It’s a warm and humid summer evening. A group of friends who call themselves “The College Boys of UMD” gather around a fire pit on a cobblestone patio overlooking Fish Lake in Duluth.

“The fire pit of knowledge is the place where we all come together, and just reminisce and share and laugh,” said Phil Rolle (‘77).

Surrounding the patio are garden beds of wildflowers and thyme that fill the air with a sweet aroma. Boat motors whirr in the distance, and a breeze sweeps through the tall pines lining the water’s edge.

“Oftentimes we’re retelling stories that we have told over 50 years,” said John Kratz (‘80). “And sometimes they get a little bit more embellished … The fish that we've caught always seem to get bigger.”

The group is gathered at Mark and Laurie McShane’s lake house for their 50th annual celebration; some travel from the coasts to be there. Although decades have passed since they first met at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), there's an enduring spark that has kept their friendship alive.

The formative flame

Ask any of them how their gatherings began, and the stories vary, but can be traced back to 1971 when McShane (‘76) was in his first year of classes at UMD. On a snowy, winter night, he and a group of friends hiked to Rock Hill at Bagley Nature Area to go sledding. It’s there he met Laurie O’Leary, whose long red hair and brown eyes captured his attention.

“I became quite enamored,” McShane said. 

That summer, McShane hitchhiked to Pelican Lake to meet O’Leary’s parents, carrying little more than a can of beans and youthful determination. When he arrived, he realized he didn’t know which island her cabin was on, so he borrowed a canoe and began island hopping across the nearly 12,000-acre lake.

“I paddled up to the dock and said, ‘Hi, I’m Mark McShane. I’m dating your daughter,” he said. The gesture helped spark a relationship that quickly caught fire. The two married the next year and started a family while attending classes at UMD.

As their circle of friends expanded, they began inviting a group of fellow Bulldogs to Pelican Lake in the summers for weekend getaways. Those gatherings marked the early days of “The College Boys of UMD,” and became an annual tradition that continues to this day.

McShane sits quietly by the fire listening to the banter of fellow alumni. He gazes at the curls of orange flame dancing unpredictably before extinguishing into the night sky, somewhat reminiscent of O’Leary’s long hair that caught his attention decades ago. Conversation flows easily amongst the group and is punctuated with light jeering and laughter.

“These friends from UMD have been an influence in my life, my family's life, my children's life, continually over the years,” McShane said.

Test of time

It was a January evening during Kratz’s freshman year. He was in his dorm room in Griggs Hall when he heard banging on the door. When he opened up, he was greeted by Rolle and David Jondahl (‘78).

“They had been living on a homestead up on Arnold Road, and their pipes had frozen. And my sister said, ‘Call my brother and you can use the dorm showers,’” Kratz said. And just like that, Kratz was adopted into the group.

“We started at UMD. We met at UMD. The bonding happened at UMD,” Rolle said.

From the classroom to intramural sports, the group met in various ways. A few of them dropped out, bought an old school bus, and traveled west to fight forest fires. Others stayed at UMD beyond their undergraduate years to pursue advanced degrees. Nevertheless, they all stayed connected.

“Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog,” Kratz said.

Over the years, the group has shared in many of life’s transformative moments. From marriages and career achievements, they’ve celebrated each other's success and supported one another through illness and loss. Each moment deepens their bond. “We have lost a few along the way, but they’re still part of the circle,” McShane said. Each year, the group toasts to the members who have passed, most recently Mark Stegner, an artist and builder from Brainerd, Minnesota.

A few more logs are added to the fire, and whiskey glasses are refilled. The musical members of the group reach for their instruments and play a series of folk tunes, including an original they call “Big Bad Mac,” a playful nod to McShane.

Earlier in the evening, they gather in McShane’s garage to watch a photo slideshow commemorating 50 years of friendship. The photos span from the inaugural years on O’Leary Island to more recent gatherings in Duluth. The group's age becomes increasingly apparent in the photos as the slideshow progresses, but the happiness on their faces stands the test of time.

Leaning against a workbench, Rolle watches the photos advance. A happy tear forms in the corner of his eye. When the last slide fades, he turns to McShane and gives him a firm hug.

“Thank you,” he says.

Header image caption: "The College Boys of UMD” gather around a fire pit on a cobblestone patio overlooking Fish Lake near Duluth, celebrating their 50th annual reunion.