CSU Homecoming 2007 Recap

October 12-14, 2007

(You needed to be there!)

Homecoming 2007 ~ Outstanding!

The 2007 Homecoming was recorded as “Outstanding”.

The weekend weather was perfect …slightly cool and clear.

Everyone looked beautiful…You know…CSU Oh So Fine – Real Folk!

Homecoming was held October 10-14th and there were an estimated nine (9) thousand alumni, students, and friends on the yard.

The Dayton Marriott Hotel served again as the host hotel with over 600 sleep-night guest plus alums and friends stayed at nearby over-flow hotels.

Once again, the CSU – GAA took customer service to new heights. We offered “At Your Service” throughout the weekend which included a shuttle service to and from nearby Dayton area hotels to the “Marriott”. This service was provided by CSU transportation and alums were very appreciative of this special new addition and “first-time” experience.

Highlights of the Homecoming Weekend

Wednesday, October 10th

Gospel Concert – The CSU Chorus and performing artist Laurence Ingram performed under the direction of William Henry Caldwell. The performances were outstanding! President Garland and members of the Board and Cabinet were present.

Thursday, October 11th

The coronation ceremony for Miss CSU, Sierra Byers, along with her Royal Court took place at the Robeson Cultural and Performing Arts Center. Miss CSU looked absolutely gorgeous and the ceremony was truly royal in every sense of the word.

Friday, October 12th

The College of Business & Industry’s Annual Scholarship golf-outing was another great success with full participation from the “College, Alums, and Friends”.

Jammin’ at Noon in Honor of the late Jay “B-Bop” Crosby ’50 -- was a lot of fun with great food, and line-dancing.

Alumni Awards & Recognition Banquet

Director, Office of Alumni Relations, B. Cato Mayberry, ‘77 served as the Master of Ceremony. Several well deserving alumni received awards for their commitment and service over the years to the institution.

1. Frances “Kay” Welch was awarded “Alumnus of the Year”.
2. Dr. James A. Elam was awarded the “2006 Top Alumnus Contributor”
3. Teresa “Coach” Check ’74, William “Billy” Joe, and Josh Culbreath were inducted into the “Athletic Hall of Fame”
4. Dr. and Mrs. John E. Angell were honored as the “2006 Legacy Donors”.
5. Special acknowledgement was made to the 2007 Achievement Hall of Fame inductees:
   • a. The Honorable Joyce Beatty, PhD. ’72
   • b. Mr. Edward T. Dixon ’54
   • c. Mrs. Carolyn Farrow-Garland ’70
6. The Honorable State Representative Fred Strahorn, Assistant Minority Whip – 40th House District was given the “Award of Distinguished Recognition” plaque, and made an honorary alumni and member of the General Alumni Association

The “2006 Class Reunion Challenge Winner” was awarded to the Class of 1971. Cassandra Easterly ’71 accepted the award on behalf of her class-mates.

The 2007 “Classes in Reunion” are 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, and 2002. To date the classes in reunion have contributed over $230,000.

The Class of 1957 is the 2007 Legacy Class. Vaughn Pleasant ’57 made arrangement to have an aircraft fly over McPherson Stadium in honor of Tuskegee Airman Lewis A. Jackson, and former CSU President 1970 -1972. The Class of 1957 fellowshipped on the greens of the Alumni Tower under a tent. Coordinators for this event were Shirley Williams, Jewel Bates, Ed McGee and Vaughn Pleasant, along with several other classmates. All enjoyed fresh cooked fish dinners prepared by Jewel Bates. Myrtice Bruton gifted the Office of Alumni Relations with a DVD copy of her Class of 1957 graduation walk down Brush Row Rd. to Galloway Hall.

“Hats off to the Class of 1957”

Saturday, October 13th

The day started with the GAA’s Alumni General Meeting which had over 200 alums in attendance. President Garland shared a lot of good information about the university and its new initiative, “Speed to Scale”. Central State University is the smallest public university in the state of Ohio. This small size results in high costs per student, a disadvantaged position for state funding and consequent financial difficulties.

To counter the institution’s financial challenges, the state provides an annual supplement beyond earned state instructional subsidy. The key to offsetting Central State University’s financial difficulties is to increase its enrollment so that the institution can reach a scale where the necessity for a supplement is removed.

The Board of Regents, Central State University and five participating state institutions have developed a plan, called Speed to Scale, to increase the size of Central State University from 1,800 to 6,000 students by 2017. The plan includes a one-time investment from the state over a period of three years and an extensive set of partnerships with the participating institutions.

With the plan, the university’s supplement will begin to decline starting in FY 2011 and by FY 2017 it will drop to zero. Over the decade from FY 2007 to FY 2017, $54 million will be realized in reduced supplement cost. These funds will be redirected to programs across the state that educate additional students who will promote the state’s economic growth. For more information go to https://www.centralstate.edu/academics/news/speed2scale/index.html

This information was received with few questions or concerns being expressed. The general meeting was followed by the annual “Alumni & Friends Breakfast Social”. Once again the social was a huge success with over 200 served.

The CSU Memorial Service was held this year in the Sunken Garden. Invocation was made by Edward “DoDo” Dixons‘54. As always “DoDo” filled the garden with a great spirit of Brother & Sisterhood among Alumni & Friends.

President John W. Garland gave remarks and asked attendees to state the names of fallen CSU alums, faculty, and staff. The Memorial Service was warmly received by everyone as a special moment for all. Many kind remarks were given by alums and friends in the name of the late Richard H. Johnson, former President of the Washington D.C. Chapter, and Jay Crosby of the Dayton Alumni Chapter.

Afterwards, the CSU Gospel Choir/Chorus sang beautifully. A moment of silence was then dedicated to our fallen alums, followed by a Maroon and Gold balloon launch to represent their lives and spirits.

Next…the Annual Homecoming Parade procession began at 12 noon and moved swiftly and energetically through the campus to McPherson Stadium for the Homecoming game.

While CSU Marauders did not win the game against Joliet College we did have a winning Homecoming Weekend!

Hours later the “Marauders Jam”, the official GAA alumni party kicked-off with the great sounds of Deron Bell and the Jazz Band. There was standing room only as alums and friends packed the Marriott ballroom and danced the night away celebrating Homecoming 2007.

On Sunday October 14th all gathered between 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for a wonderful Gospel-Jazz Breakfast held at the Dayton Marriott Hotel. The CSU Chorus performed and brought tears of joy and connectivity to alums and friends in attendance.

A special presentation and gift of $2,902 was made by the parents and grandparents association of Dayton, OH by Mary Taylor class of ‘77. Of the amount given, $1,500 was earmarked for the choir, $1,402 for the future use of a CSU Parent’s Association.

A status update was given by Cato Mayberry of the Office of Alumni Relations along with remarks by President Garland. Vernon N. Ford, President of the GAA, encouraged alums and friends to support CSU and the GAA. President Garland made a challenge to alums to assist in the purchase of new robes for the Choir whose director eloquently presented a grave need for them. Approximately 15 minutes later a total greater than $6,000 was collected from alumni & friends to purchase choir robes so that the choir would look almost as good as they sound.

In closing, many words of appreciation and thanks were given by alums and friends to and about one another, the CSU circle of friends, and all Centralians who contributed to the planning and delivery of a successful 2007 Homecoming!!

For God, For Central, For State