Page8

Autumn, A&M-Commerce, And Alumni

It all comes together in a grade-A way beginning Oct. 28 and culminating
Saturday, Nov. 1. Events that day include a rollicking morning reception, a
decorous and delicious luncheon, and, of course, a lot of football fun when the Blue & Gold takes on Abilene Christian University.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 2003

Meet your Distinguished Alumni for 2003—science teacher and author Alton Biggs and journalist James Ragland. Learn more about these accomplished men during the Homecoming Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, when the achievements of Alton, James and other outstanding Alumni will be recognized. That means you’ll get more than a delicious meal—you’ll get supplied with even more examples of how your Alma Mater is the very best.

Alton L. Biggs BS natural sciences, 1974 MS biology, 1979		JAMES RAGLAND BS JOURNALISM, 1984
Author of Biology: the Dynamics of Life, the number-one selling high school science text in the nation. A prolific writer of texts, teaching workbooks, education and science articles, often working on revisions until the wee hours of the morning. Biology teacher at Allen High School in Allen,Texas,1977-2003. Texas Outstanding Biology Teacher,1995. Fuibright Memorial Fund Fellowship,1999. A&M-Commerce Alumni Ambassador for 2002.		Columnist for The Dallas Morning News and an 18-year newspaper veteran. The first columnist to be featured simulataneously in two sections of the newspaper, appearing in both the Metro and the Today sectons. His reporting has appeared in The Washington Post, The Washington Post Magazine and Emerge magazine. Named Outstanding Journalism Graduate at A&M-Commerce in 1984. In '99 served at A&M-Commerce as Visiting Professor,teaching writing,reporting and ethics.

The latest edition of one of Alton's textbooks

Remembering the past inspires these men to prepare for the future

Taking the Homecoming theme to heart, Farm boys nourish new crop of students

In exchange for their room, board, and tuition, farm boys fed the chickens, milked the cows, and plowed University ground.
Decades later, they plan to plow new ground next month when they award their first-ever Farm Boy Endowment Scholarship at Homecoming.
In the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, between eight and 20 young men each year (along with an occasional farm girl) earned their education by working on the University farm.
“Most of us were boys from homes that, without the scholarship, could never have let us to go to college,” said one farm boy Alumnus, Carrol Adams (BS ’55).
Carrol is among members of the Farm Boy Alumni Association who are working to establish a Farm Boy Scholarship endowment. They’re less than a thousand dollars from having the$10,000 they need for a formal endowment that will keep the scholarship going in perpetuity.
However, the Farm Boys are moving ahead and handing out a $500 scholarship at the Agriculture Alumni Breakfast during Homecoming this year.

continued on p.9

Tuesday, Oct. 28
All Day Banner/Window/Door Contest judging on campus.
7-10:00 p.m. Casino Night in the Founders Lounge of the MSC.

Wednesday, Oct. 29: Blue-and-Gold Day!
Wherever you are, show your pride & wear your school colors all day!
Noon-1:30 p.m. Hot Dog Spirit Rally on the East Lawn. Free hot dogs, sodas and prizes. Winners of Window/Banner/Door Contest announced.

Thursday, Oct. 30
9:00 p.m. Pep Rally in the Field House, to be followed immediately by the bonfire behind Whitley Hall.

Friday, Oct. 31
Noon Alumni Golf Scramble. Noon check-in; 1 p.m. shotgun start. Webb Hill Country Club. Entry fee $50. Call 903-886-5765 for info.
7:00 p.m. Multi-Cultural Alumni Mixer at the Pacific Grill at 1700 Pacific Ave. C-100 in Dallas. Call 903-886-5087 for information.

continued on p.9