Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Class of '56

A meeting of the Poly56 reunion committee was held May 27, 2009 at the Olive Garden Restaurant in White Marsh, MD.  In attendance were Fred Altman, Bob Calder, Ed Koehler, Denny Meadowcroft, Yogi Savetman and Chris Vale. The agenda was:
  1. Classmates found: Howard Colligan - February class president, Kenneth Cerf and John Hamilton Cox.
    Classmates deceased: Andrew "Paul" Cox - 2009 and Wally Albach - committee member 2008, both were at the 50th reunion.
  2. We decided to add a list of deceased members to the website.
  3. We will hold our 55th reunion in 2011!  It will probably be a bull roast at a site to be determined at a later date.
  4. We discussed Poly's "E2 Club", for those that graduated more than 50 years ago.
50th reunion pictures
June 17, 2006
List of the Lost
Yes, we still have classmates that we can't find!  Help!
Deceased Class Members
E-mail the Committee
Use this link to contact
Denny and/or Yogi
Visit the Poly Website
We are sure proud of our school!
See Chris Vale's new!article regarding Poly's Christmas Assembly.
Additional articles by Vale have been archived here
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Gathering the Graduates

by Christopher Vale ©2009		 Christopher Vale (after)
Only the ghost of a memory recalls the Christmas assembly at Poly in my student days.  Because of the season, it was a light hearted time.  Some of the bolder (and talented) might give an on-stage performance; like the time when one of our African American classmates sang Fifteen Tons in a mighty good imitation Tennessee Ernie style.  But the main feature was the return of recent graduates to be presented to the whole school.
 
   An image of my December '56 crowding onto the auditorium stage I do clearly remember.  I was and still am shy; and then and in my career I've been nervous about being a center of attention.  The crowd on stage that day milled around together; and Dr. Dehuff introduced us group-wise with a short statement.

   "These are recent graduates of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute."  And there was the touch of deserved pride in his voice.  "I will now ask them individually to come forward and introduce themselves and tell us what they are doing on their job or academically."

    There was an embarrassing pause in which no one broke from the safety of the crowd.  None wanted to be the first to step to the microphone.  Uncharacteristically I found myself drifting forward.  I stepped to the microphone and said:   "I'm Christopher Vale, class of '56.  I'm working at Westinghouse part time and going to Johns Hopkins McCoy College at night."  Then I stepped back relieved that I had said it.
Old Poly building
The "old" Poly auditioium - the building on the right -
has been removed and turned into a parking lot.

   Remembering that moment I can't believe I did it.  I quickly stepped back to the comfort of the mass and didn't hear the others as they also introduced themselves to the audience.  I don't know the number on stage that day; it could have been eighty or so.
  
   I must admit I don't keep up with the modern school.  Sometimes I have seen Poly students ride the light rail; though I don't how they get there from across Jones Falls Expressway.

    Do they still welcome the graduates at a Christmas Assembly?

Christopher Vale - Poly '56

Editor's note:  To answer Chris' question, the Christmas Assembly is now called the Holiday Assembly, and is scheduled December 23, 2009 from 8:30 to 10 am.  I don't suppose they would throw out any distinguished graduate that might appear.

The Winter Vacation runs from December 24 to January 4th and mid-term exams begin January 19th.  (Remember those!)
12/07/09
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