Gordon Alumni Donate To Alumni Plaza

Alumni of Gordon College presented almost $15,000 toward an Alumni Plaza that is designed to not only honor members of the Gordon family, but to illustrate the past, present and future of the College.

The presentations were made during Alumni Weekend held on the Gordon College campus April 11--13. About 250 alumni representing classes from the 1940s to the 1970s attended the first-ever event.

The largest donation came from the Gordon Survivors, a group of former students who have been meeting throughout the years. This check, totaling $10,040.29 was presented by Pete Reems of the class of '66.

Checks were presented to Gordon President Lawrence Weill, second from left, during Alumni Weekend by several alumni including, from left, David Black, Weill, Kike Seda, Pete Reems, Jimmy Matthews, Kathy Matthews and Dan Rainey.

"In the early 90s I had the idea to have all the people who graduated in the 60s to come together for a reunion," Reems said. "I was running around and saw Roxie Peugh who we all know and love. She put her arms around me and said, 'Sugar, my class is 1959 and we'd like to join ya'll.'" A few days later I saw the truest southern gentleman I ever met in my life, Cy Neuner (class of '37), and he said he would like to join us. So we opened it up to anyone who was still alive and we called it the Gordon Survivors."

"Roxie did all the work and those of you who have been to the Gordon Survivors reunions have contributed to this," Reems added. "I'd like to say thank you to Dr. Larry (Weill) for remembering Gordon as we do. And it would be great for everyone to put their arm around Roxie and say, 'Thanks, Sugar.'"

Check presentations were also made by Jimmy and Kathy Matthews on behalf of the Class of '62, Dan Rainey on behalf of the class of '61 and a donation from Kike Seda, class of '59, and immediate past president of the Gordon Alumni Advisory Board. Many other donations were also received throughout the weekend.

"I never thought I'd be giving money to a place that kicked me out three times," said Jimmy Matthews recalling his days as a student at Gordon.

Gordon President Lawrence Weill told a gathering of alumni that, "We stand on the shoulders of giants." And that the Alumni Plaza is intended to be a physical reminder of that.

This is a rendering of the Alumni Plaza

"The plaza will serve as a pedestrian link between old Lambdin Hall, the focal point of the old campus, and future growth of the campus to the east. The fountain will be the centerpiece with four small jets representing the four distinct periods in the history of Gordon College from its founding to the present. The large central jet will represent the future of Gordon College, informed and inspired by the past," Weill told the crowd of about 60 alumni.

"The portico, inspired by the design of the portico that once adorned Lambdin Hall, will serve as a landmark symbolically joining the past with the future. The Gordon College Alumni Plaza will be the focal point at the opposite end of the plaza from the fountain. This memorial will be a reflective marble structure engraved with the names of members of the Gordon College family who have fallen in the line of duty. It is designed so that as you look at the names in the dark marble, your image is reflected back from its surface. The plaza will be engraved with quotes from professors and staff of Gordon College. These voices from the past will also serve as daily encouragement and inspiration for the new generations of Gordon College students to come."