Class of '72 50th Anniversary Reunion

April 19-22, 2022
College Station, TX

HOWDY!

April 2022 is here and this will be the last “stand alone” Reunion we will have as an individual Class. Traditionally the 50th is held in conjunction with the Campus Muster, and at the 55th Anniversary Reunion we will be inducted into the Sul Ross Group. That said, this does not preclude us from having various informal reunions or get togethers during the ensuing years.

We attended A&M during an unconventional time in our nation’s history. In September 1968, we arrived with 3343 of our fish buddies on a campus with an enrollment of 12,733. 1968, a leap year, proved to be a seismic, watershed year with the increasing protests of the Vietnam War, racial unrest, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy; simply put it was difficult to attend A&M during these turbulent times.

In 1968, Apollo 8 was the first manned space craft to see the “dark side of the moon.” That was the year Intel was founded, 60 Minutes and Laugh-In debuted on TV. Some of the movie’s released in 1968 were, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Rosemary’s Baby, Funny Girl, and Romeo & Juliet. The top songs in 1968 included “Hey Jude,” “Tighten Up,” “(Sittin’ on) The dock of the Bay,” “Mrs. Robinson” and “Harper Valley PTA.” Gas was 19-29 cents per gallon, the Dow closed the year at 943 and Richard Nixon was elected president.

1972 was also a leap year; the enrollment of A&M increased to 16,067, and 2,844 of our Classmates managed to graduate. In 1972, terrorism entered sports with the Munich Olympics, the Watergate break-in happened, Gov. George Wallace was shot, Jackie Robinson and J. Edgar Hoover passed away. That was the year of the last draft call and the last manned mission to the moon in the 20th century (Apollo 19). The first ATM machine was installed, MASH, 60 Minutes, The Price is Right and HBO debuted on TV. The Godfather, Deliverance, Cabaret, and The Lady Sings the Blues were released in movie theaters. The top songs of 1972 included, “Alone Again (Naturally),” “Papa was a Rolling Stone,” “Brandy.” Elvis and Priscilla separated. You could fill your car up for gasoline 55 cents per gallon and the Dow closed at 1020. Richard Nixon was elected president.

Yes, looking back 50 years, we attended A&M at a unique time and were a special class, with parents who overcame the worst economic crisis in history and then managed to win a world war sending us off to A&M 23 years later. In fact, many of us were the first in our families to attend college. Other firsts for our class were the first African Americans to be in the RV’s (Derron Patterson & Edward Williams), and although there were not on-campus female housing until the Fall Semester of 1972, we had first African American female graduate (JoAnn Stringfellow) and one of the first female Naval Aviators (Milady ‘Bunny’ Blaha). Our Class has had a governor, a congressman, state comptroller, mayors, civic leaders, three military general officers, Chancellor of the A&M System, VP of TAMU Student Affairs and four Distinguished Alumni, John Sharp, Jerry Cox, Rick Perry and Tony Best.

In a sense of service to our school, we have had a past president of The Association of Former Students (Mark Fischer), past director of the CCA along with membership and leadership positions in various local and state A&M organizations. We have had members of the 12th Man Foundation executive board in Jerry Cox and Jack Lafield. We have worked, served in the military, raised our families, and have tried to do our best, always remembering the words to the Spirit, “True to each other, as Aggies can be.”

We are expecting 400-500 attendees to the Reunion and the host hotel will be the Texas A&M University Hotel and Conference Center just west of the MSC and across the street from the end zone of Kyle Field. This doesn’t preclude you from staying at other hotels or any other local rentals, and parking will be available at the hotel if you choose not to stay there. As you look through the schedule, there are several events you will wish to attend, and most will be a short distance from the hotel. There are also free time options where you can take a tour or just hang out with your buddies reliving those days spent at A&M even though some of the facts may have changed over the years.

As we have said in other newsletters, please make sure The Association has your current email address. In this digital age, this email address is the primary means for you to be contacted about A&M events such as Class activities and news.

We hope to see you all there,
George Hester & Tommy Potthoff

ACCOMMODATIONS 
A block of rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center for the Class of ’72 50th Anniversary Reunion. To make reservations, visit tx.ag/72ReunionHotel or call the hotel directly at (979) 260-2573 to receive the rate of $129 per night, plus tax. If you prefer to stay at another hotel, listings of area hotels and other accommodations can be found at visit.cstx.gov/hotels/ and destinationbryan.com/book-your-stay/. Rooms will fill up fast, so make your reservations today!

Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center – Reunion Headquarters Hotel
177 Joe Routt Blvd, College Station, TX - (979) 260-2573 
For reservations: tx.ag/72ReunionHotel
$129/night, plus tax
Group Name: Class of ’72 Reunion 
Deadline: March 19
Check-in time: 4 p.m.
Check-out time: 11 a.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

CHECK-IN AND REGISTRATION
After you have made your hotel reservation, register for the Reunion online. If you have any registration questions, please call the Class Programs office at The Association of Former Students at (800) 633-7514. 

