MARQUETTE — A bit of history came to the Northern Michigan University campus on Wednesday when it hosted a gathering of the “Barracks Boys” at the Northern Center.

One of the attendees was George Tomasi of Marquette, an original Barracks Boy who graduated in 1956.

“It was wonderful,” Tomasi said of his experience.

According to NMU, then-Northern Michigan College coach C.V. “Red” Money helped NMU grant athletic scholarships to 16 men, who lived in an abandoned barracks on campus, Vetville, that had been used by soldiers after World War II using the G.I. Bill.

The Barracks Boys, who attended college circa 1952-56, graduated to become doctors, lawyers and coaches, the Central UP and NMU Archives indicated.

“We had a campus of about 700 people,” Tomasi said of university life at the time. “We knew everybody.”

However, it apparently had its limitations.

“We had strict rules,” Tomasi said. “We had to have our dates in b

NMU said to be eligible for the barracks, the boys had to sign an agreement and abide by regulations that included sharing pro-rated expenses — such as fuel oil and phone — of the barracks, pay the college $1 per month for rent, and participate in at least two sports between football, basketball, track and field, tennis and golf.

The boys also were expected to be up and have their beds made by 9 a.m. daily except for Sundays. In the military tradition, rooms and halls had to be ready for inspection. Additionally, all bills had to be paid in a timely manner.

Failure to abide by these guidelines as well as keep up a good academic standing would result in dismissal from the program.

The Barracks Boys, Tomasi said, wore green jackets with “Barracks Boys” lettered across the back and white buck shoes.

“And we were the cat’s meow, weren’t we?” Tomasi asked his wife, Bettey, who he met during his college years and was with him at Wednesday’s event.

“Oh, absolutely. Whatever that is,” she responded.

The Barracks Boys met for a lunch inside the Northern Center where a presentation on the Barracks Boys by NMU history professor emeritus Russ Magnaghi was planned.

“They didn’t come from wealthy families,” Magnaghi said before the program. “So it allowed them to attend Northern.”

The program, he noted, was successful, bringing people together.

“They had a great time,” Magnaghi said. “They were on the sports team and so on. They worked, and the big thing was they had to get up in the middle of the night and refuel the furnace and what not. It had an major impact on these fellows.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net