Alumni honored during University of Richmond Reunion Weekend
ALUMNI
Former roommates Jeff Keever and Hubert Price were among the members of the Class of 1976 who were recently inducted into the Frederic W. Boatwright Society.
“Looking back on how it was in the '70s, it is a radical transformation to walk through the campus today and see the difference,” Keever said. “I'm so impressed with what the university's been able to do in the last 50 years.”
The Society was founded in 1972 as a tribute to Boatwright, who served as president of the University of Richmond from 1895 to 1946. Every alum whose class graduated 50 years or more ago is a member of the Boatwright Society. The annual F.W. Boatwright Society Dinner and Induction Ceremony is held during Reunion Weekend.
During the ceremony, the honorees stood as the name of every member of the class was projected onto screens. They received a pin designating their membership in the Society. Ninety-five members of the class registered to attend the event in person.
The Class of 1976 graduated during the country’s Bicentennial.The University Student Union was formed during their time on campus. With supervision by faculty advisor, Dean Richard Mateer, the students brought in speakers and bands and held parties in the old Millhiser gym and the Jenkins Greek Theatre. Dutch Chaos weekend included a dance, all night movies, a mudslide, and, most unusually, the creation of giant foods. Students gathered to build a 600-foot banana split one year and a 795-foot submarine sandwich the following year.
“My favorite memories include the gorgeous fall days on campus, football games at City Stadium, and parties in the Greek theatre,” said 50th Reunion Committee co-chair Terry Heilman Sylvester. “Life didn’t get much better.”
“It’s so hard to believe it’s been 50 years. But when talking with classmates over the weekend and reliving our time here, it seemed like just yesterday,” said 50th Reunion Committee co-chair Steve Akridge.
Although Keever had been to campus over the years for football games, he had never been to a Reunion before. He didn’t want to miss this one.
“Fifty’s a pretty major milestone,” he said. “And to run into my roommate from freshman year — we’ve been having a great time.”