The Special

Summer 2014

Traditi

ons

The Special is an online magazine produced by journalism students at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Content and production are the responsibilities of the students.

The Special is produced during the fall, spring and summer terms.

conTacT: The Special, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Box 4104, Commerce, Texas 75429.

STaff: Hunter Miche, Crystal Robertson, Brandon Walker, Doohyun (Aaron) Hwang, Jordan Wright

faculTy adviSer: Fred Stewart (Fred.Stewart@tamuc.edu)

Western Week Queen Darla Redfern and King Bobby Jones pause after the contest. Chosen from 30 entries, Darla’s runners-up were Marcia Miller, Elizabeth Taylor, San-dra McNulty, and Tommie Jean Calloway. Placing second in the king contest, Charels Hughes was named sheriff. His bearded runners-up -- Dale Monaghen, J.C. William-son, and Dale Fabri - were named deputies.

(From the Locust Special, December 1959)

Campus Sightsby Hunter Miche

Old South Week by Crystal Robertson

Lucky the Lion by Jordan Wright

Tailgating by Aaron Hwang

‘King’ Arthur James by Brandon Walker

Smitty: A Freshman from CheweyLocust Special, December 1959

Inside this Issue

Cover: Smitty from Chewey, Okla. See story inside.

With Texas A&M University-Commerce gearing up for its 125th Anniversary, it isn’t sur-prising that an established insti-tution would have a large his-

Sights and Sounds of A&M-Commerce

By Hunter Miche

Thefirstofthese would be one that is the most visible: the Heritage House, located across from the Ferguson Social Sciences Building and the Journalism Building, next door to the Alumni Center. Though now it’s a stop on campus tours, the Heritage House was previ-ously used to house the president of the university prior to the completion of the current President’s Home, which was completed in 1968. The house housed the families of three different university presidents: Samuel Whitley (namesake of Whitley Hall residence hall) from 1927 to 1947; James G. Gee (namesake of the Gee Library) from 1947 to 1966; and D. Whitney Halladay, whose family stayed in the house for only two years before moving to the current president’s home.

tory. Many sights around school that students would dismiss as common are actually much more notable than people would give them credit for. While seldom

used today except as landmarks or tour stops, each site on cam-pus has had at least one notable method of use throughout their existence.

•TheHeritageHousewasbuiltin1927toserveasaresidencefor the university’s president

•Thehousecost$15,000tobuild

•Modifiedcolonialstyle

•Side-yardCharlestongarden

•Servedasprivatepresidentialresidencefor41years

Another important landmark of the campus is the Victory Bell, which sits on the side of the walkway that crosses the campus from the Art Building to the Hall of Languages. Though it looks small and insignificantfromwhereitsitsnow,denoted only by a plaque on a small stone block, the Victory Bell has served a number of roles throughout itstimeatCommerce.In1909inoneof the university’s prior locations in Cooper, Texas, the Victory Bell served as a bell system, calling students to class and ending the day. Sam Ray-burn, for whom the student center is named, was one of the many students that would ring the bell. Inthe1950s,theVictoryBellwas used to sound out victories in university sports. Eventually, due to the large amount of victories that the

university claimed, along with the actions of many rowdy students, the bell’s clapper was worn out, render-ing it silent. After this misfortune, the bell now resides in its present location, next to one of the campus’s walkways. It is considered good luck by some for new students and university athletes to walk by and touch it. One of the most important locations however (from a historical standpoint), is the statue of William Leonidas Mayo, founder of the university. The statue stands next to the walkway that goes by the Heritage House, surrounded by a small garden and holding a briefcase, his left arm on his lapel as he prepares himself to walk into class to teach his students. Such an image matches Mayo’s own ambitions for the university ever since he founded it in 1889 as East Texas Normal College, a

private teacher’s college in connection with public schools. In 1894theschoolwaslosttofireandMayo moved it to its present site in Commerce. Due to Commerce being locat-ed on a strategic railroad, Mayo hoped that its location would allow it to gain more students due to the railroad helping to commute students from North and East Texas. This gambit succeeded, and by 1917 the school had an enrollment of nearly2,000students. Mayo and the college became known for the emphasis placed on the education of rural school teach-ers. Eventually, seeking greater permanence of the university, Mayo petitioned the Texas state legislature to make the school part of the state system by purchasing it from him. Later in 1917 the

