October was a walk down memory lane

During October, I had two experiences that brought back many fond memories. Early in the month, I visited the five Bethany College students who are attending Harlaxton College, Lincolnshire, England. I was a student at Harlaxton back in 1976. The experience was incredible and changed me forever. I began to realize that we live in a big world, which I now describe as a flat world, agreeing with Tom Friedman's book. When I became president at Bethany College, one of the first things I did was to begin conversations for Bethany to become a partner college with Harlaxton. Which we did in spring 2008.

I wanted to visit our first students to make sure the experience was as good or better than mine (it's better!) and to visit the College I haven't been to in 33 years.

While at Harlaxton, I took the Bethany 5 (as I call them) to dinner and then to the Blue Pig. The Blue Pig was the pub I frequented during my student days at Harlaxton. I can honestly say it had hardly changed in 33 years. Wow! The memories came rushing back and the great experience I had for those four months in the fall 1976.

The other experience was later in October when I returned to William Jewell College, my alma mater, to be inducted into the athletic hall of fame with the other members of the 1975-1976 Men's Swim Team. We are one of Jewell's few undefeated teams and we also won the Washington University Invitational that year. For me, not only were we a great team, but several on that team are now life-long friends of mine. In fact, one of them is my son's godfather. It was wonderful to spend a brief time with them and Coach Hamilton, who also has become a life-long friend and mentor.

To the Bethany Five and to the 75-76 WJC Swim Team, thanks for the memories!