00) will be fantastic (details provided on our website next Friday).

4. A MEMBER of the REUNION CLASS will initiate the lighting of the candles at the Candlelight Ceremony (8:30).

Saturday Morning’s Commencement

1. ALL MEMBERS of the Class of 1964 (degree and non-degree) will wear the academic regalia, which includes a special 50^th Reunion academic stole, theirs to keep.

2. REUNION ATTENDEES--class members, faculty, and guests--will be seated beneath a CANOPY TENT positioned to one side of the stage, close to McMurran Hall. Water will be provided in the tent as well as any food left on the breakfast Danish tray.

3. NAMES of our Reunion Class members will appear on the giant screens left and right of the stage, visible to all at Commencement, and the class will be asked early in the program to stand and be recognized.

4. CNU’s Class of 2014 numbers over one thousand.

RECENT PHOTOS: THOSE PLANNING

TO ATTEND

THE 50^th REUNION of the CLASS OF 1964

(A "BY INVITATION ONLY" EVENT)

Recent photos unavailable for

Ken Smith and Liv Whiting. 

          Alumni faculty who plan to attend are shown below, along with special guest “Cecy” Cunningham, widow of CNC’s first president, H. Westcott Cunningham. Former professor Georgia Hunter is unable to attend for health reasons.