legislature would approve to appropriate funds for the purchase of the school. Shortly after hearing the news via telegraph, Mayo suffered a heart attack on the way back from the telegraphoffice.Hewastakentotheadministration building, where he later died. Mayo was buried at the northeast corner of campus. The fabled “Book of Knowledge” is located there, and it’s reputed that students that give the book a rub before the school year startswouldhavea4.0gradeaverage. Recently, the university has unveiled plans to renovate Mayo’s grave into something more worthy of his status as the founder of the univer-sity as part of the 125th Anniversary celebrations. While Mayo’s legacy has influencedtheschoolinmanyways(its various incarnations up until it be-

came a part of the Texas A&M system and its famous teacher program), in some ways the university has departed from and even surpassed Mayo’s expectations. Prior to his arrival in Texas, Mayo refused a teaching job in the Denver, Colo. school system due to the fact that the system was integrated. Today, the university is host to hun-dreds of students that are not only of varying races, but of all nationalities and creeds as well. Many famous people can be traced to the gates of the university, and there is no doubt that many more will do so for years to come.

William Leonidas Mayo

Born: Nov. 3, 1861

Prestonburg, Kentucky

Arrived in Texas: 1886

Founded East Texas Normal College:

1889 in Cooper, Texas

Married: June 24, 1891

Moved to Commerce: 1894

College Enrollment: 2,000by1917

Died: 1917

Dr. Jesse Hawthorne leads other faculty members in their dance routine as part of the Student-Fac-ulty frolics. One spectator, who asked protection under the cloak of anonymity, commented that the

In an assembly looked forward to each year, faculty members go all out to produce plenty of laughter for their usually serious students.

Student-Faculty frolics, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega ser-vice fraternity, provides the entertainment as well as money to pur-chase Christmas packages for needy families in Commerce.

Highlights on this year’s program were Dr. Paul Barrus (alias America’s num-ber one ballad singer) and several faculty members who outdid Miss Ger-trude Warmack’s modern dance class in a little skit to the tune of “Skokian.” Barrus received three encores before time ran out on his part of the show.

lumbering “chorines” may not have been shapely, but “they sure were enthusiastic.” (Hawthorne was a professor and head of the department of health and physical education.)

Dr. Paul Barrus

StudentFacu

lty

Frolics

Information and photos from 1955 Locust yearbook

Troubles Down South By Crystal Robertsons

Troubles Down South By Crystal Robertsons

Troubles Down South By Crystal Robertsons

East Texas Locutus Yearbook 1964

Troubles Down South By Crystal Robertsons

Old South Week is a national tradition and popular event organized by the members of Kappa Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. In 1973 at Texas A&M University- Commerce the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha created controversy among African-American students resulting in relocation of the event.

Head of A&M-Commerce Special Collections and Archives, Andrea Weddle said, “In the early 1860s the fraternity was immediately established after the Civil War, efforts of their Old South Week attempted to encourage an image of the gentlemen ways in the South.”

Fraternities were once

banned on the A&M-Commerce campus in the late 1950s because the school was not anxious to create an environment that did not have a scholastic base. Due to the fraternity’s ban, Paragon, an all-male organization was established. Once the ban was lifted, members of Paragon transitioned into being the Kappa Alpha.

A nationwide event celebrated among the KA fraternity, Old South Week was used as a remembrance of heritage which the organization is founded upon.

Honoring Civil War General Robert Edward Lee as the spiritual founder reminds the brotherhood of the gentlemen image he portrayed and taught.

Member of Kappa Alpha, Joshua Hughes said, “For Kappa Alpha members, Lee’s teaching is a blueprint for us to follow and strive to achieve in one’s personal life.”

Old South Week shared both negative and positive aspects, which were viewed differently by opposing ethic groups. Activities taking place during March 22 - 24 included a hay ride and weiner roast, presentation of Southern Belles, a Mint Julep party and an Old South banquet. The fraternity included a particular event that allowed individuals who chose to participate, to dress as antebellum cavaliers or southern belles, parading in front of Binnion Hall. The parade also included a mock slave auction in which fraternity rushes put on blackface and played the part of chattels (an item of property).

Hughes said, “Accusations were made about the fraternity because Robert E. Lee fought for the confederacy and this automatically

demonstrated ties to Civil War matters. Yet, these ideas are from ignorance of a person’s true character.”

A&M Commerce Archives

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Peace said, “ Along with AASSET support there were an estimate of 80 members who belonged to Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi; and the first Dean of Minority Students, Ivory Moore which contributed to our movement.”

