RADFORD – The Radford University class of 1956 celebrated its Golden Reunion Friday at the university, sharing stories, pictures and songs of when the group roamed the campus together 50 years ago.

Thirty-eight of the 92 classmates who received degrees from RU in June 1956 attended the event highlighted by a welcome dinner hosted by RU president Penelope W. Kyle, campus tours and induction into the Golden Reunion Class.

Each year, the Radford University Alumni Association holds a Golden Reunion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a graduating class. 

"This class was a smaller class and was particularly unique," Alumni Affairs Director David Horton said. "That is evidenced by the fact that many of them wore orange socks to show solidarity as a class when they were here on campus."

The group's advisor had recommended to the class that all wear orange socks on campus to identify themselves as the class of 1956, Horton said. At the reunion, the classmates gave Horton a pair of the original socks and made him an honorary member of the Class of 1956. "It was a wonderful moment," Horton said.

RU was a women's college when the group received their degrees in 1956, and remained so until 1972 when men were first admitted for undergraduate studies.