Alumni History, 1925-1930

The First Homecoming –
Snake Dancing at Half-time!

In 1925, UNM President David Spence Hill invited alumni back to the campus for the first Homecoming celebration. Students rose to the occasion and showed alumni their support. The event began with a pep rally and a bonfire over 20 feet high. On Saturday, students had a parade of floats downtown, and fraternities and sororities decorated their houses. The climax was a football game against Arizona. Snake dancers entertained the crowd at half-time. UNM lost 24-0. But for the first time in five years, the stands were packed and athletics made money.

Student-Alumni Baseball Game (Alumni lost.)

The thrill of Homecoming 1925 did not carry over into the next year and the Association was inactive again. In 1927, the presidency of the University changed and then-acting President James F. Zimmerman encouraged the reactivation of the Association. Alumni Day was declared May 28. In addition to the traditional dinner and dance, a new activity was planned. Senior class members challenged alumni to a baseball game. Alumni lost.

At the Association's reaquest, Zimmerman proposed several projects for members. He suggested publishing a newsletter, starting a scholarship fund, assisting athletics in selling tickets, and recruiting high school students from around the state. Alumni went further by planning to help the University in obtaining money from Santa Fe. Alumni President Kenneth Balcomb, '16, wrote:

"If the alumni will take care of these things, the long-haired profs and the be-spectacled managers of the Institution will grind out the abstract matters of the curriculum…"

The Alumni News

Alumni began publishing their first newsletter, The Alumni News, in 1928. They organized clubs throughout the state to recruit students, establish a student loan fund, sell football tickets, and raise money for library books, equipment, and buildings. But for all of their successes, the alumni baseball team, The Has Beens, lost to seniors again that year.

The following year, a reorganized homecoming featured a bonfire, floats, house decorations, a dinner, and dancing. Freshmen women wore green ribbons in their hair and put their dresses and coats on Backwards. Undergraduate men had a pajama parade. The football team played Arizona and lost 6-0, but Homecoming was declared a success.

Make the University Second to None

In 1930, UNM created an administrative position dedicated to alumni matters. Tom L. Popejoy, '25, was named executive secretary. Alumni President Ray McCanna, '17, listed new objectives for the Association: increase legislative appropriations, help students find jobs, and support athletics. The Great Depression did not dampen the spirit of the campus. Alumni wrote letters to their senators and representatives on behalf of UNM, established a student employment bureau, and conducted an aggressive sales campaign for football tickets. They adopted the motto: "Make the University Second to None."

Class reunions at Homecoming began in 1931 with 25-year graduates. Pearce C. Rodey served as the Association's president in 1937-39. During his presidency, the Alumni Lettermen's Club was revived at Homecoming.