Golden and Diamond Grads
Golden and Diamond Grads Remember

WASHINGTON STATE University annually hosts a reunion for Golden and Diamond Graduates, those who graduated 50 and 60 years ago, respectively. The College of Liberal Arts hosts a luncheon for its graduates on the reunion’s first day. Conversations at this gathering often begin with “I remember when…”

“I remember when…”
“Professor Paul Castleberry transformed my life as he introduced me to international politics and the idea of an academic career. And I remember Irene and Frank Potter, whose love of learning and sheer joy in articulate discussion made students feel that an intellectual life was both honorable and richly rewarding.”Phillip Phibbs, 1953 – political science Phibbs went on to serve as president of the University of Puget Sound for 19 years.

“I remember when…”
“I turned 21 years of age on December 7, 1941. I remember I went home to Spokane for a birthday dinner with family and friends. After dinner, my dad turned on the radio to get some news when all of a sudden, it was interrupted with the war announcement being made by President Roosevelt that Japanese forces had bombed Pearl Harbor. What a shock AND what a birthday present. It changed my whole life.”
Bob Youngs, 1943 – fine arts
Youngs was president of the class of 1943.

“I remember when…”
“I worked at KWSC as part of an assignment and fed the teletype sheets to Keith Jackson for the first remote broadcast of a WSC (Washington State College) football game.”
Dorothy (Bullard) Moe, 1953 – English
Keith Jackson went on to become a network sportscaster, Washington State College became Washington State University, and KWSC became KWSU.

“I remember when…”
“I remember saying hi to Bing Crosby in Todd Hall, having dinner with Louis Armstrong and crew at the ‘Teke’ (Theta Kappa Epsilon) house, and being shocked by panty raids.”
Kenneth Eickerman, 1953 – general studies

Many of the Golden Grads remember the winter of 1949-50 and how cold it was in Pullman that year. “It was so cold,” declares Joan Carolyn Chisholm (now Joan Weekes), “that I seriously thought I might freeze getting to my finals, and we were allowed to wear slacks on campus.”