Stopping and Looking Around

Written by Doug Goodnough

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

These are pretty wise words from 1980s teen philosopher Ferris Bueller, from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie fame. And with the end of the academic year here at Hillsdale College, things here are seemingly moving at light speed.

In the Alumni Office, we are coming off the completion of the Alumni National Tour, the 50/60-Year Reunion, and most recently the third annual White & Blue Weekend. The latter was another memorable event, and I’m continually amazed by our graduates. They were on full display at White & Blue, from the conversations during casual events to the culmination of the weekend: the annual Alumni Awards Banquet.

Permit me to “stop and look around” a bit as I share these thoughts:

Mike Mills, ’71, attended White & Blue in his full Hillsdale regalia. From his 1969 NAIA Playoff Chargers football hat to his Hillsdale pullover, the former athlete and sports information director was on brand. After he suffered a life-threatening head injury during a 1969 Chargers football game, he moved from the playing field to the athletic office, serving as the College’s first full-time sports information director. Following a brief journalism career, he went on to a career as a college sports promoter with various organizations, including helping to run the 1979 Final Four men’s basketball tournament featuring the legendary Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird matchup. Mike is quick to share his faith journey and is active with Michigan’s Convention of States efforts, as well as with his local hospice. To read more about his remarkable story from a past Collegian article, click here.
Elizebeth Smith Friedman is fast becoming a legend on the Hillsdale campus. The 1915 graduate who helped the United States and its allies win two world wars and take down organized crime due to her code-breaking abilities was honored posthumously with the first Elizebeth Smith Friedman Award for Freedom at the May 20 Alumni Awards Banquet. Her granddaughter, Vanessa Friedman, who accepted the award on her behalf, shared some poignant memories of her grandmother. The longtime college professor said her grandmother would often send grandchildren, nieces, and nephews birthday and other holiday cards in code. And when they were visiting their grandmother’s house, they first would have to solve a code to enter. Hollywood has taken note, and a movie telling Elizebeth’s remarkable story may soon be in the works.
I took a final glimpse at Simpson Field before it will soon be transformed into the Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium and Delp Field by next spring. As a baseball alum, I had many fond memories there. However, the promise of grandstand seating, artificial surface playing field, and lights has me excited about the future of Charger baseball.
Speaking of all things historical, I am pleased to announce that our Alumni Board co-historians, Ronda Doane Deer, ’60, and Greg McLogan, ’88, have agreed to partner with our office on a new feature for the White & Blue email newsletter. Beginning this issue, “Vanished Hillsdale College” will be a regular feature on the people, places, and events from the College’s past. The title is an ode to McLogan’s popular “Vanished Hillsdale” Facebook group page.
Finally, we made the announcement that White & Blue Weekend is moving to a new month in 2024! The fourth annual event will be held June 27-30, 2024. For those who had graduations, athletic events, and other family commitments that gobbled up most of May, this is your chance to plan your summer vacation around Hillsdale College. We introduced some new things to the weekend this year, including a euchre tournament, pickleball, and karaoke. And we have more on the way for next year. So save the date!

Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.

Published in May 2023