AUSTIN, Texas — As students across the nation celebrate receiving their senior class ring commemorating that personal graduation milestone, one special “senior” was also receiving his high school class ring with the same excitement and enthusiasm.

Walter Cronkite, long-time news anchor for CBS, co-creator of the CBS Evening News and one of “the most trusted men in America” even after his retirement in 1981, had never had a high school class ring from his alma mater, San Jacinto High School (Class of ‘33) in Houston, Texas.

While narrating a documentary, “Proud to Serve” for PBS Cronkite met representatives of Balfour Military Rings, documentary production sponsors.

In addition to military commemorative rings, Balfour creates and designs high school and college class rings for schools across the country and has been a leader in the industry for over 100 years. During conversations Cronkite revealed he never had a class ring since his parents could not afford one at the time. Ironically, Balfour created the original San Jacinto High School ring and happened to still have the mold in their vast design library and could easily reproduce.

Using the original design, Mr. Cronkite’s was upgraded to include current class ring options including the Journalism seal and name of the school newspaper “Campus Cub” (which he edited) on one side. The other side of his 1933 class ring includes a bear cub, the San Jacinto school mascot. The stone is black onyx in tribute to the black onyx ring his parents purchased in place of the class ring, as well as the bear paw print encrusted on top.

Dave Fiore, president of American Achievement Corporation, which owns Balfour, presented the ring to Walter Cronkite during a recent visit to his office in New York City. Upon receiving the ring, Cronkite commented that “now his family would know he actually did graduate from high school!”

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, American Achievement Corporation, is the leading manufacturers and suppliers of commemorative jewelry, from class rings to wedding ring sets and affinity jewelry, in the country.

Balfour has been creating class and sportsmen achievement rings and accessories for over 100 years and is a division of AAC. For more information on Balfour and AAC, visit www.balfour.com to find a retailer or learn more about the variety and selection.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group