Members of the class of 1961 inducted into the Bluefield College Golden Graduates Society during Homecoming 2011: (from left) Brenda Akers Hutzler, Claire Thurman Booth, Ann Shelton Lovingood, Steve Dixon, Johnsie Wright Morgan, Nancye Kinser Howell, and Rebecca Tyree Bruce.

Bluefield College honored members of its class of 1961 with induction into the school’s Golden Graduates Society during Homecoming festivities on campus, October 13-16.

Dozens of alumni and friends returned to watch the former BC students be inducted into the prestigious group, created in 2009 to honor and preserve the legacy of alumni from the Golden Anniversary era. Since then, more than 100 Golden graduates have been inducted into the society, including 10 this year from the class of 1961 and beyond.

“This society is designed to honor those who have reached the 50th year anniversary milestone,” said Dr. David Olive, president of Bluefield College. “You are a special group, and it’s a really nice honor to be a part of this society. We thank you for not only choosing Bluefield College, but also for your support of the school through the years since graduation.”

The golden grads participating in the 2011 induction ceremony included: (from the class of 1961) Claire Thurman Booth of Christiansburg, Virginia; Rebecca Tyree Bruce of Bahaman, North Carolina; Steve Dixon of Dumfries, Virginia; Nancye Kinser Howell of Tazewell, Virginia; Brenda Akers Hutzler of Dry Prong, Louisiana; Ann Shelton Lovingood of Chesapeake, Virginia; Johnsie Wright Morgan of Kingsport, Tennessee; (from the class of 1955) Gilbert Henshaw of Hardy, Virginia; Richard Smith of Troutville, Virginia; and (from the class of 1953) Violet Meade of Bluefield, Virginia.

Each received a gold medallion, engraved with the Golden Graduates Society insignia, along with a BC lapel pin, imprinted with the college seal. In addition to the induction ceremony, the Golden Graduates Society program also included special music from BC student Eugene Fitzgerald and remarks from President Olive, Vice President for Advancement Ruth Blankenship, and Alumni Director Josh Cline.

Submitted by Chris Shoemaker, Director of Marketing and Public Relations