By 1973, a number of African-American students took matters into their own hands, protesting the parade. According to the Locust yearbook, Old South activities were interrupted following the Southern Belle presentation when a group of black students insisted Confederate decorations be removed from the windows of five sorority houses. The decorations were up as a result of a contest for who held the most traditionally decorated house.

Director of Alumni Relations Derryle Peace said, “ It was the Black Americans’ moment to approach an insensitive event in a respectable manner, explaining to the Dean of Students that we are choosing to not view such ridicule, and they must step into actions.”

Also supporting the removal of Old South Week was African American Student Society for East Texas (AASSET). The organization appeared on campus after integration in the school system in 1964. The group was used as a tool for the African-American students in order to ensure that their presence was noticed among campus records and involvement. They pushed for reformation among blacks and whites at the university.

Peace said, “Along with AASSET support, there were an estimated 80 members who belonged to Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi and the first Dean of Minority Students, Ivory Moore contributing to the movement.”

AASSET actively assisted in political affairs among campus African-American students. In this situation, the organization involved the professional staff to acknowledge the issues between black students and the Old South event which ridiculed a sensitive

era in history, in their perspective. A historian and student adviser, Dr. Buchard, was one of the few African-American professional staff during the era who supported the students’ cause, eventually holding a meeting between a spokesman for the black fraternities and KA president to discuss the events.

According to the 1973 Locust yearbook, a similar protest was made in 1969 regarding KA’s agreeing not to use Confederate flags, weapons would not be carried, and slaves would not be portrayed in their activities. This

agreement was not held in high regard by the KA fraternity; a member stating their real mistake was not informing sororities about the appropriate usage of decoration.

University President Frank Henderson McDowell, took an administrative approach, forming a compromise between the Kappa Alpha fraternity and African-American students. The final decision relocated Old South Week off campus, requiring the

fraternity to abide by the City of Commerce regulations for future events.

Weddle said, “ One cannot deny history or be criticized for expressing thoughts on personal feelings. Furthermore, McDowell and the following administrations approached a sensitive situation in a sensible

manner.”

Today, Old South still exists among the Kappa Alpha fraternity. A change was the discontinuation of the parade in the late 1980s. The brotherhood annually hosts their largest philanthropy during Old South Week. KA Airband, gives collected proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Dallas in order to serve patients with MD. In addition, an alumni crawfish boil helps bridge the gap between current and old members. The Convivium is also celebrated as a special remembrance of their founder Robert E. Lee.

A&M Commerce Archives

By Jordan Wright

The Lion has represented Texas A&M University-Commerce as the University’s mascot almost as long as the school has been open for business in its 125 years of success. However, Lucky the Lion, as we have come to know him today, has represented A&M-Commerce for less than 25 years.

Serving as A&M-Commerce’s mascot throughout the university’s history of

representation, the Commerce Lion was officially chosen as the first and to date only representative of East Texas State University in 1919 for its fitting strength and status as the king of the beasts used to perfectly describe the ferocity of the growing university. However the actual impetus of bringing the Lions to fruition can also be directly traced to the founder of the University, Professor William Leonidas Mayo.

“Its status as a symbol of strength is part of it but at the very early period of the university, it has always gone back to Mayo our founder,” A&M-Commerce archivist, Andrea Weddle said. “His middle name was Leonidas, so they took the word Leo and selected the Lion in his honor. That’s the official origin but the Lion is also just a good mascot. It is a ferocious and powerful creature.”

When A&M-Commerce got Lucky The Evolution of the Lion

http://postinspostcards.com/2013/10/04/ncaa-division-ii-week-6-standings-results-thursday-update/a game

Despite Mayo’s no nonsense attitude and opposition to including sports at the university, claiming that he would “kick the first football that was brought on campus off and the student who brought it.” He eventually relented at the request of his son Marion Mayo.

The Commerce Lion underwent numerous forms of visualization over the next 70 years or so. Its presence on campus stayed alive on numerous posters and athletic equipment and merchandise but did not receive its proper visualization until 1971 when East Texas State University cheerleaders borrowed a five month old lion cub named Bullwinkle from Animal World in Mesquite.

The use of Bullwinkle proved so popular with the fans that the mascot’s physical presence would eventually become a staple of Lions, leading to the crafting of a paper mache lion within the same year and even a stuffed lion from Africa that was put on display for a couple of years.

