First graduating class reconnects during Homecoming

“That’s my friend, John,” said Campbell, as he pointed out a photo and recollected on his days at University of Michigan-Dearborn. “We used to play euchre together.”

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“That’s Lee. He went to work for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

Campbell caught up with about 20 of his former classmates Friday as UM-Dearborn celebrated the Class of 1962’s 50^th reunion, which was the first class to graduate from the university.

“It’s changed a lot,” said Campbell, who lives in Northville and still visits campus.

Campbell didn’t have to look far for employment after he graduated 50 years ago with a mechanical engineering degree.

“Lots of people were looking to hire engineers back then,” he said.

It didn’t hurt that Campbell was one of only four UM-Dearborn mechanical engineering students to graduate in June 1962.

But Campbell wasn’t the only one who reminisced on his college days last week. Others from the Class of 1962 recounted stories about former professors and their quality time spent on campus.

The reunion was part of UM-Dearborn’s Homecoming Week, which will wrap up Saturday.