Centralight

answers, from page 18. Showroad on the 8 2 1920s During Central's first Homecoming game in 1924 – it was during the brief time that our university had the dragon as a mascot – Professor Oliver W. Troutman and some of his students rushed onto the field at halftime dressed up like a dragon for school spirit. It must have worked. Central beat Alma 13-0. 3 1930s In the 1935 parade, sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma created a float in the shape of the sailboat, which is one of their organization's symbols. For their efforts, the women were awarded 'Most Beautiful Float.' 1940s Helen Elizabeth (Holz) Rooney, the 1948 Homecoming Queen, rides with her court –Grace Dehnke, Joyce Foss, and Noreen Dickinson – down Preston Street. It was a bumpy ride and the weather was blustery. To help you see where they are on campus – the Bovee University Center would later be built to her left. Rooney, 84, passed away on June 13, 2012. 5 1950s The 1955 Homecoming theme was "Big Top." According to the 1956 yearbook, Homecoming began with a warm, sunny morning. The theme continued from the parade onto the field. At halftime, the "members of Central's Gymnastics Team romped onto the field and delighted spectators with a lively interpretation with life under the Big Top. The band, encircling the performers, added to the atmosphere with traditional circus music." 1960s Alpha Sigma Tau and Tau Kappa Epsilon's float featured brands that "washed away the Northern Illinois competition." The 1963 Homecoming theme was "Mad-ison Avenue" and the parade – led by CMU's Marching Band – had 16 floats and two other bands. 6 1980s The Marching Chips have always been an important part of setting the atmosphere for Homecoming weekend. In 1984, they must have really worked up the crowds - CMU beat Bowling Green 42- 21. 4 1970s Connie Wilson, 1972 Homecoming Queen, and her court travel in front of Barnard Hall during the parade. Wilson, the university's first African American Homecoming Queen, said in a CM Life article that 'she ran to see if it was possible.' 1 1990s Instead of large floats, Homecoming Ambassadors – which is like the Homecoming court of yesterday – are pulled in a horse drawn carriage, like shown here in 1998. Homecoming Ambassadors replaced the king and queen in 1997, following a national trend to put more emphasis on university service. The 1998 Homecoming Gold Ambassadors were Jim Cone and Letitia Costilla. 7 centralight fall '12 39

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