Eventually the need for the

lion’s physical appearance at events gave way to the appearance of the very first mascot costume, created, worn, and maintained for three years by A&M-Commerce student Tommie Dodd. Sewn together with fabric and utilizing face paint to create whiskers and feline facial features, the first Commerce Lion mascot costume

debuted at the Homecoming game of 1971 and led to tryouts being held for both a male and female lion after Dodd’s departure from the university.

While the presence of the male and a female lion mascot

continued over the years, it was in 1991 that Lucky the Lion was born. Initially conceived as a cost saving measure to counter the expenses of supporting two mascots, Lucky finally gave the mascot of A&M-Commerce its own identity.

“The actual mascot uniform has transformed over the years,” Alumni Relations Director

Derryl Peace said. “Lucky as we know him today began to really take shape when I started working here back in 2004 to 2005. There have been some Lucky predecessors, other lion mascots that were not quite the same. The way I understood the mascot, nobody knew who Lucky was. The student in the costume was always a mystery.”

Lucky has since evolved into a central piece of A&M-Commerce’s identity,

extending beyond athletics and making appearances to welcome new students and visitors to the university community on special occasions, such as the Mane Event Preview Day, held in both the Fall and Spring Semesters of

Original Commerce Lion Tommie Dodd holds Bullwinkle the lion cub . Locust 1973

the academic school year and Freshmen Orientations held during the Summer. His popularity on the campus has caused students and community members alike to voice their desire to see Lucky make more appearances beyond football games, if only to add to the exposure and influence of A&M-Commerce.

“He does a great job at football games but I hope the university utilizes Lucky a bit more,” A&M-Commerce graduate David Owsley said. “It would be great if he showed up at other

sports more often like basketball or soccer. It would be even better if he just showed up at

random campus events. It’s good marketing for the school and it raises school spirit.”

The East Texan photo by Tim Watson East Texas State University once displayed hunted and stuffed lions before Lucky came along. Jordan Wright

to Tailgating

Welcome

By Aaron Hwang

Tailgating? Yes, it is the

festival that anyone can

enjoy before the football game.

A tailgate party is a social event

held on and around the open

tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating,

which originated in the United

States, often involves consuming

alcoholic beverages and grilling

food. Tailgate parties usually

occur in the parking lots at

stadiums and arenas, before and

occasionally after games and

concerts. People attending such

a party are said to be tailgating.

Many people participate even

if their vehicles do not have

tailgates.

“Tailgating is typically a festival

before every football game. It’s

named from people who have

pick up trucks that tails down

and they just pull out their

grills, chairs and food like that,

” Derryle Peace, director of

alumni relations said.

At Texas A&M University –

Commerce, tailgating started

in 2003 and has consistently

expanded and grown both for

home games and away including

the Lone Star Classic at AT&T

Stadium in Arlington.

photos by marketing communications

Students and fans gather for a variety of activities at the tailgating events before the start of home football games

“We started this party for

the first time in 2003. Before 2003,

tailgating was not part of tradition

here,” Peace said.

“We do it every home game.

It typically starts about five hours

before the game. So if the game is

at 2 p.m., then you can come at 9

a.m. Some people come earlier and

at a lot of universities and schools,

tailgating starts the night before the

game. People park in the parking lot,

cook and hang out,” Peace said. “The

place is near the football stadium.

Part of the tailgating is at the parking

lot, but the other is where the circle

is, near the university stadium.”

At the tailgate party,

you can see the university

band playing music and the

cheerleaders. After the music, the

university band and cheerleaders

march to the stadium. That’s an

indication to everybody that it’s

time for the game to start. Also,

the tailgating party provides free

gifts, free food and free drinks for

all attending.

“It’s an opportunity to fellowship

before the football game,”

Derryle Peace

Students and fans gather for a variety of activities at the tailgating events before the start of home football games

“Its food, games, fun, family

and children, it is a kind of circus atmosphere, People play

music, frisbee and there are

all kinds of activities going on. It’s

a community festival

that you can enjoy with all families

and friends. It’s for family, children,

students and alumni,” Derryle Peace

said.

photo by marketing communications

photo by marketing communications

“King” Arthur James (No. 30) could probably be called

a legend. During his own era, his performance spoke for

itself when he was acknowledged as the Offensive Player

of the Decade in the Lone Star Conference. With his

impressive moments on the football field, he still stands as

the only athlete in the history of Texas A&M University-

Commerce to have his No. 30 jersey number retired.

