Way to go, Pete!! Congrats to you, your teams and your very, very special family and family ties! So proud of your achievements! Never in my days of sitting in Jim Rees’ math classes in 1968-1971 or babysitting your wife, Deb, and her brothers when they were little, would I have expected to be so proud of her hubby, the tennis teams at Downers Grove South, DGHSS itself, and the impact you have made for all the world – i.e. sharing your son with Central College ! Fine accomplishment! I thoroughly enjoyed the Suburban Life article!
Here are a few more tulip photos from Pella, Iowa, home of Central College. Every year on the first full weekend of May, Pella celebrates Tulip Time but the tulips are absolutely gorgeous right now!
This weekend my blog was quiet because Grandpa Ron and I flew to Des Moines, IA, to be part of the Central College (my undergraduate school) celebration in Pella, IA. David Roe, the President of Central College for the last ~ 12 years, his wife Betsy Roe, and daughters Caleigh and Caitlin were honored with a Texas-sized party in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium last Saturday, April 17, from 5:30-8:30 p.m to celebrate their gifts to the community, David’s retirement and move to DALLAS. Both of them are very special and have made a difference in our world. I am sure they will also make their mark on Dallas! Lots of students, former students, faculty, former faculty, friends, family, and townspeople came to say good-bye to the Roes, listen to fun and funny stories from several speakers, sample the BBQ food of Central Dining Services and listen to the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Steel Pans and Jazz Combos of Central College. Lots of people dressed in western attire. Afterwards, the party continued up-town with a dance at the Pella Opera House. We had great fun!
Here are some photos (and one video) I took. A few were way across the gymnasium so they came out a little fuzzy. If other photos or articles get posted by others, I’ll link to them later.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble Conductor Smiles Through Crowd
PELLA — Central College was awarded a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for its newly constructed education, psychology and communication studies building, which opened this past fall. The building received 55 out of 69 possible credits for incorporating environmentally friendly building design and construction practices. Read more by clicking on the news release!!
Looks like the planning for the Dallas Party is coming along nicely for David and Betsy Roe. Cool!
From the Central Alumni page:
Help us celebrate David and Betsy Roe’s retirement and move to DALLAS with a Texas-sized party in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium, Saturday, April 17, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. A program will begin at 6:45 p.m. Student meal plans will be in effect. Come to bid farewell to the Roes, hear great stories from featured speakers, enjoy the legendary delicacies of Central Dining Services and free entertainment courtesy of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Steel Pans and Jazz Combos. Attire for the event is Texas themed. Registration is required. RSVP by picking up your free tickets at the Maytag Information Booth after March 22. Or, register now online, call 800-447-0287 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.
The Roe party continues with a dance at the Pella Opera House Saturday, April 17, from 8:30-11:30 p.m. Cost is $15 per person and registration is required. RSVP by purchasing your tickets at the Maytag Information Booth after March 22. Or, register now online, call 800-447-0287 or e-mail alumni@central.edu.
This week I’ve been sad since a very dear friend and mentor, Dr. Maxine Huffman, has passed away. She was (and her husband Don still is) a prime example of why and how special Central College is for many alumni. Every time Grandpa Ron and I visited the Central campus, we always made sure we arranged a visit or meal to catch up with the Huffmans. We appreciated and embraced their view on life and the world. She will be missed by many, many people all over the world.
Here is an after dinner photo from last Fall in Pella, IA, with favorite people Barbara Butler, Maxine and Don Huffman.
Here is a photo from the very first time I met the Huffmans and the Butlers on a RĂĽdesheim Rhine River Cruise (a one afternoon cruise version) in the Summer of 1972 at the start of the ’72-’73 Central College Vienna Study Program. Left to right: Jovan Stojsic, Frau Haydon, Don Butler, Don Huffman, Maxine Huffman, and Barbara Butler. Looks to me like they’re having a pleasant afternoon. Little did I know on that day how I’d end up with a double major in German – my intended major – and in English – where Maxine became my English Dept. Advisor – and that my work/study job would find me in the International Studies Office helping Barbara Butler! Our friendships continue on to this day!
I have more info on the page created from the CaringBridge site – I don’t know how long the CaringBridge pages will continue being there.
Last Friday and part of Saturday Grandpa Ron and I were on the campus of Central College in Pella, Iowa. I am on the National Advisory Committee, which meets once a year on campus to advise the college president. We also had a tour of the new Education and Psychology Building which is one of the highlights of sustainability initiatives on the campus. It is a very beautiful building – and very GREEN! Go environment! Central is hoping to attain a LEED Platinum rating for the newest green building on campus.
Central College is a very special place for me. Check out my separate page tab on Central for my explanation! Check out the Virtual Tour of the campus. Click on the Campus and Pella tabs first.
Tulip Time is just around the corner – May 7, 8 and 9th!! There are all kinds of family activities to participate in and watch: parades, windmills, tulips, Dutch Letters (pastries)!
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