The School of Medicine class of 1958 was among those honored at the Medical Alumni Weekend last month. During this event we were reminded of a unique group of students from this class. A few musically inclined students formed the group called The Fungus Five (they later expanded and were renamed The Syphilitic Six). The 
members (pictured on right) were Roger Berry (guitar), John Thorton Dunn (piano), David Randolph Jones (mandolin), James Davis Mallory (banjo), John Halloway Milam (clarinet), and George Edward Cassady II (drums).
Similar to the Student-Faculty Shows, the goal of The Fungus Five was to make the audience laugh. They sang in a country/folk style about various ailments and life as medical student. The pieces were original, and their performances involved more than just music. During the reunion, a few members of this class recounted a story from one of Dr. Wiley Forbus’ classes that involved the Fungus Five. Dr. Forbus was known for being a tough 
instructor and held end-of-term roundups to test what his students had learned that semester. In cahoots with the musicians, he played up this stern image by pretending there was going to be an extra roundup. Forbus called six students to the front of the class as if they were about to be tested, only to have instruments suddenly brought out and an impromptu jam session ensue. Dr. Forbus' roundups were so reknown that they earned him a cartoon tribute in the 1956 Aesculapian (left).
The Archives has an audiocassette recording of this performance from 1956. For access to this recording or to browse similar materials in our collection, please visit our website or send us an email.