The fall issue of the Wright State University Retirees Association newsletter, The Extension, has been posted on the WSURA website. Among other things, this issue features the story of the formation of WSURA 25 years ago.
On Oct. 5, 1993, Rich Johnson, who was at that time manager of employee benefits, presided over the first organizational meeting for the proposed group. A second meeting was held on Nov. 3, when it was decided to go forward with the organization.
The original group of planners consisted of Gary Barlow, Carl Becker, Len Cargan, Joanne Cross, Larry Cross, Nick Davis, Billy Friar, Ira Fritz, Freida Jessee, Pat Jessee, Ken Knight, Ron Oldiges, Adrian Rake, Mary Rutkowski, Lew Shupe, Mary Stonecash, Jean Sullivan, Robert Thobaben, Lois Wamsley, Susan Williams and Gordon Wise.
All of this was reported in the very first, two-page edition of The Extension. The newsletter name was chosen to suggest that retirees were still part of Wright State, an extension of Wright State — an important extension.
There is a lot more in this issue, which is the 99th one published. It includes poetry by Gary Pacernick, emeritus professor of English; a full calendar of fall activities sponsored by WSURA; and profiles of Suzanne Walker, “one of the three most important faculty in the development and success of the Theatre Arts Department,” and Lillian Johnson, one-time director of the Bolinga Center and assistant dean of the University College.
