Joe Straus Jr. '40 Celebrates 85th Anniversary at SAA Commencement While Passing On Family Tradition

Joe Straus, Jr., who graduated from SAA in 1940, celebrated his 85^th reunion at Commencement in May. He led the newly minted Class of 2025 as they individually completed a rite of passage and walked through the Bondurant Gate before receiving their diploma.

The Bondurant Gate was dedicated on Graduation Day 1986, and at each Commencement, Col. Bondurant’s son, Tom Bondurant '63, opens the Gate for the graduating class. Combined, the Bondurant family dedicated 103 years of service and leadership to The Academy from 1906 until 2009. This marked a special moment, as it signified the first time Mr. Straus passed through the gate as a graduate of The Academy since the gate was created in 1986, after his graduation in 1940. In addition, Mr. Bondurant presented a special reunion medal as Mr. Straus walked through the gate.

Mr. Straus has two great-grandsons at SAA – Peter '26 and his brother, Ford '29. Mr. Straus, thank you for continuing The Academy tradition in your family!