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The challenge
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an assistant director and an alumni coordinator.
In 1917 William Leonidas Mayo, Founder of East Texas Normal College, knew he had challenges ahead. There were competing colleges in every nearby town. Professor Mayo knew that the college he created and loved might not be around if he did not take action. His plan was to seek and secure ownership of his college by the state. Although this was not his preference, he knew it was necessary so that his institution might endure. His wish came true on the day he died, March 14, 1917, when the state voted to accept his proposal.
Board members, opportunity and challenge are before you. In the coming year you will have to make some distasteful choices akin to what Professor Mayo faced in the early 1900s. The future of the Association is at stake. The course of this weekend and the next few years will decide the fate of the Association for hundreds of years to come. The 18-wheeler is about to hit us head-on in our lane. We can move left or we can move right, but not moving will mean our peril.
We must be willing to meet the challenges while continuing to plan for a strong Alumni Association that will last another 112 years. I hope each of you will join me in renewing my commitment to my Alma Mater and its Alumni Association.
One way to begin this commitment is to come to Commerce on October 26. On that day we can pay our membership dues for 2003, meet with fellow Alumni and enjoy a time of celebration as we honor our University with Homecoming 2002: Hittin’ It Big! Go Lions!!!

Sigma Chi Alumni turn out, putt around, eat up
from Kent Holbert (BBA ‘71, MS ‘74)
Sigma Chi Alumnus

About 100 Alumni and undergraduates participated recently when the Zeta Eta Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity had its First Annual Alumni Golf Tournament at Sand Hills Country Club in Commerce.
Fourteen teams competed in the 18-hole scramble event. Taking first place was the team of Dick King, Keith Jacobs, Greg Hulsey, Russ Garmon and Ken Bishop.
A three-way tie for second included the teams of: Mike Cavender, Joe Cavender, Bill Robinson and Brett Robinson; Paul Trull, Lloyd Pate, Tony Mandina and Bill Gant; and David Dell, Chris Sinkey, Bill Johnson and Adam Brooks.
Tournament festivities included, of course, ice cold refreshments and plenty of barbecue, smoked to perfection by Dick King. Presentation of the trophies was only one of the day’s many highlights.

The 2003 date for the Second Alumni Golf Tournament will be anounced later. We invite all Sigma Chi Alumni to accept the challenge and join us in 2003!

Sign of seal delivered Alumni Association Executive Director Kayla Price and President Gary Finney present the International CASE Award to Association Board members at a recent meeting.    The Association and University won the Seal of Excellence for the annual Alumni Forum that brings graduates on campus to recognize them and get their participation with current students. CASE, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, received more than 3,700 entries. Fewer than 200 institutions received awards of any kind, and only 11 Seals of Excellence were awarded.

The Alumni Forum was chosen for the number of faculty, staff, alumni and students involved and because of the overall success of the program.

Dinner Dance 2002 is history;
Dinner Dance 2004 to be ... on campus!

During a wrap-up meeting following the 2002 dance, Co-chair Joe Ondrusek is given a collection of memorabilia for his service. His wife, Timpy, is at left, and past co-chair and present chair Bobbie Purdy is at right. from Bobbie Purdy (BS ‘67) Co-chair, Dinner Dance Planning Committee

If you were absent from Dinner Dance 2002 this spring at the Omni Dallas Park West Hotel, you missed a wonderful reunion. Though attendance was down a bit from previous years, the merrymaking was far from diminished.
On Friday some 30 golfers vied in friendly competition, eventually being defeated by the team of John K. Smith, Bill Gant, Tony Mandina and Lloyd Pate. Richard Pruitt took the prize for closest to the hole.
The Artemas and Tejas enjoyed separate parties at the Omni Hotel Friday.
Saturday’s afternoon reception was a delightful time of reminiscing and getting reacquainted. Greeting attendees and assisting with registration were Sam McCord, Rheba Icenhower, Jack and Beverly Pirkey, Ken Hudson and Bill and Sally Phillips.
During the dance program that evening, Earl Stubbs narrated a video honoring the 50th Anniversary Class of 1952; Jack and Beverly Pirkey introduced the video focusing on the first social clubs on campus, the Ogimas and the Kalirs; and Winston Williams and Kent Holbert presented the video featuring the first Greek organizations, the Chi Omegas, the Delta Sigma Phis and the Sigma Phi Epsilons.
The numbers of both President Emeritus F.H. “Bub” McDowell and Janet Williams were drawn for door prizes.
Jerry Hyde was busy most of the evening rounding up and attempting to pose the clubs for his much-sought-after group photographs. Night Fall performed golden oldies into the bewitching hour, and the energy on the dance floor was as vigorous and enthusiastic as ever.
“To be or not to be?” That has ever been the question for the Planning Committee following each First Last Dinner Dance. Meeting on August 20th to wrap up business related to Dinner Dance 2002, the Planning Committee once again pondered the question, deemed the last party a success, determined that the hours, weeks and months of planning were worththeir efforts, followed precedence set some 12 years ago after the first dance and decided that Dinner Dance 2004 should indeed be — but this time on the campus of our Alma Mater.
Dinner Dance VIII will bring the Social Clubbers and Greeks home! Though the exact date has yet to be set, it will be during the spring of 2004. Watch The Pride and your mailbox for further information as the committee continues its work.
Members of the Planning Committee are Duaine and Jean Cranford Appleton, Dian Fife, Peggy Bankhead Fox, Kenneth Hudson, Jerry Hyde, Harry and Rheba Martin Icenhower, Alex Kibler, Lee McCasland, Sam McCord, Ernest “Bo” Newton, Bobba Salmon Parker, Jane Jenkins Patman, Bill Phillips, Jack and Beverly Lytle Pirkey, Richard Pruitt, Rip Templeton, Leonard Trapp, Gary and Judy Dandridge Hatch, Kent Holbert, Bill Lowry, John McCasland, Diane LaFerney McDowell, Joe Ondrusek, Bobbie Fleming Purdy and Winston Williams.