Medical secretaries, guidance counselors, historians and other professions gathered in B.N. Duke’s Jazz Band Room for a breakfast reunion before getting inducted into the Society of Golden Eagles, a program that honors 50 year graduates of N.C. Central University.

The class celebrated their 50th class reunion Friday, Oct. 26 sharing their experiences as mighty Eagles. The class of 1951 was the last class to enter under the supervision of the late founder Dr. James E. Shepard.

“He was gravely ill when we entered, but that did not stop him from doing his job effectively,” said Victoria McCray. “He never allowed you to come in close proximity with a student of the opposite sex.”

The group agreed that Shepard loved NCCU and that he was a well-mannered, proud, and sometimes rigid individual. They said he walked the campus grounds vigorously and with purpose.

“He would always remind us that the eagle is no common barnyard fowl, he would say that we Eagles soar over the barnyard,” said alumnus Albert Smith.

Smith, who was the managing editor of the Campus Echo in 1948, says he was a living witness of how strict Shepard was with NCCU students.

Smith recalls being reprimanded for publishing an article questioning the reasons funds were not provided for a new gym, better known as McLendon-McDougald Gym today.              “In those days, the punishment for tardiness and disobedience — or outspokenness in my case — was a subtraction of grade points from your final GPA,” said Smith.

Tonia Butler, of the Office of Institutional Advancement, was the coordinator for the reunion held for class of 1951. Butler has worked with the Society of Golden Eagles since 1997 and recalls this year’s program as one of her best.

“Working with the class of 1951 has been the most fulfilling experience in my history of working with the program, because this group was so open-minded and expressed such a love for NCCU,” said Butler. “This years 50th year alumni realized that NCCU was the reason for their success today.”

The class of 1951 delightfully announced their plans for the weekend.

“I can’t hardly wait to attend the game on Saturday, I just pray the weather is good,” said Louise Cutchaman.

The alumni occupied their homecoming weekend with fun-filled events including a hospitality mingle held at the Doubletree Guest Suites on Friday night, a proud ride on their class float in the parade, a football game and a dinner banquet attended by Chancellor Ammons and his wife on Saturday.

The class of 1951 gathered one last time for a heartwarming farewell breakfast on Sunday.

“The alumni have responded in great number with phone calls of appreciation, expressing the cloud of high they continue to float on from the grand affair,” said Butler.