By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Memories of the early days of nursing at Fort Hays State University surfaced this weekend with Class No. 4 coming together for its 50-year reunion.

The class of 13 graduated in 1958 after 36 intense months of study under Leora Stroup, the then-dean of nursing. Seven attended the reunion, but calls were placed to those who couldn't attend.

Class members said one of the biggest differences between their time in school and the nursing students of today is how clinicals, or affiliations, are conducted.

"We were not on campus a lot because we were out getting our clinicals," Bernice Montgomery said. Montgomery worked as a nurse in Superior, Neb., and for a home health agency in Smith and Jewell counties until her retirement a year ago.

She said the class went to the University of Kansas Medical Center for exposure to surgery and pediatrics care, to the Topeka State Hospital for psychiatric clinicals and to Chicago for obstetrics.

Neoma Youtsey, Salina, recalled their time on the south side of Chicago.

"We would walk out of our apartment and, not always in front of our apartment, but pretty close there was blood evidence that something dire had happened there," Youtsey said.

Most of the class had come from small towns and farms in western Kansas, so the transition to the big city was hard for some.

Youtsey, who later became a nursing instructor, said there have been a lot of changes in the profession over the years.

Montgomery said curricula have had to change with the advent of new medicines.

"Pharmacology must be a terrible course with all the new medicines in the last few years," Montgomery said. "You have to know at least two names for every drug."

The fondest memories spoken during the weekend-long reunion were those regarding "Ms. Stroup."

Though there were other instructors, none were as hands-on and open-minded as Stroup, they said.

"Her house was always open," Montgomery said. "We lived with her at different times when we'd come back from affiliations."

Montgomery said Stroup's encouragement was one of the main reasons many of those in the class finished school.

Bette Tien, Prairie View, said Stroup knew just how to line up the clinicals to provide the students ample time to learn.

"You know when you're still talking about her 50 years later and even saying 'Ms. Stroup wouldn't like that' -- she was something," Tien said.