A Walk Down Memory Lane
As we approach another exciting Homecoming, we want to remember all the unforgettable moments and the pride that come with celebrating it. Whether it's the electric energy of the football game or heartwarming reunions with old friends, Golden Flash memories are the heart and soul of our tradition. We invited our cherished alumni to take a walk down memory lane and here are some of their favorite memories from the good ol鈥 days.
Have golden Homecoming memories to tell?
Marc Miller, 鈥71
When I tell people who performed at our Homecoming they are quite surprised!
Ray Charles and Mitch Ryder played concerts and Louis Armstrong performed at the Homecoming dance during Homecoming 1967. Tickets cost $2-2.50 for the Ray Charles concert, where the crowd capacity at Memorial Gymnasium was indeed a happening. (The Daily 青年涩导航r, Sept. 29 and Oct. 24, 1967)
Morgan Marshall, B.A.鈥19, B.S.N. 鈥21
Being on the 2018 青年涩导航 Homecoming Court! I loved celebrating that day with my friends and family. Even better, all of my family members are graduates of 青年涩导航! It was such a special day. I made so many friends on court and got to do so many cool things! It's a memory I won't forget.
Vanessa Jackson-Moxley, 鈥98
Black alumni tailgate is always a great vibe! We are college sweethearts 28 years later!
Karen Turner, 鈥78
Tailgating with my sorority sisters in Delta Sigma Theta sorority. This picture was from Homecoming 2021.
Lisa Aurilio, 鈥87, M.S.N. 鈥99, M.B.A. 鈥11
Building the Students for Professional Nursing float and being in the parade in 1986. KSU nurses have the 鈥渉eart鈥 of Rock 鈥檔鈥 Roll.
Rachel Gross, 鈥21
My favorite memory is when my boyfriend and I started dating the Homecoming of our sophomore year. That was in 2019, and we now have a house and two cats together. It's my favorite memory of Kent Homecoming.
Keeltouma Guerch, 鈥09, 鈥11
Two unforgettable memories: Breakfast with Daniel F. Mahony, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Services in his casual outfit, everlasting welcoming smile and unparalleled modesty (I am the girl with a headscarf in the photo). And representation of scenes from The Color Purple movie by a group of Black students and the Kent community. Because Alice Walker's book is among my half-dozen favorite reads, I really appreciated that show which featured most of the epic characters in the book.
Olivia Williams, 鈥22
I broke my foot a week before, and I was DETERMINED to make it everywhere for Homecoming 2019!
Emilian V White, 鈥75
Kathy Hill, sponsored by Omega Psi Phi, is crowned KSU鈥檚 first Black Homecoming queen鈥攁ctually, the first Homecoming royalty. Prior to the selection of finalists, members of the Kent Women鈥檚 Action Collective and the Kent Gay Liberation Front protested the competition as sexist and not representative of 青年涩导航. For the first time, the Homecoming court included a male, Lee Paull. (The Daily 青年涩导航r, Oct. 17, 1974)
Beth Dixon, 鈥91
Hubby and I are 鈥89 and 鈥91 grads. Our 鈥23 grad daughter is still the face of the Homecoming page!
Additional Memories
Ron Britt, 鈥68
My favorite memories are the amazing entertainment. We had the pleasure of seeing so many talented performers during Homecoming, including Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Steve and Edie Gorme and Dionne Warwick.
Linda Renkenberger, 鈥63
My first KSU Homecoming was in 1960, my freshman year. Being on campus for only a few weeks, I learned right away the proper dress code to attend the game. Girls were in dresses/skirts, heels or flats and guys in suits or sport coats. A definite memory! At Homecoming 2022 girls sitting around me had on pajama bottoms.
Glenn Carroll, 鈥72
Football games, Homecoming parade and fraternity parties.
Linda Fifer, 鈥74, M.A. 鈥75
During the Flashes' winning football game that led to the Tangerine Bowl, I watched Jack Lambert make valuable plays, sitting near the 40 yard line. But my favorite was Grog, the Flashes' mascot at the time. Apparently, one of the ways Grog taunted the opposing team was to stick his tongue out at their fans. Unfortunately, the tongue was not attached and fell out of Grog's mouth. Part of the hilarity was Grog trying to ask for help to retrieve his tongue. The win was worth it!
Rob Brock, 鈥67
It was always building my fraternity's float for the parade down Main Street. We spent many hours for many weeks working on it, but always spent the night before on an all-nighter to finish the work. It was a bonding experience, and I cherish the memories to this day.
Sherrie Graham, 鈥74
My memories of Homecoming begin with the excitement and energy of the week. Getting ready for the game and being a part of the athletic department made it all worthwhile. I had the honor of being in a photograph that the Record Courier ran with an article that talked about tailgating at the stadium. Somewhere I have the photo in my album. The excitement of the students and their families coming the day before the game and on game day brings lots of joy and comradery.
Sherry Molnar Deibel, 鈥75, M.Ed. 鈥77
My friends and I loved going to the games. We especially enjoyed watching the cheerleading team. They were entertaining and performed physically challenging lifts. One of the cheerleaders looked similar to the Door's lead singer Jim Morrison. The 青年涩导航 team and cheerleaders kept us coming for as many games as possible.
Michael Hyduk, 鈥85
Shaking hands and receiving a a high-five from the grand marshal, the one and only Mr. Joe Walsh!
Kevin Pyle, 鈥77
In 1997, my brother (Class of 1967), my dad (Class of 1947) and I (Class of 1977) attended Homecoming together. My wife and I were also thrilled to meet Shari Hiller and Matt Fox from "Room by Room" which we watched regularly.
Marsha Frazier-Lord, 鈥74
In 1973, my best friend Shirley Waehner Pickton, B.A. 鈥74, B.S. 鈥75, and I were both on the Homecoming court. Our fathers escorted us across the field with Glen Olds, president, and Don James, coach. Jack Lambert was the linebacker for 青年涩导航 and went on to be the MVP and played for the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after we graduated. The 70s were a great time to be at KSU. We had a lot of iconic characters. Both Nick Saben and Gary Pinkel went on to be head coaches after being players and assistant coaches to Don James. Those are the good ol鈥 days for sure!
Jeff Goyer, 鈥71
I signed up for a "computer" match for a homecoming date. It matched me with a girl from my hometown. We danced to Louis Armstrong. He was playing on a stage in the basketball gym. Kent always had first rate entertainment.