“Celebrating 50 yrs. Since Graduation.”
In September of 1965, my parents drove me to Gainesville, FL to begin my college years at the University of Florida (UF). Attending the University from September of 1965 until June 1969, so many fun times and memories were created in this era. From having to wear dresses to class, having a curfew, living in Mallory Hall on the fourth floor for all four years and being only one of the few girls in classes in the College of Business. Then UF was a dominantly a male school with two to one male to female population. It was an amazing time and experience as it was just as the Viet Nam War was beginning. ROTC was required for men. Physical Education (PE) was mandatory for two years. All students were required to pass a swimming test before selecting the PE class. If a student didn’t pass the swimming test, then the student was required to take swimming.
Having worked at the University for many years after graduation and having had season football tickets for many years, I have been to the campus numerous times. However, it had been about 7 years since being on campus. Returning this year, for the 50th celebration of my graduation was especially fun and exciting to see the many new buildings, learn about the new class structures, chat with students and get a better understanding of the continual growth of the University in Florida, Florida’s oldest university. Arriving on Thursday, we prepare for a full weekend of activities as Inductees into the University of Florida’s Grand Guard. In June 1969, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Today, I am meeting former classmates as we celebrate 50 years since graduation. At the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, the Grand Guard Welcome Reception has us meeting former classmates and beginning our reconnection to the University. The tour of the O’Connell Center with its recent renovation is impressive with the Natatorium, the training rooms and the flexibility of the basketball court to handle various venues. The O’Connell Center was built after we graduated.
The Breakfast of Memories on Friday morning has both Steve Spurrier and Michael C. Murphy, Student Body President providing information of UF before and being a student today. Steve won the Heissman Trophy in my Sophmore year. I must admit, I didn’t even know what a Heisman Trophy was until Steve won it. With video clips of Steve’s football highlights during his reign as quarterback for UF Football, the energy is there as we watch him kick the field goal to beat Auburn. Steve, quickly explains that this was not as big a deal as all want to make it. Actually, he was both quarterback and the long distance kicker. He had kicked several field goals earlier in the year, but this one caught the attention of everyone. A key point Steve makes that was on this instance, he had gone up to Coach Graves saying “I’ve got this!” Through his coaching career Steve, stated he learned that whenever a player came up and made a statement to that affect, then let them do it. The player had the faith and confidence in his ability to achieve the goal. Memories were shared by Classmates from crazy stories of kidnapping Steve Spurrier before a game to bizarre dorm activities and more. Each memory brought back personal memories for me as a college student.
Selecting a Faculty Lecture, Jack Davis, the Pulitzer Prize winning Author, is most impressive as he shares both his idea and key aspects of his book: “The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea.” Jack is a professor of history and Rothman Family Chair in the humanities, specializing in environmental history and sustainability studies. Despite having lived near the Gulf of Mexico for many years, I must admit I was clueless on the depth and history of the body of water just off the Florida Coast. Jack intrigues us with the history of Indians traveling the Gulf, as well as the Spanish, and the impact the Louisiana Purchase had on the US. The Gulf has an amazing history. Unknown to most of us is that more US ships were sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in World War II, than any other location. We receive a complimentary copy of the book and I look forward to reading it to better learn about this American Sea just a few miles from where I live.
Boarding buses, we head to the Warrington College of Business for lunch and learning more about all that is happening on campus as a student majoring in business. When I was attending the University, the College of Business was only one building – Matherly Hall. Today it encompasses multiple buildings including the original Matherly Hall, Bryan Hall (the former Law School), and Hough Hall which emcompasses the Fisher Accounting. Visiting with students we learn their passion and style of learning. The college is encouraging students to take an international internships as well as business internships. These provide many growth opportunities for students. The state-of-the-art classrooms are amazing – with multiple cameras to video the lecture and tiered seating for students attending the class. Student can choose to attend class, watch the video and any combination. One of the students we met is working her way through school and has never attended a class, while another student likes attending each class. So different than our era where classroom attendance was required. When I was a student usually I was one of the only females in the Business classes where today the ratio is the opposite, more women than men.
At the Natural History Museum, the docent, gives us a fantastic tour of this amazing museum that focuses on the early years of Florida. We learn extensively about the Calusa Indians who were found in Southwest Florida and were the major Indian tribe for the state. The Calusa are said to have been a socially complex and politically powerful tribe, and most of southern Florida was controlled by them. While the Calusa died out, other Indian tribes such as the Seminoles came later. These tribes are far removed descendants from the Calusa and other tribes from the southeast. Our docent shares that some tribes had either male or female leaders, others where male dominated, and some tribe were female dominated. In fact the Seminoles were a female dominated clan. When married, the male joined the wife’s tribe and she was the leader. Once the female(s) of the tribe died out then the tribe/clan died. There was so much to see in a short tour giving us a more extensive idea of the history of Florida before Ponce de Leon.
Arriving at the Reitz Union, The Grand Ballroom is totally decked out for the exciting Grand Guard Induction. UF President, W. Ken Fuchs shares highlights of the school 50 years ago. Then we were on the trimester system. Tuition was $125 a Trimester ($375 yr. if went all 3 trimesters). Today it is $6,000 a year but still lower than many other universities. The University ranks #7 in Academics of Public Institutions in the nation. After dinner we, the inductees, leave to don their official orange and blue Grand Guard Robes. Marching into the Ballroom is exciting as we gather in our seats and prepare to be officially inducted as a Grand Guard. As each name is called, the inductee goes to the stage. My emotions are high and I am excited as my name is announced. I walked across the stage to receive the certificate from Larry Tyree, (title) , the Grand Guard Medallion from Coach Bill Carr (he actually gives me a hug) and last my picture is taken with President Fuchs. Afterwards there is dancing and reliving college memories.
The finale Saturday is an early tailgate party at Emerson Hall and then watching the Gators stomp Vanderbilt 56-0. It is exciting being in “The Swamp!” and cheering the Gators on to this great victory. Each aspect of the Grand Guard Induction Weekend reconnected me to my alma mater. A fun time creating new memories and reliving old college memories. Go Gators!
