Memories Flow at ‘That Was Then…’ Session

The “That was Then” session of Alumni Weekend has two constants — 1) alumni are eager to talk about their college memories and 2) time always runs out before everyone gets a chance to share their favorite stories.

Such was the case in 2004 as alumni packed a large classroom to spend more than an hour laughing, smiling and remembering what going to Ripon College as many as 60 years ago was really like.

Here’s a sampling of some of the memories shared this year:

■ A friend ended up assigned to a male roommate, despite being female, because her name was Lindley.

■ An alumna met her now husband on a blind date while at Ripon.

■ About 40 of those attending had married fellow Ripon alumni.

■ One alumnus shared that his roommate taught him how to tie

Golden R Class of 1954

In the front row, from left, are Beverly Johnson Steffes, Ginny Foertsch Glenn, Sydney Rouse, Helen Matteson Schotanus, Peg Jess Schieler, Lois Zimmerman Kieser, Katherine Frye Richardson, Bill Moran, Jean Spikings Davis, Jo Hartough Franz, Jane Furzland Stelter, Pat Goodrich Christensen, Barb Lloyd Nickels. In the second row, from left, are Joan Dunham McCombs, Christina Diamantes Slavins, Verne Churchill, Bill Calawerts, David Runkel, Helen Billett Warren, Art Myr- a tie and tuck in a shirt — but the roommate only changed the sheets on his bed every three months.

■ An alumnus told that the late Paul Cassidy ’88 had been his roommate. Cassidy was killed in the Iraqi War a year ago.

■ There was much talk of cold, cold winters, living in the “barracks” behind Middle (now Smith) Hall and having one’s eyelids freeze shut.

■ Dandelion wine

■ President Clark Kuebler (194355) was known to come to Bartlett Hall in his pajamas in an attempt to stop someone who was blowing a bugle. Kuebler lived in Hughes House, former home of the president at the corner of Woodside and Elm streets.

■ Lawrence beating Ripon 62-0 in football and Ripon students burning an “R” in the Lawrence football field.

■ The Hawk, eating in Great Hall, being waiters, watching the “world’s slowest eater” and pouring milk from a huge jug.

■ Spencer Tracy stories

■ Faculty stories about Bill Tyree, Ed Webster, Clifford Moore, Dr. Comfort, John Livingston. r berg, Bill Donaldson, Dan Booras and Jerry Stelter. In the third row, from left, are Carolyn Krueger Mangold, Barbara Bagemihl Anderson, Ned Lufrano, Cal Scheiller, Bill Jensen, Martin Jim Dwyer, Jim Klapmeier, Jim Jacobsen and Ray Nickels. In the fourth row, from left, are George Sinadinos, John Ferbend, Tom Poullette, Margaret Binzel Peters, Barbara Elsy Denner, Dick Harmet, Jim Cunningham and Walter Hofman. In the back row, from left, are John English, Jim Thayer, Dan Harmon, Jim Wagner, Duke Pepke, Bob Brown, John Kahoun and Graham Foster.

Like the Energizer bunny, some alumni just keep coming back year after year. From left, Frances King West ’39, Florence Zick Tinkham ’48, Clayton Tinkham ’49 and Dwight West ’38 are among the oldest alumni to return for Alumni Weekend 2004.

Margaret Binzel Peters ’54 greets classmate Jo Hartough Franz with a smile and a hug.