“Say it With Music”
The theme of the 1966 Homecoming was “Say it With Music,” and the two-day celebrations would prove that WMU’s 43rd Homecoming did, in fact, say it with music. Musical note cut-outs were distributed throughout campus, and the evening dances featured multiple performances from popular bands and orchestras.
On October 21 and 22, 1966 the temperatures reached the low 60s in Kalamazoo. Festivities would begin on Friday with the TGIF Bash in the University Student Center, and include “Yell Like Hell” (the first at WMU), the annual Mud Bowl near Goldsworth Valley (in which 3,000 spectators were expected to watch a group of sorority co-eds and a group of women from the residence halls “tangle”), a Pep Rally (and Bonfire, Fireworks, and Snake Dance), a concert in Read Fieldhouse and other evening festivities—and that’s just Friday. The Western Herald reported that Saturday (October 22) would be “highlighted by the usual parade, teas, luncheons and Bronco Barbecue for the alumni, Western-Toledo football game in Waldo Stadium at 1:30 p.m. and the two Homecoming dances in the evening.”
Click here to see the full schedule and to read the viewpoint, “Alumni Won’t Find Western the Same.”
|
| Homecoming Queen, Rita Hemela, was introduced with her court on Friday evening. She gave a “royal proclamation” and the snake dance began. This image and text are from the 1967 Brown and Gold Yearbook. |
From the October 21, 1966 edition of the Western Herald
“Thinks She Should Ride White Charger: Members of WMU’s First Graduation Class to Lead the Parade.”
Mrs. Warren Carlton was the only surviving graduate of Western’s class of 1905 in 1966, and she was chosen to lead the Homecoming parade. She remarked that she thought she should ride in on a white horse as the Grand Marshall. Carlton attended Western for one year and graduated with a life-time teaching certificate.
Mrs. Carlton also made her opinion clear on “beatniks and other unshaven, sloppy persons” (she didn’t like them), and modern girls’ appearances (she didn’t think they seemed to care).
It was by luck, or misfortune, that Mrs. Carlton served as Grand Marshall. She said that she had wanted to attend Kalamazoo College but her father didn’t have enough money, so she went to Western instead.
Read the full article here.
The 43rd Homecoming game was set to kick off at 1:30 on Saturday, October 22, 1966 and it wasn’t going to be an easy win for the Broncos. The Toledo Rockets had quite the “pass flinger” and Coach Doolittle said “We’re working real hard this week on pass defense and we’re aware that Toledo won’t be any pushover.”
The Broncos won 14-13.
“Events of Homecomings Past”
Each year the Herald revisited the Homecomings of the past, beginning with the first in 1924. In 1925, there was a “dancing party in the women’s gymnasium.” In 1927, Western lost 0-6 to Ypsilanti, with over 300 alumni watching. In 1939, Waldo Stadium was dedicated (it was one week after Waldo’s death). In 1942, cars or trucks were prohibited from the parade “in keeping with the mode set by the war emergency.” The best skit received a $25 war bond.
On the same page, an ad for the Golden Skillet promised “something new in Kalamazoo” and encouraged fans to use a 30 cent coupon to purchase fried chicken to take to the game; a whole chicken cost $1.99 with the coupon.
From the MyWMU Archives – 1966 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Mr. Jack B. Olson (B.S. ’42) was the fourth graduate to receive the WMU Distinguished Alumni Award. Aside from serving as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas, Mr. Olson served three terms as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, and a PT boat commander in the Navy during World War II. Read more about him, here.
The October 25, 1966 Western Herald reported “Homecoming ’66 is Huge Success.” In all, there were 43 house displays and 34 floats. Tau Kappa Epsilon “once again, for the third year in a row, took the over-all title for the Best Float and the Best House Display.”
All photos are from the 1967 Brown & Gold Yearbook.