In 1955, Joc Robinson, a newly discharged young Korean War veteran, enrolled at Wittenberg as a School of Cornmunity Education student.

This year he hopes to march with his class at Commencement — the Class of 1999.

"I think that 43 years is long enough," he observed.

Wittenberg provides the community with non-traditional education opportunities which are expected to stretch over a number of years. But Bill Clinton was just starting elementary school when Robinson first came to Wittenberg. He also mused that during his time earning his degree Wittenberg has gone through four of its 13 presidents. "Presidents can come and go, but I'm still around."

For five years Robinson took Wittenberg courses regularly, sometimes with Joyce Anne, the "war bride" he brought back from Liverpool, England. But then the children began arriving, interrupting his studies. "I had to put my kids through college," he said — six kids now successfully graduated, four of them shortly will have master's degrees, and are working in careers in the millitary, education, or the church.

"My kids encouraged me to go ahead and finish," Robinson said. Particularly daughter Jo Franney Reichert who read over many of his papers and encouraged him. Since his retirement in 1986 as a civilian logistics officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base he was able to speed up his own college aspirations again. But he never lost his love of learning during his years at Wright- Pat, where he regularly took courses offered there.

"Wittenberg has become a great part of my life. There are so many people who have helped me. My support system was fantastic." Among the numerous names he offered as proof include Community Education Dean Paul Parlatto, Barbara Mackey and faculty members Catherine Waggoner, Warren Copeland, William Buscemi, and Richard Veler.

"I am sort of a community project —1 really am," he said.

But first among his supporters has been his wife. "She knew this was something I wanted to do," he said. "With the type of support system that I had, it was hard to fail. I didn't want to let anybody down."

How have students changed over the years?

"There is a difference in experience," he answered. "They have different family situations, and different values. Today's students, I think, have a certain aggressiveness that the '55 student didn't have. A lot of students today, especially when they get to be juniors or seniors, they know what they are looking for in college. They have an idea that it's going to be a hard world out there."

He was particularly complementary that students in the 1990s did not see him as different. "They went on like I was just another student," he said. "I definitely don't feel like an outsider. I have appreciated that."

It was never a sure bet that Robinson would win his waiting game with higher education — particularly in recent years. He became seriously ill several years ago, and he is now on the kidney transplant list. His course work has helped him stay active, as does his daily volunteer work delivering Motor Meals in the Yellow Springs area.

"I have to stay healthy," he said. He wants to be in Commencement Hollow next May when the name Joseph Douglas Robinson is read aloud.

That day, the 67-yearold Springfield native, who now lives in Yellow Springs, will receive his long-awaited degree.

He also looks forward to revising his book of poetry titled "A Common Place." "On the fly leaf it reads that I 'attended' Wittenberg University. I wanted to change that fly leaf to 'graduated from.' It is difficult to make it as a writer without credentials," he continued. ' What better credentials could I have than a bachelor of arts degree from Wittenberg in English/speech?"