Thousands of Samford University alumni, parents and friends from nine states and the District of Columbia joined students to celebrate Homecoming 2007 Oct. 18–21.
During the weekend’s activities, a schedule of reunions, a 28-unit parade and hot-air balloon rides offered something for everyone.
Two prominent Alabama Baptists, Birmingham insurance executive Walter Barnes and retired Samford religion professor Sigurd Bryan, were honored as 2007 Alumni of the Year. Both are longtime members of Shades Crest Baptist Church, Bluff Park, in Birmingham Baptist Association.
Barnes, class of 1956, served 25 years as Royal Ambassadors (RA) director at the church and has held state RA leadership posts. He is a former vice president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, former trustee of the former Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and trustee of Baptist Health System in Birmingham.
Bryan, class of 1946, retired in 2002 after 46 years on the Samford religion faculty. He has preached in many Alabama pulpits as interim pastor and Bible study leader. For many years, he has worked closely with Samford’s Ministerial Association to pair students preachers with churches for pulpit experiences.
Other alumni honorees were U.S. Senate aide Carol Guthrie of Washington, class of 1993, and cardiologist Dr. George V. Irons Jr. of Charlotte, N.C., class of 1952. Irons attended the former Ruhama Baptist Church while growing up in Birmingham.
The Samford Alumni Association also named president emeritus Thomas Corts; his wife, Marla; and longtime supporter James A. Head Sr. as alumni honoris causa for their dedication and support of the university. Head, age 103, led the fund-raising campaign to complete the Homewood campus in the 1950s.
Art alumni honored Lowell Vann, who has served more than 37 years on the faculty — 35 of them as department chair.
A ceremony included announcement of the Lowell Vann Endowed Art Scholarship honoring his long tenure and status as a true “Samford icon.” Vann is well known in Alabama Baptist churches for his inspirational chalk drawings.
Ellen Donze, a senior religion major from Birmingham, was crowned queen during football halftime activity. Jason Morales, a senior journalism/mass communication major from Daytona Beach, Fla., was named senior honor escort.
The homecoming court also included freshmen Jenna Tanner of Hoover and Hugh Smith of Columbia, Tenn.; sophomores Elle Martin of Franklin, Tenn., and Alex Huguenard of Marietta, Ga.; juniors Susan Macfarland of Winnetka, Ill., and Rocky Alling of Birmingham; and seniors Christina Cesler of Cincinnati; Mary Catherine Stone of Belden, Miss.; Cam Rogers of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Nate Stenstrom of Evansville, Ind.
A class of 1957 dinner was a forum for stories from the last class to graduate from the East Lake campus. Fred Slaughter (class president), Bill Baggett (student body president), Jim Auchmuty (Baptist Student Union president), Mel Deason (current Alumni Council class agent) and Chriss Doss led classmates in recalling memories.
About 2,000 alumni, students and others helped Little Big Town country music band christen the newly dedicated multipurpose Pete Hanna Center as a music venue the night of Oct. 20.
The band includes former Samford students Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Roads, who first sang together in school choirs in the late 1980s.
A Sunday service in A. Gerow Hodges Chapel drew a large crowd for worship led by Esther and Bob Burroughs, former campus minister and music faculty member, respectively. (SU)
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