It was 1959 when Jake Barger first set foot on campus, and he felt an immediate connection to R-MC. “It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship,” says Barger. “Very quickly, everyone on campus-including President Moreland- greeted me by name.”

Barger, who served as a Sargeant in the U.S. Marine Corps before college, lived in R-MC’s Veterans Village with his wife Judy, whom he’d met in high school. A scholarship recipient and Latin major, he was also a member of the Yellow Jacket football and track teams. One football game in particular stands out in memory.

“It was the first game of my junior year,” he recalls. “We had traveled to Millersville State Teachers College, and I broke my leg on the opening kick-off of the game.” Later that day, he slipped in the shower as he tried to amble around on crutches. This was just a minor setback for Barger, whose love for R-MC athletics never wavered.

After graduating, Barger taught high-school English and Latin for 13 years. “Then I bailed out,” he recalls, chuckling. Without a plan in place—”I knew there was something out there for me; it was just a matter of finding it” — he called a friend who worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield and invited him to play golf. “When we met the next day, my friend said, T’s funny you called. I just hired a guy, but right after you phoned, he called to say he won’t be taking the job. Want a job?’ I started working for Blue Cross/Blue Shield two days later.”

Barger, who retired in 1997, stays connected to his alma mater in many ways. He and Judy attend Homecoming, keep in touch with fellow alumni, and follow athletics events— especially football and women’s basketball. In fact, 2015 will mark Barger’s 57th year to cheer on the Yellow Jackets as they take on Hampden-Sydney. Each year for nearly six decades, he and Judy have traveled from their home in Bedford, Virginia to watch The Game. Nothing keeps him from this annual showdown. “One year, my car broke down on the way to The Game,” recalls Barger, “but I got it fixed and made it on time!”

Several years ago, the Barger’s supported construction of the new Day Field through a generous donation. Looking down at Day Field recently from a balcony on Birdsong Hall, Barger smiles and says, “Boy what a pretty field.” This fall, the Yellow Jacket fan will once again head to The Game. As he has for the past several years, he’ll be wearing his lucky R-MC sweatshirt.

“If I make 65 games in a row, I’m going to ask President Lindgren if we can sit together,” he says, tipping his cap toward the field.