Liberty University welcomed back over 400 of its 1970s alumni for a multiday “Decade of the 70s” reunion that celebrated the legacy of first-generation Liberty students.
The event provided an opportunity for old friends and classmates to reconnect and reflect on the development of the university throughout the years. Former students and staff were invited to rekindle friendships and celebrate being the original Champions for Christ.
This event was first imagined by Lamar Keener, who attended Liberty from 1972 to 1976. He said the idea came to him about a year ago, and he posted about it via the Liberty University Friends Facebook group to see who would be interested in attending.
“I just wanted to be able to see a lot of old college friends that I haven’t seen in maybe 50 years, so I thought let’s just have a reunion. The response was overwhelming,” Keener said.
The opening reception was held Thursday, April 16, at the Virginian Hotel. The reception allowed former students to reconnect with their old classmates and friends with organized conversations about their time at Liberty, then known as Lynchburg Baptist College. The Virginian Hotel, previously the Stewart Arms Hotel, served as the main dormitory for students throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Keener said that coming back to the university after nearly 50 years was nostalgic, and he looked forward to seeing how Lynchburg has grown.
“There is nothing there that was there when we were there in college. So going to the hotel is kind of like coming back to our roots,” Keener said.
Attendees made reservations to stay where their old dorm rooms used to be, and they reflected on the renovations made to the building. Throughout the reception, many shared stories of living in the building, the challenging living conditions and how the decision to come to Liberty and learning from Jerry Falwell Sr. changed their lives for the better.
“We learned about vision from Jerry Falwell Sr. We knew him personally. We learned that what you do, you do it with excellence … we learned discipline,” Keener said.
Friday, April 17, alumni gathered to visit Convocation. Those in attendance were recognized by Chancellor Jonathan Falwell for their role in building the foundation for the university.
“They forged the trail for all of you. They were here when nothing was here,” Falwell said. “They believed that God was going to do a special thing on this mountain, and so they came with nothing to look forward to.”
Falwell praised the group of pioneers and thanked them for believing his father’s mission and ultimately fulfilling God’s purpose for current students.
“But they came, and God has used them. They are pastors, they are missionaries, they are business leaders, they are teachers, educators — all kinds of incredible impact that these people have had,” Falwell said.
Friday evening, alumni gathered once again in the Montview Alumni Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. for a catered dinner and more conversation among the former students. This event served as a precursor to the biggest and final event of the weekend on Saturday, April 18.
This dinner featured music and a time of storytelling from alumni in the crowd. The event was emceed by musician, songwriter and comedian Mark Lowry, who graduated in 1980.
Lowry sang several songs, including Jake Hess’s “I Just Love Old People” and the well-known song Lowry co-wrote, “Mary Did You Know?”
In addition to their evening events, alumni had the chance to tour campus and the Falwell estate, attend the Spring Football Showcase and visit with their old singing chorale groups throughout the weekend.
The final event took place Sunday, April 19, with a group trip to Thomas Road Baptist Church for Sunday service.
Riden is the campus news editor for the Liberty Champion.
Rick Lawrenson
April 24, 2026
It’s good for today’s students to see and hear about the beginnings of LU. When we came in the ‘70’s it was all a dream. Jerry Falwell (and others) inspired us to live, study and compete in far less than attractive facilities and blaze the trail.
Now we’re all in our senior years, some with grandkids at LU. The kind words from Jonathan (whom we knew as a boy) and President Costin were greatly appreciated. Sometimes we wonder if we’ve been forgotten. It is, indeed miraculously what God has done on the mountain.
Dan Wilson
April 24, 2026
I didn’t get to attend, but was there in spirit. LBC/LU 73-81 (Yes, I crammed 4 years of college into 8!). Then came back in 1985 and helped get LUSLL (now Liberty Online) started with a handful of others, while doing a grad degree that started as an MA, Historical Theology but ended with an MAR after the untimely death of my youngest son, Luke, a first grade student at LCA in 1987. We spent 4 years “suffering for Jesus” in Hawaii (Thank you Bonheim family), then move to Bakersfield CA for several years. Our eldest son, Ben, a student at Simpson College in Redding CA died at 19 from drowning after a seizure in Lake Shasta. Through it all, God was faithful. Our marriage didn’t survive, but our daughter Rebecca, born in HI, is now married with 2 granddaughters. I spent most of my work life as a Hospice Chaplain and later with a second Masters in Social Work, as a Medical Ethics Director for 2 SoCal hospitals, helping families deal with difficult loss. God doesn’t waste our pain! Now retired, happily married and working with TPUSA Faith in Myrtle Beach SC and leading a House Church ministry there.
Becky Johnson Lucci
April 24, 2026
I attended Liberty Baptist College (as it was called back then) from 1974-1980. I was privileged to travel with one of two road Chorales (under the direction of Lamar Keener) for an entire year. We sang in a different church every night and our purpose was to, of course glorify God, but also to spread the word about Liberty with the hopes of growing the school.
Those beginning years were some of the most formative in my faith, and we stood in the cold on what is now your campus and prayed, believed and sang “I want that mountain”. God answered those prayers and blessed that faith, and it was amazing to come back to campus and witness firsthand those answered prayers.
This alumni weekend was such a wonderful way to connect with friends I hadn’t seen in 50 years. I am still so full of joy from that time together and look for God’s continued blessings on Liberty. To God be the glory!!
John Heintz
April 26, 2026
What a great time Carol and I had, so many special memories were made.