Alumni Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 8) HOMECOMING A Century of Alumni Impact In 1983 In 1983 K Sally Ride became the first woman to ride on a space shuttle. K The final episode of “M*A*S*H” aired, with 125 million people watching. K Cabbage Patch Kids caused a sensation — and brawls — in the aisles of toy stores. K “Flashdance” spurred women to tear their sweatshirts and wear leg warmers. K The Who broke up, and The Animals got back together. K Ameritech launched the first commercial cellular phone service. K Microsoft unveiled version 1.0 of its Windows operating system. K Karen Carpenter, Muddy Waters and Tennessee Williams died. K Amy Winehouse, Jose Reyes, Carrie Underwood and Adam “Pacman” Jones were born. In honor of the Alumni Association’s centennial, this year’s Homecoming events will commemorate “A Century of Alumni Impact.” Homecoming, with the traditional Friday night Buzz Bash and reunion parties and Saturday tailgating festivities and football game, this year against Virginia, will take place Oct. 23-25. Music has made an impact on the lives of Tech students throughout the years, and “Rock of Ages” is the theme for Buzz Bash, a rockin’ party scheduled from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the festival area of Bobby Dodd Stadium. A disc jockey will have guests doing the hustle, bump and electric slide with jive, disco and rock ’n’ roll hits. Rock Band Wii will be available for those who want to display their instrumental prowess. Members of the Class of 1958 will mark their milestone 50th reunion from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 in the grand ballroom of the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. The reunion will include an elegant dinner and induction of 1958 graduates into the Old Gold Society. The class will support a professorship in communications at the Institute. The overall fundraising goal is $7.5 million. Co-chairs of the partyplanning committee are Tom Hall and Jean Mori. Buck Stith chairs the reunion fund committee. Among the class members on hand at the reunion will be Billups Johnson, IM 58, who will be attending with his wife, Linda. She was named Tech’s first Mrs. Homecoming in 1958. Linda Johnson enjoyed her reign. “I had a little baby, so I had a babysitter all weekend,” she says. “I had a lot of fun, but I can’t tell you who won the ballgame.” For the record, Tech lost its Homecoming game in 1958 to the Bear Bryant-coached Alabama, 17-8. The Class of 1968 is funding study abroad scholarships and has set an overall fundraising goal of $10 million. Co-chairs of the party-planning committee are Jay McDonald and Clay Sparrow. W.J. Blane is chair of the reunion fund committee. The 40th reunion will feature live music by the O’Kaysions, which will sing its 1968 hit “Girl Watcher” during the class party, from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 24 in the atrium of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The Class of 1983 will celebrate its 25th reunion from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Gordy Room of the Wardlaw Center, which will be transformed into PJ’s Nest. Billed as a “night of nostalgia,” the reunion will include an appearance by Frank Beall, original owner of PJ’s Nest, which was a music venue near campus. Children are invited to be part of the celebration. Members of the Class of ’83 and their families will receive backstage entrance to Buzz Bash and the best seats in town for the fireworks show that annually caps off the all-alumni party. The class gift will support study abroad scholarships for Tech students. The overall fundraising goal for the Class of 1983 is $3.2 million. Chair of the party-planning committee is Mack Reese. Stephen Fleming is chair of the reunion fund committee. I For more information, to register and to see who’s attending the class reunions and Buzz Bash, visit www.gtalumni.org/homecoming. Seminar Subjects From Music to Mortgages Seminars offered on Oct. 24 at the Global Learning Center address: • Successful Retirement Strategies in Difficult Times, practical plans presented by David 8 Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine • Fall 2008 http://www.gtalumni.org/homecoming
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