For more than 80 years, a group of former Western athletes has used the Saturday of Homecoming week to reconnect with and honor their former teammates and peers.

The W-Club, which has about 350 members, holds its annual meeting during a brunch before the Homecoming football game every year, current President Delane Simpson said.

“I think a lot of people would be surprised by how close a lot of these athletes are,” Simpson said. “Obviously, most of them didn’t compete for the same teams or even in the same decades, but there’s a connection. It’s really a great event.”

The group originally met for dinner after each Homecoming football game, but the tradition evolved into a 10 a.m. brunch at Diddle Arena after the facility opened in 1963, he said.

Though the annual meeting serves as a reunion for club members, it’s also used to induct former athletes into Western’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

This year’s class consists of Chris Ridler, who was a five-time all-American for the men’s cross country and track teams from 1973 to 1976, and Willie Taggart, a two-time all-American quarterback who competed from 1995 to 1998.

Donald Smith, assistant vice president of the Alumni Association, said the induction ceremony is one of the most moving moments of the weekend.

“To see all these athletes who used to compete here, who know how difficult college athletics can be, and they’re coming together to honor another athlete — that’s special,” Smith said. “That’s a great moment.”

Simpson, who played football for Western from 1955 to 1958, said former athletes pay annual dues tha are between $50 and $500 for varying levels of membership.

Dues are used to pay for letter jackets for current student athletes, the Athletics Hall of Fame and small upgrades to athletic facilities or equipment, secretary Paul Just said.

In return, members receive admission to the brunch, priority to purchase tickets to both regular season home games and postseason games for football and men’s and women’s basketball, a quarterly newsletter and entrance to the recently-completed W-Club Room in Diddle Arena.

“Most of them can remember what it was like to be able to practice with new equipment or get that first letter jacket,” Just said. “It’s a contribution that a lot of former athletes are more than willing to make. They want these kids to have that experience.”