Arthur James’s journey to the pinnacle of athletic

success in collegiate sports came from his desire to just

play football and the determination to be great at what

he did. He came to A&M-Commerce back when it was

still named East Texas State University, in the summer

of 1966 from Texarkana, Texas. He made the trip to

Commerce with his cousin, Richard Houston (one of the

Lions’s wide receivers at the time who also spent time in

the military during the war in Vietnam) to earn a spot on

the team and play for Coach Ernest Hawkins, the most

successful head coach in A&M-Commerce history, with

a record of 132-92-6. Arthur, not being recruited by any

colleges coming out of high school played full back at five

feet-nine-inches and weighing 175 pounds, but that didn’t

diminish his determination as he came into camp to impress

the coaching staff at East Texas State University. During

training camp, Arthur stayed in Richards’s room and spent

every waking minute doing what it took to make the team.

“Being the competitive person that I am, when I

set foot onto the practice field in Commerce my only goal

was to beat out whoever was the starting running back and

I would rush for a thousand yards,” James said.

After only two weeks of camp, Arthur had

displayed the remarkable talent that would earn him a four-

year scholarship at the university, moving him from the

fourth team running back to the second team.

All Hail ‘KING’ Arthur JamesBy Brandon Walker

“He definitely was an outstanding football player,

he had good quick feet and he was strong for a little guy

with good hands but he had a big problem. He fumbled the

ball a lot, so we had to work on that. We had him carry a

football around to class and around campus which finally

gave him the concept of not dropping the ball. After that

problem was corrected, he became a really good football

player for us,” Coach Hawkins said.

With Arthur now on the official Lions roster

and ready to contribute in whatever way he could, he

would soon be faced with a moment that would make

him reconsider his reason for coming to East Texas State

as well as display to the coaching staff his determination

and passion for the game of football and his desire to be a

productive running back.

In the first game of the 1966 season against

Abilene Christian University, the Lions’s starting running

back was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with

the game standing at 0-0. At that moment, Arthur began to

anticipate that this was his chance to play and make a name

for himself. However, the coaching staff felt that the moment

was too big for Arthur

and made the decision

to instead put his cousin

Richard Houston in as a

running back. The Lions

lost that game 7-0 and

furious with the decision

to not put him in Arthur,

decided at that moment

that East Texas State

wasn’t for him.

“I didn’t want to be here after that game so I

packed my bags and went to the bus station. I planned on

going to Prairie View University and play for their football

team because I had a few friends there on the team and

knew they would give me a chance,” Arthur said.

Fortunately, Arthur never made it to Prairie View or

even onto the bus. After Arthur departed for the bus station

with his bags packed, his roommate called Coach Hawkins

and told him that Arthur was leaving and not planning on

coming back. After that phone call, Coach Hawkins drove

to the bus station and met with Arthur right before the

bus arrived where they had a much-needed conversation.

Once the conversation had concluded, Coach Hawkins had

convinced Arthur to return back to Commerce and told

him that he would receive more

reps at practice for the next game.

After his first full week of practice

getting reps with the offense, the

original starting running back was

moved to safety, creating room for

Arthur James to be the new starting

running back. In his first game as

a starter against Texas Lutheran,

Arthur rushed for 90 yards with

the Lions leaving victorious with a

final score of 42-0. After that game

Coach Hawkins knew that he had a

running back that would do

good things for that team.

From then on Arthur started

every game in his collegiate

career at East Texas State,

only missing two games

due to injury.

“I can remember a

time when we called a play

and he took the ball wide

and the defense had him

bottled up and if he didn’t

do something outstandingly

great he was going to lose

yardage, but he darted

around them and they all missed and

he made five yards on the carry. One

man couldn’t tackle him and with his great ability to avoid

the tackle, we knew we had a special player on our hands,”

Coach Hawkins said.

In his four-year college career

Arthur James was the first college

running back in Texas to gain over

4,000 yards in a career. He holds

records still to this day being ranked

number one in the A&M-Commerce

athletic record books as the all-time

leading rusher with 4,285 total yards

during 1966-69. He also holds the

second and third place for most

rushing yards in a season at A&M-

Commerce, rushing with 1,538 yards

in 1968 and 1,334 in 1969.

