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E-mail from Bill Bowden, March 31, 2011
(Includes Details of Reunion In September)

Dear Classmates of 1961,

Your 50th reunion committee held its second meeting earlier this month and made progress toward scheduling events for our 50th class reunion the weekend of September 23-25. In addition to the original group of five at our first meeting in February, which consisted of our host Steve Porter, Warren VanHoose, Bunny Laffoon Abbott, Sherry Silliman Willer, and me, we were joined for our March meeting by Dan Gray, John Thompson, and Jacque Johnson.

We need to do some more work to pin down all the costs, and then we'll get a registration form out to everyone as soon as possible. We would like to do as much of the registration online as possible to save on costs.

Here are the events we've settled on:

Friday, September 23

5 to 7 p.m.

Gather at Waggener for a look at the old schoohouse, followed by a casual meal prepared by students in the culinary arts program. Menu items will follow.

7 p.m.

Gather at the Sky Bar at Saints in St. Matthews for drinks and conversation. More details to follow.

Saturday, September 24

Reception/dinner/dance at the Louisville Boat Club

Music providers are still being worked out. Entree items to follow. Cash bar.

Sunday, September 25

Brunch at the charming antebellum Tucker House Bed and Breakfast on Tucker Station Road in eastern Jefferson County, where Steve and Devona Porter are innkeepers.

Marie VanHooose Sayre '60 will forward this email to a larger list of our classmates than are on this Yahoo group site. If anyone is in touch with other classmates, please forward this to them.

Your committee is enthusiastic, in the best spirit of our beloved old Waggener. Hope you are making plans to attend what should be a memorable reunion.

My best,

Bill Bowden '61

**Email from Bill Bowden Dated February 14, 2011**
Dear 1961 classmates, Yesterday the first meeting was held to plan a 50th reunion for our class. Steve Porter and his wife, Devona, were kind enough to host us at Tucker House, their charming 1840 bed-and-breakfast on Tucker Station Road in eastern Jefferson County. Besides Steve and me, in attendance were Warren VanHoose, Bunny Laffoon Abbott, and Sherry Silliman Willers. Before I go any further, let me say that we are looking for more volunteers. Several have indicated they will be joining us in the next few months. We're looking for ideas and a willingness to help. Our next meeting is set for Sunday, March 13, at 3 p.m., again at Steve's place. If you have any interest in joining us, please let me know. Here are the things we settled on as a starting point, with many, many details, obviously, still to be discussed: Dates: September 23, 24, 25 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Friday evening activities: A very casual Friday evening gathering at Waggener, to tour the building, and enjoy a casual meal prepared by students in the school's nutrition/food services program. Probably a couple of hours, early in the evening, maybe 5 to 7. Then we'll adjourn for drinks and conversation at a place to be determined -- perhaps a micro brewery. Saturday daytime: Left open for optional self-arranged activities by smaller groups, such as a golf or tennis outing, a ride on the Belle of Louisville, or visiting old haunts for the out-of-towners who haven't been to the Big L in a number of years. Saturday evening: A reception/dinner/dance, at a venue to be determined, with musical entertainment also to be determined. (I know, I know -- a lot of "TBDs." It was just our first meeting -- give us a break! ;-) We're working on these things as I type.) Sunday morning: A farewell brunch. Steve and Devona hosted a very successful brunch at Tucker House in 2001 that many of you will remember. This is a strong possiblity for this time around as well. We would welcome any feedback from you all as to your interest in attending, and any thoughts you might have on the events themselves. We'd like to get some kind of early indication of what attendance might be like. Marie VanHoose Sayre, class of 1960 but "Godmother" to both classes, has a robust email list for our class, and she'll be forwarding this message to all of them. She is infusing our efforts already with her patented enthusiasm. You will recall that she was one of our very lovely cheerleaders all those many years ago (as, of course, was committee member Bunny Laffoon). She can still bring the spirit. If we all pitch in, this can be a lot of fun. Hope you plan on coming, and that you're beginning already to look forward to seeing everyone again seven months from now, on our 50th (gulp!). My best, Bill Bowden '61

