TO: Class of ’69

On June 17 we sent out a message to this list announcing our upcoming induction into the Sul Ross Group during the annual Sul Ross Reunion, March 5-7, 2024. In that message, we also mentioned that a committee had been formed to plan for a one-day Class of 1969 reunion beginning a day earlier, Monday, March 4. The purpose of this email is to provide you an update on our planning, but particularly to ask you for your feedback through an anonymous online survey at tx.ag/69reunion55. Even if you know you are not able to attend this reunion, we would like to know that as well through your response.

This committee has been meeting, and has developed a general schedule of activities for the one-day class reunion portion of that week. The schedule for the Sul Ross Reunion, itself, is planned by the Association of Former Students together with the current leadership of the Sul Ross Group.       That schedule has not been determined or released, but has normally consisted of the induction dinner on Tuesday evening, breakfast and business meeting Wednesday morning, luncheon Wednesday noon, banquet Wednesday evening, and breakfast Thursday morning. Registration for the Sul Ross Reunion is handled totally separately from anything we do for our class reunion. We will have a separate registration process.

For the reunion, the below are the key activities we are now planning. We do not yet have a handle on actual costs involved, as some of that is dependent on level of participation. And the level of participation is a primary purpose of the online anonymous survey mentioned above. However, we will do all we can to hold costs to a minimum. Further, a key guideline for our planning is that we want to maximize opportunity to visit and socialize with classmates while providing everyone an opportunity to see some sites you may not have visited before. The emphasis is on “reunion.”

Here are the activities currently being planned:

• Re-dedication of Spirit Plaza (Monday afternoon): On April 23, 2019, as part of our 50 year reunion, we dedicated the Spirit Plaza between the Coke Building and the YMCA. At that dedication, we turned long term care of the plaza over to the Class of 2019. This event will be an opportunity for you to revisit–or visit for the first time–the Spirit Plaza. And, representatives of the Class of 2019 will be present so we can reconfirm their role in the plaza for the next 45 years. You can refresh your memory about this project at https://classof1969.aggienetwork.com/spirit-plaza/.
• Reception/Tour of Regents Meeting Rooms & Quarters (about 5pm Monday): As we hope you know, Bill Mahomes ’69 currently serves as the chair of the TAMU Board of Regents. Bill will host us for a reception and tour of those facilities that exist within the physical structure of the MSC.
• Dinner & Networking (about 6pm Monday): Following the reception, we will walk to the Bethancourt Ballroom in the MSC where we will hold a free-flowing time with heavy hors d’oeuvres (enough to make a meal) and cash bar. No formal program is planned.
• Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial (Tuesday latter morning/noon): We will start about 9:30am at the American Pavilion in College Station’s Veterans Park with pastries/coffee/juice. Members of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board will then conduct tours of the Veterans Memorial itself with particular emphasis on the monuments and statues on the Lynn Stuart Pathway. We will then return to the American Pavilion for lunch.
• Aggie Park (early Tuesday afternoon): Aggie Park opened in September 2022, and has become one of the most highly visited sites on the campus. Built by the Association of Former Students, but then given in its entirety to Texas A&M University, the park has greatly enhanced the quality of life for current students, not to mention residents of College Station and surrounding community. Aggie Park sits between the MSC, the Sanders Corps Center, the Clayton Williams Alumni Center, and Kyle Field. Both guided and self-guided tours will be available, after which you are free to visit other campus sites of interest to you.

This marks the end of the “class reunion” portion of our time together. The Sul Ross Reunion begins that evening.

So if you have actually read this far, we again ask that you PLEASE respond to the anonymous survey at tx.ag/69reunion55. Your responses will help us considerably in planning a remarkable reunion for us all. Even if you cannot attend or do not wish to attend, we would like to know that as well. The survey should take you no more than 5 minutes to complete and requires no personal identification.

Thank you.

Reunion Planning Committee:
Bob/Suzanne Segner
Harvey/Tommie Schulz
Bill/Cindy Howell
Bill/Marilyn Youngkin
Bob Nida
Elaine Rayburn
Larry/Sharon Lippke