For those of us who work at University Park, “going out for lunch” rarely implies anything more than a quick walk down to College Avenue. So it was a special occasion last spring when Alumni Association CEO Paul Clifford ’20 MEd Edu WC and I drove to Pittsburgh one Monday morning for lunch with some fellow Penn Staters.

Our destination was the Duquesne Club, the downtown Pittsburgh institution that celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. Specifically, we were headed for lunch at the club’s Penn State Table, which is exactly what it sounds like: a table in one of the club dining rooms reserved for a weekly lunch gathering of alumni members and guests. We made the trip at the invitation of Ron Moehler ’69 Bus, a regular at the Penn State Table lunches; among the alums in attendance that day was Kelley Lynch ’87 Bus, current university trustee, longtime alumni volunteer, and immediate past president of the Alumni Association.

Greeted on arrival by Mel Rex ’59 Bus, the Duquesne Club’s former longtime general manager and a source of endless knowledge on the club’s history and membership, Paul and I got a taste of the great food—I’m not a big fish guy, but the Virginia spot, a club specialty, was a buttery delight—and great company shared by these alums at their weekly gathering. We also got a sense of their dedication to their alma mater, particularly Nittany Lion athletics. Club events hosted by the Penn State Table over the years include an annual preseason kickoff lunch with football broadcasters Jack Ham ’71 Bus and Steve Jones ’80 Lib, a dinner honoring Joe Paterno on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and luncheons featuring men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky, football coach James Franklin, and athletic director Pat Kraft.

As our Pittsburgh Chapter’s recent 125th anniversary reminds us, the Steel City has long been a stronghold for some of our most committed alumni. We’re always proud to have a seat at their table.

Ryan Jones '95 Com, Editor
ryanjones@psu.edu