Billie Floyd, a longtime educator, Oklahoma state senator and civic leader, will serve as the grand marshal of East Central University’s 2016 Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. on Main Street in Ada.
The theme for this year’s homecoming is “Orange is the New You.”
The parade is one of many activities geared toward ECU alumni and friends as well as current ECU students, faculty and staff on Saturday.
The big event Thursday is an appearance by comedian Paul Reiser, who starred in the 1990s hit TV show “Mad About You.” Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by contacting the ECU Box Office via email at boxoffice@ecok.edu or by calling 580-559-5751. Passes are also available for the 2016-17 ECU Fine Arts Season.
On Friday, the annual Alumni Golf Tournament will take place at the Oak Hills Golf and Country Club with an 11:30 a.m. burger lunch and a 1 p.m. shotgun start for play.
Saturday’s activities will be highlighted by the annual Golden Tiger Brunch at 11 a.m. in Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Stadium. The brunch is for Golden Tigers (alumni who attended and/or graduated 50 years ago or longer). The football game with Oklahoma Baptist University will kick off at 6 p.m. on Norris Field at Koi Ishto Stadium and an alumni social will conclude the activities at 10 p.m. at the Oak Hills Country Club in Ada.
A comprehensive list of activities for homecoming week is below.
During her 30 years at ECU, Floyd organized the first Special Olympics games in Oklahoma, developed Red Cross swimming programs and was a founding member of both the Pontotoc Animal Welfare Society and PAST (Preserving Area Stories in Time).
Floyd has been active in the Ada community and at ECU. She wrote the grant that established the Tri-County Indian Nations Community Development Corp., an Enterprise Community serving Coal, Johnston and Pontotoc counties, and serves on the New Horizons Sheltered Workshop Board of Directors. She was chairman for Ada's Centennial Celebration in 2001 and supervises ECU's resident-year teachers.
The Billie Fathree Floyd Elementary Physical Education Scholarship was established in her honor at ECU by family and friends in 2012.
FULL LIST OF ECU HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES
MONDAY, SEPT. 19
Hypnotist at 7 p.m. at the Ataloa Theatre
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20
Trivia Contest at 6 p.m. in the Stanley Wagner Ballroom
September Poetry Series, featuring Ron Wallace, at 6:30 p.m. in Estep Multimedia Center of Bill S. Cole University Center
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Powderpuff Football at 7 p.m. at Koi Ishto Stadium
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22
Volleyball: ECU vs. Southeastern at 7 p.m. in the Kerr Activities Center
Paul Reiser Comedy at 7:30 p.m. at the Ataloa Theatre
Bon Fire and Pep Rally at 9 p.m. at Koi Ishto Stadium
FRIDAY, SEPT. 23
Alumni Golf Tournament: lunch at 11:30 a.m. First tee off at 1 p.m. at the Oak Hills Golf and Country Club
Stonecipher School of Business Alumni/Stakeholder Reception, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Vintage 22
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
Athletic Alumni Meeting at 10 a.m. in Synergistic Learning Center
BSU Alumni Celebration, 10:30 a.m., at ECU Baptist Student Union
Golden Tiger Brunch at 11 a.m. in Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center
Homecoming Parade at 2 p.m.
ZTA Open House, 3 p.m. in ZTA Lounge
Tailgating 3 p.m.-6 p.m. in Alumni Alley
Honors Homecoming at 4 p.m. in Faust Hall, Room 159
Band Alumni Meeting at 4 p.m. in Kennedy Band Hall
Football Game: ECU vs. Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. at Koi Ishto Stadium (Alumni band members will perform the fight song with the Pride of Tigerland at halftime)
Alumni Social at 10 p.m. at the Oak Hills Country Club.
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