Your nametags, registration gift, schedule of events and a list of pre-registered Classmates will be waiting for you at the Reunion check-in desk in the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center starting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Walk-up registration will be accepted based on availability. To assure your admission, register before the April 5 deadline. All registrations received after the deadline will incur a $20 late fee. The last day to register is April 11. Late registrants are not guaranteed space at events.

CAMPUS MUSTER TICKETS
To attend the Campus Muster Ceremony, be sure to register for it on your registration form. Your Reunion nametag will be your admission into the area for the Campus Muster. If you will not be riding the bus to the campus Muster from the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center, we suggest you arrive at Reed Arena very early to find parking. We encourage you to ride the bus because guests on the bus will enter on the ground level and walk directly to seats in the reserved section of Reed Arena. If you do not ride the bus or have guests meeting you at the ceremony, call Class Programs (800) 633-7514 to request nametags be made for your guests (at no additional charge), which will allow you access to the reserved section.


CLASS PICTURE
On April 21, your Class will have their picture taken in front of the Systems Administration Building, now called the Jack K. Williams Administration Building, just as you did when you were students. Buses will take you from the TAMU Hotel to the Administration Building that will be taken at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. This picture is for Class of ’72 members only. Please remove caps and sunglasses for the picture. There will be picture order forms available at the Reunion registration desk, so you may order your Class picture on site, via the photographer’s website, or mail the form in at a later time. An alternate location will be used in the case of inclement weather. 


TRANSPORTATION
Bus transportation will be available to shuttle you to activities on Thursday. Thursday activities will include the flag raising ceremony, Class photo and Campus Muster. Each bus is wheelchair accessible and will load on the west side of the Hilton. The cost of transportation is included in the event prices and registration fee.


CALL FOR CLASS PHOTOS

The 2022 Aggie Muster Committee has been diligently working on ways to honor your Class and your time here in Aggieland. If you would like to or would be willing to share any photographs that were taken during your time at Texas A&M (1968-1972) and possibly have them included in the Muster Program or the 50th Anniversary Reunion Display, please send them (along with a description of what is taking place in the photo and who is in it) to muster.reunion@gmail.com, or 

Aggie Muster Committee
ATTN: Macie McCollum ’24
125 John J. Koldus Building
College Station, TX 77843-1236.

In Addition, Tommy is working on a slideshow presentation that will be played at various Reunion activities throughout the Reunion. He needs any pictures scanned and sent as an attachment to tepotthoff@aol.com by March 15, 2022. He hopes to get 150-200 total pictures for the slideshow.

REFLECTIONS DISPLAY
To recognize and honor the lives of our Campus Muster Roll Call honorees, personal items will be displayed as a living memorial in the Muster Reflections Display. Family members of campus honorees submit photographs, letters, stories, Aggie Rings, or other personal items that reflect on their loved one’s life and what mattered most to them. It is our hope that the displays are a chance for the families to share with other Aggies who their loved one was, what they did, and how they touched the lives of those around them.

These items will be displayed in the Memorial Student Center Flag Room from April 14 to April 21. Family members may coordinate a time to bring items to the Reflections Display Chairs or send them by mailing to the following address:

Attn: Abigail Kite ’22 and Daniel Resendez ’22
Reflections Display – Aggie Muster
304 Redmond Dr. Apt. 103
College Station, TX 77840

For more information, please contact Abigail Kite ’22 and Daniel Resendez ’22 muster.reflections@gmail.com.


CORPS SILENT FORMATION
On April 21, you will have the special opportunity to participate in the Corps of Cadets Muster Formation and Flag Raising Ceremony in Academic Plaza. It is well worth rising early to watch the entire Corps march into and out of Academic Plaza while they conduct a silent flag raising formation. Please make sure and sign up for this event with your registration. There will be bus transportation from the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center to Academic Plaza for individuals needing help getting across campus Sign up to attend and don’t miss out on this special opportunity.

GOLF OUTING
The Campus Course at Texas A&M opened for play in 1951. Renovated in 2013 – a par 71, 7,008-yard gem designed by Texas A&M’s own Jeff Blume ’89, and Houston businessman Robert Steele along with Sterling Golf collaborated with the University on the $5 million project, which is now known as The Golf Club at Texas A&M. The project included an 18-hole championship golf course, driving range and a short game practice area for research and classes. The fees for the tournament will be $75, and lunch will be provided. Mulligans will be available for purchase and are optional. Mark on the registration form so we can get an appropriate number of reservations and indicate any team preferences. You can also contact Larry Ohls at larryohls@hotmail.com or George Hester at conhester@aol.com with team preferences.

TEXAS A&M CLASS OF 1972 FACEBOOK PAGE
It is the 21st Century and the Class of 1972 has a Facebook Page. Roland Hurst has done an excellent job managing this site, and lists current campus events, classmate news and gatherings, and he posts any Class of ’72 Silver Taps. This is a private group, (open to Classmates and their families) and currently has 229 members. You must make a request to join through Roland to be a member.

