The Creighton Graybackers held a luncheon on Friday, Feb. 6 as part of Founder’s Week festivities in the Ahmanson Ballroom at the Harper Center.

Every year the Graybackers, an organization of Creighton retirees and their spouses, come together for a luncheon during the Friday of Founder’s Week. The president of Creighton hosts the annual luncheon, and university provost Ed O’Connor, Ph.D., was this year’s keynote speaker. The luncheon is an important event for the President’s office as former staff members are welcomed back to campus.

Benny Benschoter, Vice President of Graybackers, appreciated the opportunity for Creighton’s retirees to be able to return to campus. “It’s a great chance to see old friends and see how the university has improved and changed,” said Benschoter. He served as the Vice President of Information Technology from 1991-1997, overseeing the movement of technology as the Internet began to become more and more significant.

Other attendees also welcomed the chance to be able to reunite with old friends and to have a great lunch provided by the university. Many of the Graybackers were part of the Creighton community for a long time, such as Doris Carlson, who’s husband was a professor in the English Department for over 30 years or Delois Neal-Lee, who worked at the preschool in the child development center for 26 years.

According to Carlson, the luncheon was one of four annual events the Graybackers attend. The group meets at a restaurant in the fall, and has a picnic during the summer. Carlson said the summer picnic was especially nice as it is sometimes hosted at Cooper Farm, a picturesque picnic pavilion just outside of Omaha.

The event expected around 80-100 people, and is open to any retired faculty or staff member who worked for the university for at least ten years. The organization has been around since 1987, aimed at keeping connections among former staff members long after they retire.