Dr. Kayla Price

Director, Alumni Relations;
Executive Director,
Alumni Association

We have all heard the expression, “You can’t go home.” In the case of your Alma Mater, however, it may be more apt to say “You can’t go home and find it looks the same.”
Yet if you realize up front that some things will be different, then you can truly enjoy your return visit.
So, for those who haven’t been here in a long time, first, we have a McDonald’s. We are up to six stoplights in town. We have a new Children’s Museum (a fun, activities-based learning facility), new shops and restaurants.
On campus, the Home Demonstration house is gone, as is the technology wing of the ag building. Watson Cafeteria is now where one goes to lose the freshman fifteen, since it is the temporary recreation center. And, emerging as a huge, thoroughly modern complex is the almost-completed student recreation center on Highway 50.
Commerce and the campus also have some of the old favorites, including Max, the second oldest bois d’arc tree in Texas and a landmark that is celebrated each year during the Bois d’ Arc Bash.Downtown, although sadly marked by a few fires, is still alive and kicking! The well-worn sidewalks still lead to long-standing facilities like Eddie Moore TV, Drake Furniture, and, for those rowdy Alumni, the Commerce Police Department. Even Little Bit is still open at least one night a week.
On campus, we still have Joe Fred Cox (although retired), and Ferguson Social Sciences Building (formerly known as the Education Building). The 1929 lion is still here, although it has been moved to the Heritage Garden, and the1970s lion has

moved up the hill.The Old Victory Bell is proudly displayed outside the Student Services Building. (See new board President Rene Castilla pictured with the bell on page 1.)
The one thing that will never change about Commerce and the campus is that it is still the friendliest place on earth! A couple of weeks ago, I left work on a beautiful spring-like Friday evening and decided to cut through the residential section just south of the campus. When I noticed a coupleof my colleagues, Pat Johnson and Carolyn Maxwell, whom I had not seen in a while, I stopped to talk. We had the best time catching up, laughing, and solving all the ills of the world. As we spoke, cars kindly passed us without honking or gesturing. Where else but Commerce!
I know we always try to get you to come to the University for Homecoming, but I understand that fall can be a hectic time for our Alumni. So this year I invite you to come during the summer. Summertime in Commerce is great—full of activities, fresh faces and beautifully landscaped lawns and gardens. Please accept this invitation to bring your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, and/or all of your favorite friends to Commerce to show them around your old stomping grounds. They may be surprised with some of the stories you tell. And of course, you will enjoy the time spent together in our beautiful city of Commerce at our beloved Alma Mater. I really do think you can go back, and I invite you to make the journey.

Commerce Alumni
Chapter meeting—Nov. 19
The chapter met for a regular business meeting, focusing primarily on approving new bylaws. The executive Committee of the Alumni Association Board approved a reorganization of the Commerce chapter. The bylaws revision reduced the number of members required to constitute a quorum.

Commerce Alumni Chapter
holiday party—Dec. 11
The chapter members enjoyed a Christmas reception at the University President’s home. Guests brought their favorite finger food to share.

Graduation receptions—Dec. 14
Alumni Association Board members Rheba Icenhower, Dwight York and Pat Turner assisted staff member Linda Bobbitt and Alumni volunteer Bobbie Purdy with graduation packets and receptions. Gary Finney addressed the graduates and their family and friends on behalf of the Association.

Alumni Association Board of
Directors meeting—Jan. 25
Rene Castilla was installed as president, Rheba Icenhower as vice president, and Jandy Thompson as secretary/treasurer. Seventeen board members present addressed topics that included Homecoming, possible new chapters, 2003 dues report, the new Alumni database, the Outstanding Service Award, and the April and June meetings. Also, President McFarland provided a brief update on the University.

Commerce Area Alumni Chapter Board meeting—Feb. 11
The Commerce Chamber of Commerce office was the meeting location for the chapter board members. They reviewed the calendar for the year, including details for future meetings.

Grayson County
Alumni event—Feb. 17
Grayson County Alumni met at the Holiday Inn in Sherman for an update on the University from administrators. Attendees were welcomed by the Association Vice President Rheba Icenhower, University President Keith McFarland, and Foundation President Tracey Wolfe. A brief video about the Securing the Promise Campaign was shown. Guests enjoyed refreshments and door prizes. Local Alumni served as hosts for the evening, and Judge Horace Groff served as the emcee.

Commerce Alumni Chapter
meeting—March 11
Thirty members of the Commerce Chapter gathered downtown at the Masonic Lodge community room for a regular meeting. Attendees enjoyed a wine and cheese social followed by a business meeting led by Chapter President Jack Pirkey. University President Keith McFarland presented a State of the University address, which briefed the group on several of the new programs and initiatives on campus.

North Texas Chapter
meeting—March 13
Chapter members from Tarrant and surrounding counties met at Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth for dinner and a regular chapter meeting. President Tommy Swiderski presided. Discussion included dues, recruitment and plans for a scholarship. Treasurer Charles Redditt collected dues. Paula Harbour volunteered to host the next meeting at her home May 15.

The annual Fifty-Year Club Reunion is Friday, May 2. Graduates of the classes of 1953 will be spotlighted this year and will be inducted into this prestigious club at an evening banquet.  A special invitation is extended to the class of 1954. Brochures have been mailed, and reservations are required, so if you’re interested, please contact Alumni Relations at 903-886-5765.Back on Dec. 16, 1965, John Jones and I went to Terrell to get some brew, although he usually had some home brew stashed someplace. (If you don’t know John, he was a football player here in 1964-65 and GA coach on the 1972 national championship team.) It was my 21st birthday, and when I presented my ID, the Red Coleman’s clerk gave me a small bottle of champagne. We returned to Commerce and drank a few brews. The next day I asked John about my champagne, and he said, “I drank it, but I’ll get you another one.”
Each time I saw John over the

years, he promised to return the bottle of champagne. A few years ago I told him to change it to a bottle of Corona.
I’ve served on the University Homecoming Committee for the past few years. At one of the meetings this year, the chairman of the Bonfire Committee shook my hand and introduced himself. It was John’s son, Adam Jones, and he said he would deliver the Corona.
On Nov. 8, 2002, Adam walked into my office shortly before noon. He said he had the Corona. Then he asked if I wanted him to put it in my van. He noticed the puzzled look on my face, and he said, “The reason I knew it was your van was because I was standing next to it when you set off the panic alarm at the football game.”
Instead of it being one bottle of Corona, it was a case.
I don’t need the Corona, and I know that finances are tight for college students. So I think I’ll award the Corona to Adam as a scholarship for his service as chairman of the Homecoming Bonfire Committee.

Louis Margot
BS ’67, MS ’71