http://www.jmu.edu/homecoming/poll.shtml

http://www.jmu.edu/homecoming/blog.shtml

http://www.jmu.edu/commencement/

http://www.jmusports.com/

http://www.jmu.edu/birthday

http://www.jmu.edu/alumni/events/

http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/calendars/

http://www.jmu.edu/alumni/calendar

James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Winter 2009 - Index

right thing at any given moment.” He
used the example of balancing a baton
with your finger. if you stare at the bottom
of the baton, it is a real challenge to
balance it, but if you stare at the top of
the baton, the task is exponentially facilitated.
“Keep your eye on what is really
important,” he advises. Coach McMillin
talked about the great players of the JMU
Dukes football program and told us what
to look for in the day’s game. He still
assists the Dukes’ program and works
with the players on confidence and mental
focus.
Tailgating yummies and football
At 1 p.m., James A. Colbert ii (’00)
and i joined members of tV-3, JMU
development officer tassie Pippert and
alumni relations office graduate assistant
Dan turissini, who were all judges for
the Homecoming 2008 tailgate Spirit
and Food contests. Meal after meal after
meal just got better and better. Many
alumni regarded our job as “a tough
job,” but somebody had to do it. JMU
alumni are so generous; i enjoyed meeting
each one.
Congratulations to ricardo and Bernetta
Hicks (’02P, ’09P) for winning the
2008 tailgate Spirit contest. the Hicks
are the parents of Dukes’ linebacker
reggie Hicks (’09). reggie is a finance
major, and his brother richard Hicks
(’02) was a standout and All-10 defensive
end for the JMU football team. Congrats
also to Floyd Spencer for his “Duke Dogmore
Stew,” which won the 2008 tailgate
entrée contest. [Learn who won the
Homecoming banner contest and the
alumni group winners at www.jmu.edu/
homecoming/poll.shtml].
After a brief trip to the Leeolou Alumni
Center — to check out some Madison
memorabilia — our group headed to
Bridgeforth Stadium to see the Dukes
clobber Delaware. At halftime President
and Mrs. rose presented the Mr. and
Miss Madison awards to seniors Andy
Gibson and Chiquita King. the Marching
royal Dukes and Color Guard performed
a stupendous show, as usual. And,
the JMU Office of Alumni relations
announced next year’s Homecoming
theme — Under the Big top.
After halftime, the Dukes scored
touchdown after touchdown after touch-
down. the final score was 41-7, and the
Dukes were looking good. My prediction:
who wants to carpool to the championship
game in Chattanooga, tenn?
Stepping out
the annual Step Show hosted by the
Center for Multicultural Student Services
was the last Saturday event. we had backstage
ViP passes (thanks, Jess in alumni
relations!), so we got to meet some of the
steppers. it was a heck of a show.
Sunday, Nov. 2
the Homecoming wrap-Up Brunch at
the Leeolou Alumni Center was full of
reconnecting alumni. i was again happy
to see my friends from the Class of 1968,
Carol Beale Drago, Lorie Scarce touart
and e. Carole McClananhan. they told
me stories of professor Andrew Mahler
— a “one-man-show when it came to
his Shakespeare class.” they also kidded
around about their Spotswood
dorm mother, who would check their
rooms for “made beds, cleanliness and
dust.” Dreaded call-downs followed a
dirty room inspection. Students earned
demerits if they didn’t “sign out with
their dates” or were caught wearing long
pants in public. Carole Beale Drago (’68)
used to skateboard down the hill behind
Spotswood Hall and would jump off
before she went into route 11. She is still
surprised she didn’t kill herself. Curfews
became later as students became upperclasswomen,
but never past midnight.
the 1968 classmates also remembered
“forbidden locations” where Madison
College women were not allowed to visit,
including the Dairy Queen because of its
“bad reputation.” Betty ritenour wagner
(’68) says she did go to Dairy Queen with
her father since she was a day student,
and she found it amusing that this place
she knew so well was prohibited. She also
had to have her father and brother on
the “approved list” to pick her up from
school. Madison rules may have changed,
but alumni will all agree, the Madison
experience is something that will stick
with all of us our entire life.
Make your plans now to be in the ’Burg
for Homecoming 2009. M
✱ See what you missed this year and view
more photos and a video at www.jmu.edu/
homecoming/blog.shtml
H o m e c o m I N g 2 0 0 8
Madison events
dec. 11
Charlotte Alumni Chapter
Holiday Party
Hosts: Steve (’78) and
Dee Dee Leeolou (’78)
Harrisonburg Alumni
Professional Network
Breakfast in the Festival Ballroom
dec. 13
Winter Commencement
www.jmu.edu/commencement
Atlanta Chapter Holiday Party
Zoolights at the Oregon Zoo
Portland Spirit City
dec. 17
Fredericksburg Chapter
Holiday Social
jan. 9
Metro D.C. Alumni Chapter
Job Fair
jan. 22
Richmond Alumni Chapter
Networking Dinner
March 12-15
JMU hosts
2009 Colonial Athletic
Association Women’s Basketball
Championship Tournament
www.jmusports.com
March 18
2009 James Madison Day
www.jmu.edu/birthday
Alumni group and
chapter events:
www.jmu.edu/alumni/events
What’s up in the ’Burg?
www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/calendars/
For more information on any of these
events, please call the JMU alumni office
toll free 1- (888) JMU-ALUM, or visit
www.jmu.edu/alumni/calendar/.
winter 2009
AlumniNews
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