The 1967 PEMS (Health and Physical Education Majors) held their 46th class reunion May 17–19 on Illinois State University’s campus.
The alumni began their weekend with a dinner at Hampton Inn and Suites in Normal May 17. The next morning, some of the alumni headed out to Weibring Golf Course to enjoy the nice weather. Other alumni enjoyed a tour of campus sites and Uptown Normal. April Anderson, the University archivist, collected a variety of materials to share with the PEMS that related to them and their time on campus. The group also enjoyed seeing the Alumni Center, Cardinal Court, Duffy Bass Field, and the Marian Kneer Softball Stadium, in addition to the renovations at Hancock Stadium.
The tour concluded with a stop at McCormick Hall and Student Fitness Center. Alan Lacy, director of the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, led the tour and was able to explain to the PEMS how “old” McCormick (their former stomping grounds) smoothly transitioned into “new” McCormick, a state-of-the-art learning facility for students in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. Rene Lockenour, associate director of the Department of Campus Recreation, led a tour of the Student Fitness Center, connected to McCormick Hall.
The alumni had Saturday afternoon to themselves to explore old favorites, such as Avanti’s and the Alamo II. The group reconvened in the Bone Student Center for dinner Saturday night with some emeriti faculty and representatives from the College of Applied Science and Technology, the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, and the Department of Health Sciences.
The successful weekend concluded with a breakfast Sunday morning and more reminiscing at the hotel before the PEMS traveled home. “As our classmates arrived, we greeted and hugged one another followed by talking just like it was yesterday at ISU,” Bette (Benewich) Keyser ’67 said. “Ideas and excitement for our next reunion have already begun.”
