• What this year’s Reunion Classes experienced as seniors at Baylor

    Bob Hope, Margaret Thatcher, and Baylor football

    As part of Homecoming, Baylor’s Reunion Classes — those who graduated in years ending in 4 or 9 — will be honored in a series of events over Homecoming weekend (Oct. 30-Nov. 1).

    On Friday, the 50-Year Alumni Reunion (Class of 1964) will be honored with a dinner in Barfield Drawing Room from 4-7 p.m., while the Heritage Classes of 1939, ’44, ’49, ’54 and ’59 and the Classes of 1969, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04 and ’09 will celebrate at McLane Stadium’s Baylor Club from 5-7 p.m.

    All reunion classes are invited to enjoy free hamburgers and hot dogs (while they last) in the Alumni Reunion Picnic outside McLane Stadium; the picnic is located next to the Alumni Network Tailgate tent and begins three hours before kickoff (game time TBA).

    As these classes prepare to return to campus, here’s a look at what they might remember from their senior years at Baylor:

    • The Class of 1964 welcomed Bob Hope for an event raising funds for what would become Moody Memorial Library and saw the southwest corner of campus reshaped to make way for the construction of I-35.
    • The Class of 1969 were led in cheers by Baylor’s first female yell leaders and saw Peter, Paul and Mary perform in Rena Marrs McLean Gymnasium.
    • The Class of 1974 were entertained on campus by bands like Chicago and were among the first to utilize Castellaw Communications Center.
    • The Class of 1979 cheered on Baylor football in wins over both Texas and Texas A&M (a feat 50 years in the making) and saw their classmates picked in the first round of the NFL, NBA and MLB drafts.
    • The Class of 1984 were introduced to a new mascot, Judge Grady (named for Christian comedian Grady Nutt) and got a glimpse of the future as Baylor played Oklahoma State in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
    • The Class of 1989 heard President Ronald Reagan speak at the Ferrell Center’s opening and learned of a $5 million gift from the Casey family to update the football stadium.
    • The Class of 1994 saw the first women join the Baylor Line and learned that Baylor would soon be leaving the Southwest Conference for the Big 12.
    • The Class of 1999 welcomed to campus the Texas Supreme Court, which convened outside Austin for the first time in modern history, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who spoke to a full house at the Ferrell Center.
    • The Class of 2004 watched as the Mayborn Museum, Baylor Sciences Building and North Village Residential Community took shape and laughed with Bill Cosby at a benefit on campus.
    • The Class of 2009 supported Baylor football in new head coach Art Briles’ first season and shook hands with interim President David Garland as they crossed the stage at graduation.

    Sic ’em, Reunion Classes!

    [Do you have old photos of Baylor Homecomings past? Share them with us! Tweet or Instagram them using the hashtag #BaylorHomecoming, or submit them through this online form. If you happen to know the year, please let us know in your post/submission. We’ll share favorites through social media leading up to Homecoming 2014.]