Class of 1967 leaves legacy at BGSU

The Bowling Green State University Class of 1967 has continued building on its legacy by providing more than $370,000 in support of BGSU and its students at the conclusion of its 50th reunion giving campaign.

A total of 415 gifts were made by members of the Class of 1967 totaling $372,607 and impacting every corner of campus from scholarships, to athletics, the arts, Greek Life, individual colleges and more.

Members of the class were asked to direct their support to two funds previously established by the class: The Class of 1967 Scholarship and the Class of 1967 Entrepreneurial Scholarship. The Class of 1967 Scholarship helps bridge the gap between the cost of attendance and families’ resources and removes financial obstacles for students. The Class of 1967 Entrepreneurial Scholarship supports a student from BGSU’s Alumni Laureate Scholars Program with an interest in entrepreneurism.

Jim Meyer, who chaired the class gift subcommittee for the Class of 1967 50th reunion, said classmates were able to consider the impact BGSU had on their lives, which translated to philanthropic support.

“At this point in our lives, my friends and I had the best opportunity to reflect upon what our BGSU experience meant in a much more tangible way than we could have 30 or so years ago,” Meyer said.

“For me, the reunion was the perfect catalyst to pay forward for the scholarship that I had, even though I could never put a dollar amount on my BGSU experience. After all, I got lifelong friends, a degree, a job and a wife.”

The campaign ran in conjunction with the Class of 1967’s 50th reunion celebration, which took place during Homecoming 2017. The class first gathered together the evening of Oct. 13 at the newly renovated Moseley Hall. Many classmates arrived on campus beforehand, viewing how much campus has changed aboard a charter bus for a campus tour. On Oct. 14, classmates met for a brunch at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, highlighted by a performance by Ten40, an all-male student a capella group, as well as an address from BGSU’s President Mary Ellen Mazey, Ph.D.

Meyer said classmates felt reassured knowing that while much has changed on campus throughout the past five decades, the unique BGSU experience has remained.

“I watched the joy and awe on their faces as they (my classmates) were reintroduced to their alma mater that was incredible in 1967 and was even more so today. Pride was everywhere even amid the passing of the familiar from long ago,” Meyer said.

The Class of 1967 concluded its milestone reunion following the football game with an evening social at Mileti Alumni Center.

Click here to view photos from the reunion.

“All the events were first rate; I hope that all our classmates felt that there was something there for all of them. I particularly enjoyed the early morning radio program hosted by Larry Weiss,” Meyer said.

Weiss, a fellow 50th reunion committee member and radio show co-host, welcomed several members of his class to join him on “The Morning Show,” a daily radio program focusing on the Bowling Green and University communities.

Reunion efforts were led by the Class of 1967 50th Reunion committee: Ken Barclay, George Braatz, Marilyn (Draper) Braatz, Irv Brandel, Kathy (Cooney) Brezina, Shirley (Waugh) Carlson, David Crawford, Gary Gregg, John “Jack” Hartman, Marti (Monnot) Lanese, Pam (Yeager) Maloney, Jim Meyer, Fitz-Edward Otis, Shirley (Mercer) Paley, Katherine “Kitty” (Felaris) Pattay, Linda (Schultz) Rateno and Larry Weiss.

It’s not too late to join the Class of 1967 in making an impact for BGSU students. Click here to make a gift in support of the Class of 1967’s reunion giving efforts.