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TO THE MOUNTAIN AND BACK

Alumni Parade at Reunion, June 11, 2016

By Bates College

June 11^th, 2016

Gathering on the Historic Quad near the Class of 1929 Gate, the 2016 Alumni Parade went ’round the north side of Hathorn Hall before emerging onto the Alumni Walk, where it passed by the Presidential Reviewing Stand. It concluded next to Garcelon Field.

There, parade-goers attended the Annual Gathering of the Alumni Association, featuring President Clayton Spencer’s Reunion Address and a presentation of alumni awards.

For the 50th Reunion Class of 1966, the several hundred steps of the Alumni Parade were a trifle — compared to the 5,267 feet that eight hardy classmates scaled earlier in the week as a warmup to their golden jubilee.

Alex Wood, Judy Marden, Mel Burrowes, Barbara Remick-Newhouse, Patricia Gilbert Keane, Janet McEachern Macidull, Chris Fonoti, Bill Hiss.

The 5th Reunion class is always about youthful exuberance and energy. Just ask Caroline Barr '11.

marching orders

When inaugurated in 1914, it was hoped that the Alumni Parade would become a “program of merrymaking” with a “historico-humorous parade of classes.” Mission accomplished!

Bill Dill '51 and Jean McLeod Dill '51, co-presidents of the Class of 1951, lead their classmates.

'I don't care if I never get back'

The Class of 1951 turned to baseball for its existential parade theme, “Still at Bat.” (Or maybe they meant, still at Bates!)

As George Carlin said in a routine praising the sport, “Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life…. Baseball has no time limit: We don’t know when it’s gonna end.”

The Class of 1951 baseball, like life, has no clock.

President Spencer reviews the parade as Sean Findlen '99 and Sarah Pearson '75, members of the Bates senior staff, cheer on the alumni.

we're not done yet

Write your story here. (Optional)

Al Cate '61 helps to deliver the forward-looking Class of 1961 parade theme.

Sharing a bond with this year's 150th Commencement class, the Class of 1966 was the 100th class to graduate from Bates.

'select...Ripe...vintage'

Class of 1986 alumni including, from left, Kent Sinclair, Mike Schecter (with selfie stick), and Brad Hobbs give the Presidential Reviewing Stand a taste of vintage ’86.

“We have an incredibly rigorous reviewing stand…of East German judges,” quipped President Spencer. “We can be bought.”

the wunderkinds

In presenting various humorous awards after the parade, President Spencer quipped that the Class of 2001 “had the shortest people in the parade. And a lot of them. So, you get the ‘Most Prolific Award.’”

Muscling In

During the post-parade awards, President Spencer teased the Class of 2011: “You’re just trying to show up all of us old people in your muscle Ts. You get the most ripped award in your muscle T-shirts. So, you get the ‘Most Ripped Award.’”