Since I last wrote to you, we have been through a busy and amazing time at the alumni association. We again “Rocked the Roundhouse,” honored some very special alums at our annual awards banquet, brought homecoming back to campus — and set new standards for attendance and bedlam at the pep rallies during the MVC Men’s Basketball Tournament.
In reflecting on those and other Shocker happenings, I first want to thank everyone who again attended and supported Rockin’ the Roundhouse. We understand today’s challenging economic circumstances, but your loyalty to your university and the alumni association made the event a success beyond what we could have reasonably expected.
I also want to thank Gov. Mark Parkinson ’80, who has been, I am happy to report, a familiar face at association events this year. In addition to speaking on campus as one of five distinguished alumni in our 2009-2010 breakfast series, he and his wife Stacy attended a post-Shocker basketball game party in Kansas City and an Arch Madness pep rally in St. Louis. And this spring, the Governor will participate in an alumni event in Topeka.
The decision to bring back homecoming after 20 years met with mixed reactions, primarily because we took the non-traditional approach of tying festivities to a winter basketball game. After you check out the Homecoming 2010 story and photos, I think you’ll agree with my feeling that it’s the perfect time to return homecoming to its annual place in WSU’s schedule of events.
Finally, and with great sadness, I would like us to pause and take a moment amidst all this talk of Shocker things to remember one of Wichita State’s and the alumni association’s biggest champions, George Fahnestock ’69, who died Jan. 14. I cannot say enough about this Shocker and friend, so I’ll simply say, “We will miss you, George.”
