Sixty-eight Eastern graduates from the class of ’64 will return to old stomping grounds Friday when they return to campus for Homecoming and their 50 year class reunion.

The alumni services office has been hard at work preparing the celebration of the class of 1964’s Golden Anniversary.

Amber May, the alumni events coordinator, said there are many events planned throughout homecoming weekend to recognize the alumni.

The weekend of celebration will begin at 4 p.m. Friday with a tour.

“Friday will start with a riding campus tour to take the Class of 1964 down memory lane,” she said.

The Livingston C. Lord dinner will begin at 6 p.m., following extra social events the alumni can take part in.

“We will have a social hour beginning at 5 p.m. for class members to mingle and catch up,” May said.  “At 5:30 p.m., we will begin our pinning ceremony and class picture.  6 p.m. starts the reunion dinner and program, which will have a class representative speaker.”

The Livingston C. Lord ceremony, named after the first Eastern president, is solely intended for the celebrated class

“Any alumni who graduated in 1964 who attend their 50th class reunion is honored in the Livingston C. Lord society and will receive a pin,” May said.  “’64 alumni can only receive a pin if they come to campus.”

The social hour, pinning ceremony and dinner will begin at 5 p.m. Friday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The class of ‘64 is also welcome to join in on other typical homecoming events such as the annual homecoming parade and football game. 

The annual alumni awards dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Grand Ballroom of the MLK Jr., University Union. 

The Alumni Association will honor eight alumni, however, none of them are from the class of ’64.

May said the alumni will come to Charleston from all over the continent. 

Alumni from nine states, such California and Tennessee, and one from Canada will be coming back to Eastern to celebrate their Golden Anniversary.

Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.