He holds the top two records

for rushing performances in a

single game, rushing for 323

yards against Abilene Christian

University in 1968 and 263

yards against Southwest Texas,

which is now Texas State

University, also in 1968. He

also is the A&M-Commerce

record holder for rushing

attempts, total yards, yards

per carry, and yards gained

per game. During his time

at East Texas State, the team

never failed to rank in the top

five in rushing offense and he

helped the Lions win the Lone Star Conference two out of

the four years he played (1966 to 1969). In 1969 Arthur

Photo /Locust Yearbook 1968Coach Hawkins and Arthur James at awards banquet

Photo / Brandon Walker Arthur James retired jersey

was named First Team All-American and from 1967 to

1969 he was named First Team All-LSC. With all of those

records and awards being given to Arthur for his skilled

performances on the field, his most fulfilling and humbling

accomplishment came in 2008 when he was inducted into

the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor.

“When I found out I was going into the Hall

of Honor I was overjoyed, it was just a great feeling to

be acknowledged in the same list of those athletes that

came before me. I just felt great being honored for the

accomplishment and records I had held but, records are

meant to be broken and to just be mentioned with other

people at this school is just amazing,” James said.

Once his collegiate days were over, Arthur decided

to continue his chances in playing football and choose to

enter the NFL. Although he wasn’t drafted, he did play for

the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Green Bay

Packers but, after a few years, his pro career never seemed

to pan out. So Arthur decided that his football career

had to come to an end. He left the game in peace, being

grateful for the things he was able to have done during his

outstanding career.

“I’m humbled and appreciative of the chance to play the

game of football and still have my health after all of these

years. I have to give Coach Hawkins and the coaching staff

a lot of credit especially Coach Hawkins because he was

like a father to me and I am still to this day very grateful to

them,” James said.

Past tradition

Newly elected presi-dent of the United Students at the university in 1963 was unceremoni-ous “tossed” into the campus lake as part of the traditional “aquatic election party.” (Information and photo from Locust yearbook, 1963)

Old Blue mascot

Cheerleaders confer with Old Blue, mascot, about the upcoming game. Blue leads football players onto the fieldwearinghisown blue and gold jacket bearing his name.

(Information and photo from Locust yearbook, 1953)

Smitty: A Freshman from Chewey

Now once upon a time there was a bright-eyed, fuzzy-headed kid in Chewey, Okla. named Smitty S. Scrancion. Smitty was looking for an education, so he wrote to many colleges for information.

After reading through many catalogues, one thing stuck in Smitty’s mind. At a school in Texas there was a mighty cat held in great esteem by the students. Smitty promptly decided that this was the school for him. For never had he seen or heard of a cat of such proportions.

After arriving at E.T., life in the dorm posed many problems for Smitty, even through he had met many students just like himself. His main headaches were upperclassmen, borrowers, counselors, quiet hours, stray cats, studying, and empty coke machines.

Smitty had a horrifying experience one day. It was the time he was walking near the Ad Building and was nearly swallowed by a snake. “I almost decided to go back to Chewey, right then,” declared Smitty.

Since Smitty was interested in taking pictures, he took a photography course as an elective. Except for being stepped on a couple of times in the darkroom and getting locked in the studio overnight, nothing too exciting happened until the day Smitty

fell in a tray of developer. He got so drunk from swallowing developer that his roomy decided Smitty must have visited his homeland.

From the Locust Special, December 1959

NOTE: A traditional annual event that has since disappeared is the Ugly Man on Campus Contest along with the social club Tooanoowe.

E.T.’s Ugly Man on Campus Contest was a traditional annual event sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega and proceeds from the event went to the APO scholarship fund. Scholarships were awarded to beginning freshmen.The1960winner was Johnny Logan (right), acting as “Luke the Drifter” and collected$93towinthecontest. Logan repre-sented the Tooanoowe social club.

Tooanoowe was orga-nized in 1927

Information and photo from 1960 Locust

yearbook

Back Cover:“NurseryRhymes”wasthethemeoftheHomecomingparade,withfloatsdepictingeverythingfrom the Three Kittens Over the Moon to The Cow Jumped Over the Moon, which used a live Jersey cow. Twenty-fourfloatsbattledthewindtoparticipateinthehour-longparade.Eighteeenbands,theMitchellGrena-diers, two marching units from Greenville and Terrell and many cars also took place.

NOTE: The parade made its way through the Main Street downtown area of Commerce, along the spectator-lined streets.

(Photo and information from 1956 Locust yearbook)

Ugly ManContest