**NOVEMBER 8, 2010 EMAIL FROM DICK BEDWELL**
Bill, I was on that little committee in 2001, so was John Aboud. We would met at Scott's house as needed, maybe 5 or 6 times in total. I would jump in and help, but I most likely will be living on the other side of the world in the near future, so someone else is going to have to come forward. Scott and Danny are not in this group, maybe someone can contact them. I'm sure Scott has all the records we developed. Dick

NOVEMBER 8, 2010 EMAIL FROM BILL BOWDEN

Marie,

No one from the class of 1961 has responded to my post yet, on this thread anyway, until Abby did just the other day. I'm not trying to take the lead on it, only wanted to volunteer my help. It's such an easy drive from Lexington that I can be in Louisville for meetings, etc., and would be glad to help out in any way.

I remember Steve Porter, Scott Davis, Danny Gray, and you from our 2001 reunion seemed to be in the lead on the planning and so on. There were probably others that I'm not remembering -- if one of you is reading this, please forgive my poor memory. I'm sure you're right about needing to get a venue booked sooner rather than later. If anyone from our class is listening out there, what you do think?

On another note, I'm pretty sure the annual crafts fair is at Waggener this Saturday. That's the fair, of course, that Walker did so much to support, and proceeds from it help with the scholarships given in his name. I'll doublecheck the date tomorrow at work and confirm this.

Bill Bowden '61

**OCTOBER 7, 2010 EMAIL FROM BILL BOWDEN AND MARIE SAYRE**
Bill -- Re: Class of '60 had their reunion 9/10-11-12 in Louisville - a great success - with about 100 classmates participating - 50 known deceased. Two seriously ill since -- Fred Neikirk and Gibbs Reese. I have photos and am encouraging others to send theirs to me (digitally or as prints). Al Ring '61 is working to get them posted on www.ringbrothershistory.com Everyone needs to support this effort - any contribution will help defray the costs. (see my earlier post for address) -- Also, there is a photo DVD of the events Friday at Waggener and Saturday at Audubon CC. Maybe we can get that posted as well. RE: Class '61 -- I am having cataract surgery 10/26 - when I bounce back; I will contribute my list from 10 years ago and/or I will be glad to work on its update. I think H. Scott Davis has another working list. Who have you heard from? My brother, Warren, is in Williamstown, KY and will be glad to do what he can. You still need a Louisville core committee and a confirmed date that does not conflict with local events which might tie up air/hotel access. A lot of foreign travel is already booked I can assure you -- myself as example (Lisbon & Douro River into Salamanca, Spain/So Portugal @5/22-6/10) (highly probable July trip AK w/grandsons) (Paris - Giverney & Normandy @9/15-9/27). Class of '60 had about 20 with previous commitments because the date was not announced very early. (If any of you are interested in either of these river cruises let me hear from you. We love company when we travel!! Marie From: William Bowden Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 7:46 PM To: Waggener1960-1961-1962@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Waggener1960-1961-1962] 1961 Reunion? Dear classmates of 1961 in particular, and everyone else in general, Susan Pillans '62 was telling me about a reunion committee meeting her class held in Louisville not too long ago. I believe she said Mike Skelton and Marilyn Gordon were on the committee, but I don't remember the others. Anyway, she said they would like to keep in touch with our reunion committee, to trade ideas, etc. I told her I don't believe we have a committee yet. Imagine that -- letting the class of 1962 get that far ahead of us! Are we forming a committee? I'd certainly love to help out if and when we do. One of the ideas Susan mentioned was the possibility of the Pendennis Club as a site for their evening function. I thought that sounded kind of elegant, and I liked the idea of being in downtown Big L. I assume by now the class of 1960 has had their 50th, but I haven't seen anything on this site about it, photos, etc., unless I just missed it. Bill Bowden '61