Reminiscing over

Just after almost simultaneous publications in 1979 of two books, " Lattice Path Combinatorics with Statistical Applications " , by T.V. Narayana and " Lattice Path Counting and Applications " , by me, I realized that there was a substantial growing interest in lattice path combinatorics and applications in the fields of applied probability, statistics and computer science. I also realized that the distribution of researchers was world wide. In order to increase the awareness of the subject, my intention to organize a conference to bring eminent and young researchers together and to promote interaction between the theory group and those involved in applications resulted in the first Conference on Lattice Path Combina-torics and Applications (in short, LP Conference) that was held at McMaster University, Canada in 1984. Incidentally, I have been at McMaster University since 1964 and the University was highly supportive of my initiative to organize the Conference. Its success prompted quite a few to voice an encore for it. In the mean time the publication of two books, " Combinatorial Enumeration " by I. Goulden and D. Jackson in 1983 and " Enumerative Combinatorics-Vol 1 " by R. Stanley in 1986 encouraged me to move ahead in organizing another conference. The Second Conference was held again at McMaster University in 1990, although some of the enthusiasts wished it to be held earlier. Due to the popularity of the first Conference it attracted more to participate. Also for the first time an organizing committee of which I was a member was formed to look after the arrangements. A special feature of the Conference was a session dedicated to the memory of T.V. Narayana who passed away in 1987. Both Conferences had international participation and triggered so much interest that participants showed their willingness to organize LP Conferences elsewhere. Thus, subsequent Conferences were