An announcement concerning the schedule of events for Homecoming 1968 was included in the June 1 issue of the Hillsdale Alumni Magazine.
Homecoming 1968 (June 1, 1968)
(Hillsdale Alumni Magainze/Courtesy)
Homecoming, 1968 at Hillsdale is scheduled for the most beautiful time of the year in the colorful hills of Southern Michigan. It features a football game with one of Hillsdale’s greatest rivals in the modern era, Central Michigan. It will be held on October 11, 12 and 13.
With so many things in its favor, Homecoming, 1968 is expected to attract one of the largest crowds of returning alumni in Hillsdale’s history for a big weekend of reunions, reminiscence and good fellowship on the campus. It will give many alumni who have not been back on campus during the past few years a fine opportunity to see the many physical advancements of the college. And to those who wonder about youth today, it will be a chance to renew their faith in the kind of an education Hillsdale provides when they see the fine group of undergraduates now on campus.
Ihe weekend will commence with the tall meeting of the Board of Trustees on Friday followed by the Trustee-Alumni Achievement Awards Dinner to honor several outstanding alumni now being selected by the Faculty-Alumni Committee. On Saturday, registration and a complimentary continental breakfast will give alumni an opportunity to get together in the lounge of the Dow Conference Center from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Lunch will be served in Curtiss Dining Hall and in the various Greek houses for returning guests. The football game will start at 2:30 and the pre-game band show by the Jackson High School band will start at 2:20. Traditional half time ceremonies will feature the crowning of the Homecoming Queen and following the game there will be a coffee hour in the Women’s Gym. Another outstanding smorgasbord honoring the Alumni Achievement Award winners will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 in Curtiss. An all alumni party will be held at the Stadium Rink on M-99 beginning at 8:30 and the Homecoming Ball will be a two band affair in Curtiss and the Knorr Student Center from 9:00 to 1:00. On Sunday breakfast will be served from 8:30 in Curtiss and in the Snack Bar. Alumni are invited to attend Hillsdale church services.
An added attraction to many alumni will be the opening of the Michigan International Speedway at Cambridge Junction on U.S. 12, Sunday, October 13. This two mile, high speed track is just 22 miles from Hillsdale and will open with a 250 mile National Championship race for Indianapolis type cars.
A colorful half time band show will again be part of the big Homecoming Weekend at Hillsdale this year.
Months later, after homecoming had finished, the Alumni Magazine ran a feature on the festivities.
Homecoming! (November 1, 1968)
As forenoon blended into afternoon, the trek “down College Street” to Stock Field gained momentum. By gametime, over 6,000 fans had arrived for the Charger-Central Michigan football game and one of the college’s most memorable half time shows.
With excellent support by the Jackson High School marching band, “Charge On!” made its debut as the new college fight song under the direction of its composer Jerry Bilik, widely-known arranger and orchestrator of numerous collegiate tunes. Carol (Scotty) English was crowned as Homecoming Queen by Student Federation President Bill Friedeman. Court members were Susan Barber, Linda Galley, Mary Lenning and Jane Partyka.
Moments later, with a magnificent flourish, “Hillsdale” walked proudly to the 50 yard line. Hillsdale, the famed racehorse named in honor of Muddy Waters’ 1957 national small college champs and runnerup “Horse of the Year” in 1959, was transported to the campus from Lexington, Kentucky, at the expense of his owner, C. W. Smith of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, to officialy launch the new “Charger” athletic nickname. Proud and poised — and with an affinity for the queen’s bouquet of roses — “Hillsdale” drew an enthusiastic ovation from Homecoming spectators.
Halftime recognition was given by President Phillips to four alumni honored the previous evening at the Trustee-Alumni Achievement Awards dinner. Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to Dr. Charles R. Donnelly, ’41, President of Flint Community Junior College; Capt. John W. Fair, USN, ’42, staff officer to the Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet; Edwyn H. Hames, ’43, founder and conductor of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and retired chairman of the Hillsdale College music department and humanities division; and Donald R. Mossey, ’51, mobile home manufacturing executive. Also given special commendation was Dr. Rosecrance, who marked his 23rd year as a Hillsdale College trustee and his 20th year as chairman of the board.
Rounding out the busy day’s activities was a postgame coffee hour, an especially tasteful and colorful Saga Foods smorgasbord, showing of “No Kept Citizens”, the alumni gathering at the M-99 Roller Stadium and the Student Federation Homecoming Ball in Knorr Student Center. At the latter event, winning Homecoming decorations — based on the theme “Disney’s World” — were announced with Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Tau Delta selected for top honors.
Much credit for the smooth-running success of Homecoming Weekend is attributed to student coordinators Marty Millhon, Kris Place, John Warren, Jill Ross, Linda Eddy and Bill Friedeman; assistant alumni director Lillian Comar, and alumni association president Roger Bisschop.
It was a weekend of perfect fall weather; of countless reunions and new friendships; of an exciting flurry of events and activities — it was Homecoming Weekend ’68, at Hillsdale College and one of its most enjoyable ever.
Premier of the new college fight song, “Charge On” was played by the fine Jackson High School marching band and was directed by the composer, Jerry Bilik of Ann Arbor.
