Blast From the Past: Bauer Welcome Back Alumni

Gold and Silver Cougar Luncheon Honors Business Grads from 25 and 50 Years Ago

Published on March 9, 2012

It’s no secret that the University of Houston has grown since its beginnings in 1927, as has its business college, now known as the C. T. Bauer College of Business.

On March 2, the college hosted the inaugural Gold and Silver Cougar Luncheon, an event to recognize alumni from 25 and 50 or more years ago, all of whom attended classes before Charles T. “Ted” Bauer’s historic $40 million gift to name the school in 2000. The luncheon gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the recent successes of the college and to tour Melcher and Cemo halls, where business classes are now held.

The event also celebrated the past, with a Cougar Mobile Museum that showcased Houstonian yearbooks, Frontier Fiesta programs, student newspapers and athletics memorabilia from the era. Dean Latha Ramchand welcomed each guest and took photos with them that were printed and distributed in commemorative gold or silver frames.

During the luncheon, Ramchand touted the college’s most recent successes including the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship’s No. 1 ranking and the team of four MBA students who took home first place at the 2011 Google Online Marketing Challenge.

“I could stand here for days and tell you all about all our successes at the Bauer College, but what makes us different and more successful than the rest is that our students are involved in the community and give back to the city of Houston, and that is what makes the difference,” she said.

As alumni toured the museum and took photos, entrepreneurship student Brenda Melgar, who is creating businesses that make use of her artistic talents, showcased her speed painting abilities. During the luncheon, she unveiled the piece she painted in less than an hour — a portrait of Cyvia and Melvyn (BBA ’53) Wolff, co-hosts of the event and namesakes of the Wolff Center.

Wolff Center student Brenda Melgar (center right), speed paints a portrait in honor of Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff during the Gold and Silver Cougar Luncheon. Dean Latha Ramchand, far left, helped to unveil the finished product.

“I’m blessed to be able, with my wife Cyvia, to be involved with the entrepreneurship program and contribute to the center to help it move forward,” said Wolff, himself a Gold Cougar. “What makes it wonderful for me is I get to meet with students like Brenda throughout the semester and get to learn their goals and actually give them the tools to be successful.”

Rounding out the luncheon was an open session where alumni had an opportunity to share memorable moments during their time at the university, which included stories of playing cards and listening to songs on the jukebox in campus hangout the Cougar Den as well as good times at pep rallies and Frontier Fiesta.

“One of the things I remember, was that every time that Hugh Roy Cullen gave money to the university, we would go to the building and have a pep rally in his honor, which was always fun,” said Mary Bader, who attended the event with her husband, Wayne Bader (’53).

Honoring gold and silver graduation anniversaries is a special tradition that should continue over the years to build and maintain the bond between alumni and their alma mater, Ramchand said.

“Today will always be special because this is the day we are starting a new tradition to honor each and every one of our alums with a goal of bringing you back at least once a year,” she added.