TU Old School Engineers 2nd Reunion

From left, top row, Lawrence Slatter, Robert Baker, Jeri Jackson, LeRoy Rodes, Lucius Monroe and Willie Schellman; bottom row, Foy Robinson, Hugh Latham, Elmer Thomas, Sam Cahoon, Tuskegee University president Lily McNair, Dean Heshmat Aglan, Thomas Brown, Burdette Rowe and Walter Robinson. Photo by Lucius Felder Jr

A group of 1967-73 engineering graduates of Tuskegee University, known as

the Tuskegee Old School Engineers, were in Atlanta the weekend of May 24-

26 for reunion activities.

The group also participated in the 14th annual Jazz Scholarship Brunch held

by the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Club.

The first reunion was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2001, to

celebrate the retirement of now deceased Ken Rocker of Lucent Technologies.

The group enjoyed barbecue, Rocker’s pool and held worship on Sunday.

This year’s activities included golfing at Wolf Creek and Happy Hour at

Sweet Auburn Seafood on May 24. After overflowing two reserved tables,

owner Paul Williams opened the VIP room for the group. On May 25, the

Engineers joined about 400 guests at the Atlanta Gateway Marriott for brunch,

Jazz music by MilkShake, recognized four Pioneers and awarded 16

scholarships to Atlanta area students enrolled at Tuskegee.

The honorees were Dr. E.R. Deveaux, director of the Marietta Performance

Learning Center; Martina Edwards, the only African-American woman seat

holder on the New York Stock Exchange out of 1,366 members in 2004;

Michael Washington, a third generation Tuskegeean and STEM advocate; and

Phyllis Kitchens Thurmond, a physical therapist and devoted contributor to

historically black colleges and universities, who brought a check for TU’s

president Lily McNair.

Following the festivities, the Engineers held an impromptu meeting,

promising to make themselves available as mentors for current Tuskegee

Engineering students and provide support for enhanced student experience at

Tuskegee. Dean H. Aglan surprised participants with commemorative cup

gifts from TU’s School of Engineering.

In May 1967, TU graduated 11 undergraduates in electrical and mechanical

engineering. Currently, the college graduates 100 undergraduate annually in

aerospace, chemical, electrical, computer and mechanical engineering with

graduate programs in chemical, electrical, mechanical, material science and

PhD in materials science and engineering.

Submitted by: Walter G. Robinson of Marietta