On the Cover

Features

An intimate connection

Love, CMU style

Departments

Letters

Take Five
Jeff Daniels visit
Jesse Jackson visit
Brain research
CMU volunteers
Real estate

Discovery
Driving distractions
How seals relate

Sports
A championship year
Jones named new coach

In support
Education building
Faculty learning
Opus gala

Maroon and Gold

Alumni in Action

I Am CMU

Letters

Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the death notice of Howard K. Nelson that appeared in the Winter 2006 Centralight.

Friend was part of 50-year TGIF Club

Editor:

Howard was part of “the Greatest Generation,” 1,000 G.I.s who came to Central Michigan College after World War II. He served in the Pacific with the U.S. Marine Corps and fought at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

The veterans would change the social structure of the college. Smoking on campus became permissible, a student government was instituted, girls dormitory rules were relaxed, and married housing became available.

Most veterans were older – most being in their 20s and some in their 30s, many of the faculty were themselves veterans. The veterans were a real challenge to the CMC faculty.

In 1948, Howard, George Ross, and I became roommates in 121 Keeler Union and remained roommates until graduating in 1951. George served in the Army in Europe, and I was with the Navy in the South Pacific. This grew into lifelong friendships spanning more than 58 years. We kept in touch and got together several times each year. We returned to Central for Homecoming and football games. We served on the 50th reunion committee for the 1951 class.

There were about 80 students from the classes of 1950 and 1951 who formed a TGIF Club, which met on the second floor of the old Blackstone Café every Friday afternoon. This group still meets every other year in June at the Beach Haus Motel in Traverse City. The members only number about half of the original group, but come from all over the U.S. to make the reunion. Remarkable! Central made it possible for this group’s bonding.

Gerald Oehmke, ’51
Clinton Township

Thanks for the education and great friends

Editor:

Dear CMU, thank you for my education, giving me a 40-year career in medical technology. I was one of the few who didn’t go into teaching back then, though I did teach students in the laboratory occasionally. I especially want to thank you for some of my lifelong friendships.

Every year I make a trip to Florida to visit with my pals from Central, Sally (Campbell) Myers, ’60, and Ken Myers, ’60. They spend their summers at their home near Gaylord.

We have taken several fun trips together. One year we spent nine unforgettable days in Washington, D.C. There we visited with our friends and former Tate roommate Patti (Rogers) Quinlan and Pat Quinlan,’59, of Alexandria, Virginia. Pat retired from the U.S. Army and is a Mount Pleasant native.
I’ve kept in touch with my friend Ardie (Klouse) Wrobleski, ’59, who is a retired teacher in the Grand Rapids area.

My friends Shirley (Lada) Posk, ’60, and her husband, Richard, and I have attended a couple of CMU nights at the ball park. Hot as the Tigers were this season, better get your tickets early for next year!

Former Tate roommate Sue Longanbach Sweeney Hudson was in town last month. Sue is the widow of Tom Sweeney, ’57, who was also from Mount Pleasant. She remarried two years ago and makes her home in Zionsville, Indiana.

Four years ago Gretchen (Kolbe) Mayes, ’59, Ruth (Kent) Schluchter, ’59, and I went up to Mount Pleasant. There we met with eight other “girls” for a weekend reunion. Not having been back in 40-some years, I must admit I didn’t recognize the town or the campus. One of the few familiar sights was Warriner Hall. The old girl has had a slight facelift since I last saw her. After all this time, I could use one myself!

When we were in school, we tried never to schedule a class at 11 a.m. That’s when everyone met at the Student Union in Warriner for our extended coffee break/social hour.

Over the years you learn education is important and never ending – friends are priceless!

Thanks CMU.

Kay Lindsay, ’59
Detroit

Write to Centralight:

Centralight wants to hear from you! We welcome all letters from readers. Tell us your thoughts about Centralight articles or about CMU in general.

Be sure to sign your letter with your full name and also include graduation year and degree, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

Mail letters to:
Centralight Letters
Public relations and marketing
West Hall
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

Letters also may be sent by fax to (989)
774-1098 or by e-mail to alumni@cmich.edu.

Got a plate?

Do you show your CMU pride through a special CMU-related license plate? Does your car boast CMUGR8 or ILUVCMU? Send in a photo of your special CMU plate, and we may use it in a future issue. E-mail your photos to Editor Barbara Chovanec at barbara.chovanec@cmich.edu.