It’s not looking good for commencement in the quad this Saturday. I’m out of town at a board meeting and the rain is predicted to be so bad that I’m frankly a little worried about getting home. Unfortunately Rice has had the same inclement weather plan since 1950–the gym:
Before the gym was built, though, a much prettier setting was in use and there were few enough attendees that they got reserved seats:
It didn’t rain in 1932 when that ticket was issued but it poured buckets in 1934, which may have been the last time we held a regular commencement across the street at St. Paul’s Methodist:
All I can say to the graduates, their families, and the blessed marshals is a hale and hearty “Good Luck!”
It’s 1960 all over again.
Or 1973…
Let’s not forget May 9, 1981.
And Autry Court was not air conditioned then.
And the torrential rain ended at noon, and the sun came out, yielding one of the hottest humidest days I remember in Houston. The sauna inside Autry Court that afternoon was incredible.
Melissa,
My brother, Larry Hermes, graduated in February, 1944, and either or both the Baccalaureate and Commencement exercises were held at St. Paul’s. I was a mere 5 years old at the time. It was also the first time I rode an escalator at the Sears store nearby.
That sounds like quite an exciting day. It was almost certainly a Baccalaureate service, which was usually held at St. Paul’s.
St. Paul’s only seats 600. Even if they squeezed in a few more it still wouldn’t come close to the capacity required.