We asked you to tell us your memories of your first UNM Homecoming.
And you said…
My first memories were of the 1950 Homecoming. I was a freshman and new Kappa, and I can't remember anything until I go check an annual and see how our football team did. I was cheering with my new found friends, I'm sure, no matter what. I think I was just in awe of the whole affair.
—Kay Anderson, '54 BA, Kent, Washington
My roommate was Homecoming queen as I recall. (June Stratton)
—Margaret Holcomb, Tryon, North Carolina
It was fall, 1938. We freshmen spent the night from dark till dawn guarding the big pile of wood slated for the bonfire next day. An outhouse was perched atop the pile. A carload of sophomores drove up to the woodpile and threw homemade incendiary bombs into it. The bombs were made by dissolving phosphorous in carbon disulfide and filling old radio vacuum tube with the solution. It splattered on some freshman's legs to which first aid and bandages were applied. Most of the wood was saved. As the sun rose, the aroma from a nearby bakery floated in and we bought bags of fresh cinnamon rolls.
—John F. Nicholas, '42 BS, Liverpool, New York
My first homecomng was 54 years ago--the fall of 1953, my freshman year at UNM College of Pharmacy. Yes, I was one of the "golden graduates" this year. Other than a lot of work in college, the standout occasions were the big bonfire where Johnson Gym is now located—the game (I could never remember who played us and how it turned out), and the end was the best—we had Les Brown and his Band of Renown—one of the super big name dance bands of the 20th century. I enjoyed dancing, but to dance to a super band was double super. Just a note: It seems like UNM used to have a big name band at every spring fiesta and at every homecoming while I was a student those four years—very impressive times.
—Dennis S. Peña, '57 BSPH, Albuquerque
My first year at UNM, 1950. I worked all night on someone's float and slept through the game and all the festivities. Oh well.
—LR Starkey, '58 BSEE, Fort Worth, Texas
My first UNM Homecoming was in 1981 (a very long time ago and yet just like yesterday!) I was a Tri Delt and a little sister of Sig Ep. I remember going up on campus to help the nominee from our house for Queen garner votes and show Greek support. I remember putting up the display at the house and helping the fraternities in the area (not just Sig Ep) with their displays as other Tri Delts pulled us over to help! It was a busy time the night before the big football game and all the homecoming activities on campus that weekend. Long nights and good friendship!
—Robin Stubenhofer, '85 BSME, Overland Park, Kansas
I was still a student—must have been 75-76 because the class of 50 was celebrating its 25th reunion and I was working at the Daily LOBO. I decided it would be fun to have a reunion gathering in the newsroom of previous LOBO staffers, and searched old papers for names, contacting those I could find in the phone book (I never thought to connect with Bub Henry in the SUB). Several former staffers came (in suits, it showed the age differences right away), several current staffers dropped by on our only day-off—a Saturday. It was fun! Then there was the year PM Duffy Ingrassia was crowned at Homecoming—was that before 1975? If so, that would be my first Homecoming memory.
—Susan Walton, '77 BA, Albuquerque
My first Homecoming at UNM was in 1947, and it was all new to me. I remember working with Alpha Phi Omega beginning in 1948 or 49 in decorating all the buildings with luminarias. We had sand hauled in and set up a block and tackle system to lift all the supplies to the tops of the buildings. I particularly remember putting them up on the library "tower" and that was scary. Then, my social fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, won the float contest with our float the "Anileator," which was a Nile River barge and one of our members, Frank Cullen, dressed like a very "bosomy " Cleopatra, who threw grapes to all the onlookers!! That was a lot of work to build but was lots of fun.
—John Zutavern, Abilene, Kansas