That Very Special Day....40 Years Ago

Father Ryan High School held its commencement exercises yesterday (May 17).

Believe it or not, this is the 40th class to graduate from the school since we did it back on May 25, 1969.

The photo above is one taken during that special day we all share(it was the last time all of the members of the Father Ryan Class of 1969 were together). In the photo, that's the late Johnny Shelton (my first cousin) receiving his diploma from Bishop Joseph Durick, while Monsignor James Hitchcock, our Principal, looks on.

Some years before we graduated, Father Ryan had outgrown its gym on Elliston Place as an on-campus facility for graduation. So like several previous classes, we made our march across the stage at the War Memorial Auditorium next to the State Capitol downtown.

An off-campus site is also used today for those graduating from Father Ryan's Norwood campus in Oak Hill, as commencement is conducted at the beautiful new Curb Event Center at Belmont University, after being held for many years at the New Opry House at Opryland.

We'll take another look back at our graduation when the actual 40th anniversary occurs in a week (on Monday, May 25).

In the meantime, if you'd like to post any graduation day memories (remember our class party that evening at the Richland Country Club?) please feel free to do so below or e-mail them to me at pat.nolan@dvl.com.

A couple of final notes, sorry I was out a few days for my daughter's graduation from NYU (master's degree in business journalism).

But I am back now and plan to be blogging frequently all the way up and through Reunion Weekend June 5-7. A reminder, please send in your RSVP for Reunion Weekend as soon as possible, so we can plan on how many folks are attending (you know, so we have enough food and especially drink at the party on Saturday night). :)

Hopefully, everyone has now received their invitations from FRHS. If not, let me know and we will try and work things out to get you one very quickly.