Alumni reminise at Westover weekend
Dr. Clifton W. Potter, LC History Professor
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Columns
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On Saturday morning, Dr. Dorothy Potter and I hosted one of the lectures for alumni; our topic was Lynchburg during the Civil War. The hour passed quickly because there was a spirited discussion with a number of good questions. We met in Hopwood 14 where many of us had classes in the late 50s. As we were leaving, one of the college tour guides brought a group of prospective students and their parents into the room, and for a moment the past of Lynchburg College met its potential future.
I was invited to attend the 45th Reunion luncheon of the Class of 1964, which was held in the East Room. It is always fun to try and recognize former classmates or students, but this time it was easy because almost half a century has been very kind. Being able to roll back the years during lunch was a pleasure, but what followed was particularly enlightening. Each member of the class stood, introduced themselves and then shared the last 45 years of their life. They spoke of spouses, children, grandchildren, careers and the other important events in their lives. Again and again, members of the class mentioned the fact that LC gave them the chance to transform their lives. These are successful lawyers, doctors, teachers, professional men and women - who are at end of careers, which in many cases were made possible because someone at LC was willing to give them a chance to earn a degree. In some cases, a lackluster high school performance ruined any hope they might have had of higher education. Others did not have the financial resources to attend a college, any college. Then, someone - a professor, an administrator, an alumnus or alumna - went above and beyond, and a life was forever changed. Listening to these alumni, I was reminded of what makes LC so very special.
Among the memories the members of the Class of 1964 shared were associated with their favorite professors, many whom I remembered from my own college years - Dr. Rosser, Dr. Mahan, Mrs. Hill, Miss Parker - men and women who made a positive difference in the lives of their students. However, what I really enjoyed were the "confessions." For years I have wondered who was behind some of the really creative high jinks that were an important part of college life 50 years ago! They were never malicious or intentionally destructive, but they were fun because they usually befuddled the Dean of Women. One of my favorite pranks was "borrowing" a Civil War cannon from Miller Park and its placement on campus with the barrel pointed toward Dean Well's office. This was not the first time that a cannon was on our campus, that happened in 1864 - and that is how we began our talk to the alumni. I call it serendipitous.