Class of the Month: 1961
Every month we will recognize a featured class online, highlighting the accomplishments and catching up with where they are now. The Class of 1961 celebrated their 50th reunion in November and dedicated their class gift.
- Class of 1961 - 50th Reunion: 2-6 November
- Checkpoints: Class of 1961 Short History
(1957-1961) - What They've Done: 12 CEO/VPs
2 Medical, 6 Legal, 8 Airline Professionals. - Giving Back: 152 AOG Members (88%),
13 Sabre Society Members, $1.837M Lifetime Giving
Read Remarks, View Photos and Watch Video
The gift consists of two related iconic pieces of sculpture flanking the Pavilion in the USAFA Cemetery — the Airman on the Meadow and Winged Refuge.
Video credit: Steve Byerly - Additional Reunion Vidoes: Day 2 | Day 3
- Rhodes Scholars - 1
- Dist. Service Medal - 13
- Silver Star - 24
- Dist. Flying Cross - 141
Class of 1961 Links
- Class History | Class Website
- Class of 1961 Leadership Roles in the Association of Graduates
- Legacy Link to 2011: The members of the Class of 1961 presented 2nd Lt. Gold Bars, engraved on the back " '61--'11 " to each member of the Class of 2011 during their commissioning ceremonies symbolizing the 50-year link between the two classes in the Long Blue Line. The grads of 2011 were challenged to serve long and honorably for their country and to be back here at USAFA in the year 2061 to pass on Gold Bars to that graduating class, continuing the 50-year link.
- The first 50th Class Reunion Award — A Lifetime of Commitment to Core Values, presented by the AOG CEO and the Class President at the reunion banquet on 4 November to Brice Jones. Read More
- Posthumous Graduation: William Michael Gibbons died in an auto accident in April 1961, just weeks before graduation. Read more about a diploma presented to his family, and a remembrance speech by Jack Taylor. This placed another link in the Long Blue Line from over fifty years ago.
- Takes You Back: Class of 1961 Graduation Video and old photos donated by Robert Apodaca.
- 50th Anniversary of First Day: Speech by Brice Jones. View photos and read more about that event.
- Mini-Reunion: Video from mini-reunion held in May 2011
- More 50th Reunion Coverage: Check back throughout the month and look for more photos and videos to be posted here from reunion events. Dedication Video
- Army Football Game: The reunion party moved to Falcon Stadium as Air Force came back and beat Army to keep the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. The Class of 1961's flag was parachuted into the stadium during pre-game. That wasn't the first Army game the class had seen, of course, but this is (watch video).
Hear stories from Brice Jones, '61, about an attempt to steal the Army Mule and getting the Navy goat. - Dedication Remarks: Gen. George Lee Butler, '61; Tom Eller, President Class of '61; USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould.
Next Class
If you would like your class to be highlighted as the Class of the Month in the future, send us an email with class news or projects that you'd like to have showcased.
People have asked "How do you choose the class of the month?", and your class involvement with the AOG and USAFA Endowment really helps determine what projects we feature at a given time. Grads in the news can also impact what class content gets showcased from month to month.
As you can see with this page, the more your class is involved in this process the more we can work together to display. Thanks to Tom Eller and the members of the Class of 1961 Reunion Committee.
