Gloomy skies and the threat of rain did not deter hundreds of hungry students from a barbecue yesterday afternoon honoring the founder of UCSD, the late Roger Revelle, on what would have been his 92nd birthday.

The annual event, fittingly held at Revelle Plaza, lured students, staff and faculty from all over campus with a free barbecue lunch complete with cake and an entertainment.

“”This is cool,”” said Revelle student Celine Sanchez regarding the event.

Although people came for the food, the true meaning of the event was not lost on those in attendance.

“”Happy birthday Roger Revelle,”” Jessica Slocomb said.

Revelle Provost Thomas Bond remembered Revelle fondly.

“”This is fitting for a Roger Revelle birthday celebration; he loved things like this,”” Bond said. “”He would wear the funny little hats.””

Roger Revelle attended the event regularly until his passing in 1991. His widow has attended past celebrations but was absent yesterday.

The UCSD community has Revelle to thank for establishing the campus. He persisted through many controversies to realize his dream of the opening of a world-class institution here in 1960.

The event was sponsored by the Revelle Programming Board in conjunction with the Commuter Activity Board. Lance Feller, co-chair of the RPB, was pleased with the turnout.

“”We will have people until we run out of food,”” Feller said.

Aside from pleasing the masses who came for the free barbecue, Feller sees the celebration as a way for students to “”remain aware of the history of Revelle.””

Although celebrating the invaluable contributions Revelle made to UCSD was the main goal, everyone had a good time. Students bounced around in the entertainment as if they were in grade school again.

“”This is also an excuse to have a good time,”” Bond said. “”Everybody needs a break, especially

students.””

The music had a late start in getting set up, but people agreed that no music was better than the barbershop quartets that used to attend at Roger Revelle’s request. Barbershop quartets proved to be one of the few forces that could get in the way of college students and free food.

Marshall student Hiro Sugano summed up the afternoon by saying, “”We should have these more often.””