1970s
1979
"My Carolina is ties to great friends and one of the most memorable periods in my life."
- Robert Cohen, '79
"My Carolina is great memories, wonderful friends, and an even better future."
- Fred Green, '79, '83
"My Carolina is the most wonderful four a person could spend. Not only were the classes interesting and beneficial for my career but campus life was rich and rewarding. Football games, baseball games, homecoming and time spent on campus was priceless. Also, being a member of the Carolina Alumni Association has enriched my life."
- John Knight, '79
"My Carolina means baseball at the Sarge, spring afternoons on the Horseshoe and evenings at the Golden Spur or DSP (Downstairs Plaza for the young). Along the way, I developed a lifelong relationship with my university and great friends, and I learned the value of service to others with my brothers of Alpha Phi Omega and AFROTC. The most enjoyable four years of my life."
- Wayne Ledbetter, '79
"The perfect blend of a large and small school. It had much to offer the total student."
- Ginger Vedder, '79
1978
"My Carolina is late nights in Cooper Library, working as a graduate assistant to Dr. Gene Stephens in offices in the Coliseum, toting around the horseshoe thousands of IBM cards that were the data for my thesis, and earning a degree that I will be proud of forever."
- Cindi Flating, MCJ, '78
"My Carolina is living in the Towers, eating at the Big Bird, long nights at the Downstairs plaza, Carolina football & basketball, hanging out on Rosewood Drive and getting an excellent education to boot!"
- Alan Schulte, '78
1977
"My Carolina means everything from Woodrow Dorm to McBride Quadrangle to Tigerburn to the Greek games. My Carolina is lifetime memories and lifetime friendships. My Carolina continues in my life from being an Alumni Association Life Member to watching my son walk across the stage 30 years after I did. My Carolina is knowing that great experiences and a great education will be there for future generations."
- John Benson, '77
"My Carolina is everything."
- Laraine K. Cooper, '77
"My Carolina is vivid memories of spring on the Horseshoe, fall football, friends at the Tally Ho, pimiento burgers from the Dairy Bar, and a car that couldn't climb Barnwell or Sumter streets. My Carolina is continuing the family legacy and tradition of a Carolina education and football frenzy that began with my Mom and Dad, continued with my brother, my husband, and me, and lives on with my daughter and nephew. Go Cocks!"
- Linda McConnell, '77
"My Carolina is sitting by the reflection pond on a warm summer night with friends enjoying the breeze."
- Jeanne VanDuzer, '77
"My Carolina was a wonderful start to life as an adult."
- Geraldine Priester Westbrooks, '77
1976
"My Carolina is life in Douglas dorm for four straight years. Although often maligned, I have nothing but fond memories of the friendships made, with many kept for over 30 years. Sitting on the wall in front of Russell House between classes and admiring the beautiful coeds passing by. Cashing a $10 check at the Cornell Arms every Friday to have weekend money. Free movies and concerts, and the opening of the "nightclub" in the back of Russell House. "Sledding" on trays from the cafeteria down the hill in front of South Tower. Ice cold Schlitz from Frank at the DSP. I could go on and on. Nothing but great memories!"
- Chuck Burgin, '76
"My Carolina is attending a large state school as a freshman in 1972 and wondering how in the world I might succeed at anything, yet finding fullness of joy, friendship and new life beyond measure when I turned from my sins and met Jesus Christ personally that fall. No regrets 36 years later. Indebted to God's amazing grace which found me! Thankful to Carolina students who reached me with God's love in Christ Jesus."
- Rod Culbertson, '76
"My Carolina is early morning walks on the Horseshoe on my way to 8 a.m. classes, spring afternoons on the Horseshoe with my friends, and watching my Gamecocks on the field and on the court. Some of the happiest days of my life, especially having my daughter following in my footsteps at Carolina. I am a blessed man and father."
- Lee Hedgecoe, '76, '78
"My Carolina is getting married two weeks before my senior year and living at UT apartments (still with that Carolina girl after 31 years); seeing us win over Clemson 56-20 our senior year; having Jamie 'Cocky' Ballentine come to Connie Maxwell Children's Home, where I serve as director of communications, and put on a show as National Mascot of the Year; and then watching my son cross the stage with a degree in broadcast journalism from Carolina in 2004."
- Miller Murphy, '76
"My Carolina is watching the Gamecocks coached by Frank McGuire win the ACC basketball championship over North Carolina, the Campus Club and of course, watching George Rogers."
- Bob Powell, '76 Law
1975
"My Carolina is one of my symbols of integrity that has given me a sense of strength of character that is respected all over the country. I am proud to be an alumna of the University of South Carolina."
- Mary Barnwell, '75
"My Carolina is going from LaBorde dormitory in 'the Honeycombs' to The Big Bird, probably three or four times a day."
- Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, '75, '78 Law
"My Carolina is knowing there is nothing better."
- Papa "Mac" Drake, '75
"My Carolina is everything."
- Sheena Koon, '75
"My Carolina is becoming an adult, not just intellectually, but also socially. My Carolina is learning how to discipline myself after 17 years of tight parental control. My Carolina is the most fun and happiest four years of my life."
- John Stuart “Stoo” Potts, ‘75
1974
"My Carolina is where I experienced the greatest camaraderie in my life as a starting team member of the University of South Carolina Bowling Team, which won the 1976 National Collegiate Bowling Championship, which was the first team national championship in any sport won by the University of South Carolina."
- Stephen R. Adams, '74
"My Carolina is beating the University of Georgia in women's tennis 5-4 and being the doubles team to win the deciding match in the 3rd set (playing on Georgia's home courts). It is also sitting on the lawn in front of Wardlaw Education building on a beautiful spring day discussing the challenges and achievements of teaching our aspiring young children."
