The year is 1976. America marks its Bicentennial. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launch Apple Computers. NASA successfully lands two unmanned crafts on the surface of Mars. The Concorde supersonic jet is introduced. Jimmy Carter is elected President in November. On the radio, Paul McCartney and Wings and Elton John jockey for airplay. Moviegoers flock to see Rocky, Carrie, The Bad News Bears, The Omen, King Kong, and All the President’s Men. Television introduces us to Laverne and Shirley, Donny and Marie, Charlie’s Angels, The Muppet Show, Three’s Company, and Wonder Woman. In the world of sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys 21–17 at Super Bowl X. The Cincinnati Reds sweep the New York Yankees in the World Series. Nadia Comăneci, a Romanian gymnast, scores seven perfect 10s at the Olympics.
And 117 students receive their degrees from what is then a 75-year-old WVU Potomac State College.
It is with that commemoration in mind and as the College now celebrates its 125th anniversary, that members of that specific graduating class from 50 years ago are being especially invited back as honored VIP guests of Homecoming celebrations on campus this year.
President of the Potomac State College Alumni Association Sabrina Cave said spotlighting the Class of 1976 seemed like perfect timing for this year’s Homecoming festivities.
“Homecoming Weekend is a wonderful time to come ‘home,’ reminisce about your days on campus, reconnect with old friends, and enjoy fun activities throughout the weekend,” she said. “And 50 years is a milestone, and we want to celebrate those classmates.”
“Last year was the first year we planned a secondary theme for the Homecoming Weekend. It was PSC’s 125th birthday, so we thought it would be fun to do a 50th reunion for the Class of 1975” said LaDonna Gardner, WVU Potomac State College alumni relations coordinator. “Carrying the tradition forward to this year, it is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, so we kept the drive alive with a 1976 Class Reunion theme for the Friday Night gathering at the North Branch Brewing Company in downtown Keyser.”
Cave said she is looking forward to welcoming all alumni back to Homecoming events in October, but she is particularly looking forward to meeting those who have experienced the most change and transitions not just on campus but in culture and community. She said five decades lends itself to enough personal history to be worthy of its own commemoration.
“I think alumni coming back to campus might be surprised to see how much the campus has continued to grow while still maintaining that small-campus charm,” she said.
“Homecoming celebrations are a perfect time for college class reunions because they combine pre-existing school events, school spirit, and iconic traditions into one weekend,” added Gardner. “By design, this makes it easier for alumni to reconnect without planning a separate event and the College handles the bulk of the planning for the entire weekend. The fall weather is reminiscent of time spent at outdoor sporting events. Walking the campus and touring the student union and classrooms bring back great memories.”
Gardner said she grew up in Keyser and attended Keyser High School, and at that time in the mid to late 1970s, Potomac State was the “College on the Hill” that often set the cultural and community tone.
“The proximity of the original Keyser High School campus to Potomac State is just a few short blocks and a rigorous climb up Fort Avenue. We KHS students had a connection to the College that was almost as dear as our connection to KHS,” she said. “We attended cultural, educational, and athletic events at the College during the school day and the evenings. Friday nights were spent under the lights of Stayman Football Field. KHS didn’t have a field, so we shared the College’s. Our games were on Friday nights, and PSC’s were on Saturday afternoon. After the football games, we attended the dances at the ‘Ed Kelley Armory.’ The KHS Class of 1979 Class Night and graduation ceremonies were held in the Church McKee Arts Center.”
Activities for Homecoming weekend will be alumni-centered, Cave indicated.
“There are lots of activities planned for alumni throughout the weekend,” she said. “Friday begins with the president’s social, followed by horse-and-carriage rides and the all-alumni social and class reunion. On Saturday, the day kicks off at the Mary F. Shipper Library with the early risers Breakfast. Alumni are encouraged to attend the Catamount Cookout and the Official Field Dedication Ceremony, followed by an alumni baseball game. There will also be men’s and women’s soccer games and softball, along with opportunities to visit campus buildings and enjoy self-guided tours. That evening, we will celebrate our alumni at the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Reception. On Sunday, we’ll wrap up the weekend with the Alex Kile 5k, which benefits the Alex Kile Memorial Scholarship Fund and supports future cross country and track and field student-athletes.”
Cave said she is looking forward to meeting all former students of Potomac State College, but she is especially curious to see if Catamount Pride still resonates after half a century.
“I think alumni feel such a strong connection to WVU Potomac State College because, for many, it was their first ‘home away from home.’ It was where they explored new things, met new people, and discovered who they were becoming,” she said. “It was also a place where faculty and staff knew your name and genuinely cared about your success. Those experiences and relationships stay with you long after you leave campus, and I think that is what makes Potomac State so special to its alumni.”
Notable PSC events from 1976:
· The 33rd annual Homecoming (Football) game, between PSC and Baltimore Community College, was held with 2500 fans attending. Three standouts that day were sophomore quarterback Steve Neal, sophomore running back Eddie Muzika, and freshman running back Fred Brown, who rushed for more than 100 yards.
· Dr. Robert Naylor was named PSC Teacher of the Year
· PSC Coach Cecil R. Perkins gave up his position as Vice President of the National Junior College Athletics Association because he was inducted as President of the Association and Chairman of the planning committee for all junior colleges in the nation.
· The Potomac Players presented Scapino, by Molière, and Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor on stage.
· Ruth Ann Hott was Miss Catamount XXXVII; Angie Huffman was Alpine Princess; Devra Devore was Apple Blossom Princess; and Trena Baker was Military Ball Queen.
WVU Potomac State College Homecoming is October 1- 4. The complete Homecoming 2026 Schedule of events is available by visiting https://give.wvu.edu/PSCHomecoming2026. For more information about the Potomac State College Alumni Association, email PSC-Alumni@mail.wvu.edu. To become a PSC Alumni Association Board Member, the application can be found at https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Y3dAJWqxoUkcGq.