Samford University alumni enjoyed a weekend of reunions and other events during homecoming Oct. 28–29.
Members of the class of 1961 took a special interest. They were freshmen when the school, then Howard College, relocated from East Lake to the new Lakeshore campus in the fall of 1957.
At a luncheon in their honor, Samford President Andrew Westmoreland presented class members with anniversary diplomas bearing the name Samford University. “You are a part of something timeless,” he said, commending the class for celebrating its 50th reunion with a special gift to the school.
Prior to homecoming, the class raised $76,382 to establish a Legacy scholarship for students. One leader of the campaign, Joe McDade, was among three honorees at an alumni banquet.
McDade, a retired Baptist minister from Montgomery, and 1992 graduate Mark Davidson, an investment director from Mobile, were honored as Samford’s 2011 Alumni of the Year. Birmingham attorney Kitty Rogers Brown, a 2001 graduate originally from Russellville, was named Outstanding Young Alumna.
Former Samford music faculty member Bill Nugent received an honoris causa honorary alumnus designation. Nugent wrote the words and music to the Samford fight song while teaching at the school during the late ’50s. He served as grand marshal of the 2011 homecoming parade.
The 31-unit parade included members of the homecoming court: freshmen Madison Miles, of Duluth, Ga., and McDavid Maddox, of Dothan; sophomores Emily-Erin Robinson, of Roanoke, Va., and Mathes Ballard, of Lookout Mountain, Ga.; juniors Lauren Barry, of Dallas, and Cameron Collins, of Cornelius, N.C.; and seniors Meredith Edney, of Vicksburg, Miss.; Jordyn Elrod, of Franklin, Tenn.; Elizabeth Gettys, of Alexander City; Jeremy Towns, of Dolomite; Matt Wambles, of Dothan; and John Woods, of Louisville, Ky.
At halftime of the football game against Western Carolina, Gettys and Towns were named homecoming queen and king. Gettys, an economics major, is the daughter of Sarah Beth and Charles Gettys and a member of First Baptist Church, Alexander City. Towns, a sports medicine major and varsity football player, is the son of Janice Towns and attends Holy Trinity World Outreach Ministry in Birmingham. They were chosen by vote of the student body. The Bulldogs won the game 52–24.
Throughout the weekend, many academic units and organizations held tailgate gatherings and special reunions. The classes of 1986 and 2001 enjoyed their 25-year and 10-year reunions.
The journalism and mass communication department inducted alumni George H. Smith, of Birmingham, and the late Hugh Frank Smith, of Memphis, Tenn., into its Wall of Fame.
Former student workers in the school of education’s Media Center helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of the academic technology program led for two decades by Ed Landers.
The campus festivities began with an Oct. 28 choral vespers featuring the Samford Chorale and A Cappella Choir. Among those enjoying the service were 1961 graduate Bob Henderson and his wife, 1963 graduate Jeanie Wilson Henderson, of Tuscaloosa. Upon exiting Reid Chapel, the former baseball and basketball player marveled to the former majorette about the changes that 50 years can bring.
“Back then, you could see from the chapel clear across campus,” he said, referring to the lush trees that, like Samford, have grown and thrived since his freshman year. (SU)
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