Alumni History, 1950-1970

The Post-War Years

Following the war, the Alumni Association wrote a new constitution generalizing its goals. It also produced a movie about the University's post-war growth for alumni clubs and persuaded the University to add a $5 alumni fee to the graduation fee. The Association had begun collecting dues around 1905 but received little, so the automatic fee boosted funds.

In the 1950s, the Association, under the direction of Winifred Reiter, settled into producing its newsletter and organizing Homecoming. In 1959, a consultant's report determined that the Alumni Association should be combined with the Fund Development Office to form one professionally run organization.

Alumni established committees for Homecoming, student recruitment, legislative support, awards, and more. Dues were eliminated. Together with the Development Office, alumni organized the Greater UNM Fund to support scholarships, libraries, and a host of other projects for the next 20 years. In 1971, Alumni split from the Development Office.

The Alumni Tour program began in 1966. In 1968, alumni sponsored a trip to Hawaii to cheer the Lobo basketball team and tour Honolulu. The trip was then the largest-ever commercially chartered booster club excursion.