CLASS AGENT ELECTIONS
Class Agents serve as a liaison between their Class and The Association. This is the perfect opportunity to get involved as a former student, stay connected to the university and help lead your Class supporting A&M. Elections are held in conjunction with your Reunions, so now is your chance.
Teams consist of two to five of your Classmates and serve a 5-year term. As a Class Agent you will serve on The Association of Former Students’ Leadership Council, which meets twice a year. The Association provides orientation and resources to aid you in this role. Class Agents are responsible for keeping the Class informed through newsletters, websites and emails, planning Class events and providing annual fund information to former students.

Tommy Potthoff has decided to step down as a Class Agent at the conclusion of the Reunion. However, George Hester would like to serve another term as a Class Agent if elected and asked Henry Ostermann to join him. If anyone else wants to form a team or need additional information about Class Agent Roles and Responsibilities go to tx.ag/ClassAgent, email Class@aggienetwork.com or call (800) 633-7514 at least 7 days prior to your Reunion to get your name on the ballot.

CLASS OF 1972 50th ANNIVERSARY REUNION CLASS GIFT
Traditionally Classes at A&M fundraise in honor of their 50–55-year Reunions. In 2017, what started out as a routine conversation while setting up the Class of 1972 Tailgate, Billy Maddox ’69 was telling Tommy about one of the Class of 69’s 50-year class projects and invited him to their Class’s weekly breakfast. There Tommy learned about The Spirit Plaza, a project that was first conceptualized by Gen. Joe Weber when he was VP of Student Affairs. It would be a part of A&M tours, featuring two of A&M’s most cherished traditions, Muster and Silver Taps. It was learned that the Class of 1969 had obtained a copy of a letter written by a fish in the Class of 72 (Donald Coward) to his parents on how he was affected by attending his first Silver Taps. Three weeks later Silver Taps was held again, this time it was for fish Coward, George Reynolds and John Groves ’69 who were killed in Denton County the week of the SMU game. Texas A&M is the only university in the world that honors any student with this unifying event. When you read the letter, our Classmate captured the essence of Silver Taps. We hoped to have members from Fish Camp Crew perform the ceremony and read the letter at an event during our Reunion. With the Class of ’72 connection, the Class of ’69 asked if we would like to ‘piggyback’ on their project and raise the funds to cover the cost of the Silver Taps Memorial. We could then make this as one of our 50-year Class gifts.

In early 2018, a poll was emailed to the Class listing several giving opportunities for our 50-year gift. As a result of this poll, the Class voted to raise funds to pay for this naming opportunity and to finish funding a Sul Ross Scholarship commitment we made at our 30 Year Reunion. The Class chose to use the next set of monies to fund an endowed scholarship. After this goal was met, we would then continue to look at other opportunities as the funds were raised.

As of Sept. 30, 2021, we have had 262 Classmates give monies for our Class Gift Fund. We have also had several ‘friends’ of our Class give to our fund, including one T-sip! There have been 67 gifts made in memory or in honor of a Classmate, family member, or friend. In the Corps, outfits SQ 11, L-1, C-2, A-1 and B-1 have had 100% Classmate participation.

Sounding somewhat like the Spirit Plaza Project, we recently were approached by a Classmate (who has asked to be anonymous) about the Class being a part of another naming project on campus. This person is donating a significant portion of money to fund two viewing sections at the new Band Practice Field. The band facility is first rate, with views of Kyle Field and the future Aggie Park but at the present time, there is not any seating or areas that the public or families can watch the band go through their practices. Our classmate, who was not in the band, has offered to fund this visitor viewing area and has asked us if we would like to piggyback on his gift by a class naming gift for the east side viewing area.

If you have any questions concerning the Class of 1972 50 Year Class Fund, please feel free to contact a member of the fund-raising committee: George Hester, conhester@aol.com; Tommy Potthoff, tepotthoff@aol.com; Larry Ohls, larryohls@hotmail.com; Charlie McGuire, clwm1950@gmail.com; Ron Rust, MD., rust@suddenlink.net; Dudley Vickers, Dudley.e.vickers@gmail.com; Henry Osterman, henry.ostermann@yahoo.com; and Celica Ross Goode-Haddock, celia72@aggienetwork.com. We do not know what or how much you pledge or give, only if you made a gift to our Class fund and if the gift was made in memory or in honor of a person. What is especially moving, The Association will also notify the family of the memorial gift acknowledging your gracious gift. An update and discussion on the Class Gift Fund will be discussed at the business meeting on Wednesday morning.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The Association of Former Students has a fairly flexible cancellation policy. If you cannot attend your Reunion or an event for which you have registered, please call the Class Programs office (800) 633-7514 by Thursday, April 9. Your payment will be refunded with the exception of the registration fee. Registration changes after this deadline cannot be refunded as food orders will have been guaranteed.

CENTURY CLUB DONATION
Your participation in the annual fund has a significant impact on the education experience of our students and provides the resources needed to support programs and activities for students and former students. We appreciate that you choose to participate and support Aggies and Texas A&M. Make a difference by donating now.

Levels of annual giving include:
Active - $50-$99
Bronze - $100-$249
Silver - $250-$499
Gold - $500-$999 
Diamond - $1,000+
Endowed - $25,000+