C Michael Gooden
My Fellow Classmates,
I just wanted to send this message to express my sincere appreciation for all of the effort that made our 50th Reunion weekend so successful. I thoroughly enjoyed participating in several of the events, and particularly the Reunion celebration Saturday evening.
During the weekend, I was reminded of what a special group of individuals that I had the privilege of sharing my formative years with. I do believe that I am qualified to say this, as I have a large basis of comparison. I left Youngstown within a few days of our graduation for duty in the U S Navy. Since that time, I have lived in some 24 different places throughout the country from New Jersey to California, east to west; and from Illinois to Georgia, north to south. I have visited every state except North Dakota. And I have traveled to over 47 countries. I continued my education while serving in the navy receiving an undergraduate degree from a “public Ivy” and a graduate degree from an Ivy league university. My professional experiences encompassed the military, industry and academia, and I have worked from the deck plates to the boardroom. Needless to say, I have encountered a broad cross-section of humanity over the past 50 years, and you, my fellow classmates, represent the “cream of the crop”.
I read a book some years ago written by Jared Diamond, an evolutionary biologist. The book, “Gun, Germs and Steel”, is based on his research in the evolution of humans over the past 13,000 years. His premise is that historically, environmental factors are actually responsible for history's broadest patterns in humans. In this context, when I think about the Petri dish that was the public school system on the Southside of Youngstown during the ‘50s and early ‘60s, and consider the results 50 years later, I have to believe that there is a lot of merit to Mr. Diamond’s premise.
It is my perception that our environment resulted in South High’s class of ‘64, a group of individuals who are very capable and competitive, but who also possess a sense of fair play; who have a strong work ethic, balanced with the ability to enjoy down time; who are committed to family and country; and who delight in seeing the successes of each other. These were some of my many thoughts over the weekend as I shared time with you. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people throughout the country and the world held each other in such high esteem?
Thanks again to the Reunion Team for all of your hard work in making the weekend so enjoyable. I will have fond memories for many years to come.
Best wishes to all in the years ahead.
Warmest Regards,
Mike Gooden
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