- Cynthia Bradshaw, '74, '76
"My Carolina is crisp, sunny fall afternoons and hearing the Carolina fight song--brings back those fabulous memories."
- Ruth Cate, '74, '76 Law
"My Carolina is a great way to stay in touch with the Gamecocks."
- Jim Hunter, '74
"My Carolina is dinner dances at home football games, hours in the racks at McKissick Library, racquetball tournaments at Blatt PE center, great professors, great friends and The Greatest University! Go Cocks!"
- Carl McIntosh, '74
"My Carolina is sitting in the bleachers and talking to Bobby Richardson, evenings at The Twilight, the Horseshoe, and graduation day."
- William Murphy, '74
"My Carolina is a place to visit on various occasions and know that I am in terrain and with people on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry and attitudes, meaning all scientific endeavors -- social science as well as physical and biological. This is important for us all in a society that is generally suspicious of "the new" even when it reflects the result of academic research."
- Constance Ashton Myers, '74
"My Carolina is fond memories."
- Andrew Slanker, '74
1973
"My Carolina is the greatest school, best times, and best people."
- Bruce Carter, '73
"My Carolina is cashing checks at the Cornell Arms Pharmacy. Freshman year at the old Columbia Hall in 1970. Being able to stay up all night studying for exams. Pizza delivered from Villa Roma in Five Points. Don's, the Other Place, the Campus Club, the Capitol Cafe. The mad dash to the Russell House Cafeteria for dinner at 6 p.m. after watching 'Star Trek.' Meal tickets and coupon books. Great Basketball!! How beautiful the campus was in the spring. It was the perfect place and the perfect time to fall in love. People watching (you'd see everyone eventually)! And meeting friends outside at the Russell House. Philosophy 101, I just couldn't get it then. The feeling of being a part of something special at Carolina and that all of us were all in it together. Being encouraged to express yourself and being listened to. Great memories."
- Peggy Hickey Chiarella, '73
"My Carolina is taking courses and graduating with an Associate of Arts Degree in December 1973 from the MBAFB Program and being able to go on and continue and complete my education."
- Douglas Ervin, '73
"My Carolina is being a member of the Irish Reds Pep Band. Our Director, Pat Wylie, wanted to surprise Coach Frank with something special. So we came up with a tune to play just for him when the team took the court at the Coliseum. So that night as Coach Frank hit the court, we struck up "When Irish Eyes Were Smiling". I saw surprise then a big smile break out on his face. Thanks, Coach for those great years. And thanks too to John, Tom, John, Mike, Casey, and Alex for some great basketball memories."
-Stephen Hayes, '73
“My Carolina was a spring board. It’s not the four years that you spend here that’s important. It’s what you do the next 40 years after being here. It was a laboratory for learning, growing, and shaping oneself for what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. I am what I am today because of Carolina.”
- Casey Manning, ’73, ’77 J.D.
"My Carolina means some of the happiest days of my life. With the people I met, and the experiences I had, both academically and athletically. More recently, it's the great involvement I have had with the women's sports programs and the 'Women Helping Women Achieve' program. The ability to give back to them and be present at a lot of athletics events, whether it's football, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer or track, is all important."
- Jan Middlebrooks, '73
1972
"My Carolina is getting a degree that allowed me to have a successful career in my chosen field. My Carolina is twirling with the USC Band at football games. It means having our two children walk the same USC Horseshoe bricks as their parents, and all four of us earning USC degrees. It means still attending Carolina football, baseball and basketball games!"
- Jean L. Broom '72, '76 M.Ed
"My Carolina is good times."
- Mary Carver, '72
"My Carolina is a combination of Dr. Jack Ashley's fabulous Milton class; weak wine coolers at the Campus Club; big, greasy chocolate chip cookies in the Gamecock Room; Dr. Bernie Dunlap's amazement that I knew what an oxymoron was; and classmates with nicknames like 'Woodstock' and 'Otis.'"
- Peggy Culp, '72
"My Carolina is coming back to Columbia to live after graduating 35 years ago. My Carolina is working with student teachers and giving back after being a teacher for 30 years. My Carolina is my best friend that I met after a freshman mixer that still calls me everyday. Most of all, My Carolina is the change that happened to me while attending school, living in Wade Hampton and finding myself."
- Marilyn Brown Ehmke, '72
"My Carolina is lifelong friendships, the sounds of '2001' and the 'Carolina Fight Song' at football games in the fall, and beautiful spring afternoons on the Horseshoe."
- Amy Stone, '72, '76
1971
"My Carolina is the pride that my Dad, William H. Ferguson, had for his school. He sent all of his children to USC. Daddy also managed to get the company that he worked for (General Electric) to promote new programs at USC. It's also shagging to 'Carolina Girls' atop Carolina Walk with friends and family who truly appreciate the lyrics. And finally, it's knowing that in fall 2008, my CU graduate cousin's daughter will be a freshman at USC because we have an awesome dance program that I told her about last year."
- Nancy F. Caulder, '71
"My Carolina is running into folks connected with the University of South Carolina all over the state and nation, sons with degrees from the University of South Carolina, and joining the board of the Alumni Association."
- Tracy Hardaway, '71
"My Carolina is great information and support."
- Tom Yarborough, '71
1970
"My Carolina is living in Preston dormitory and watching SLED agents take control of the Russell House, which had been taken over by 'radicals' protesting the Vietnam war. This occurred shortly after the tragedy at Kent State."
- Jimmy Boylston, '70
"My Carolina is great times, beautiful women, long nights in lab, tailgates that lasted hours, frat parties, learning to hate Clemson, lifelong friends, Frank McGuire, Cogburns, Tally ho, Dr. Wimer and a quality education."
- Bart Witherspoon, M.D., '70