Southeast Missouri State University
For more information, contact:
Ann K. Hayes (573) 651-2552
ahayes@semo.edu

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HOMECOMING PARADE TO FEATURE FLOATS WITH VIDEO GAME THEME

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Oct. 11, 2002 – Stake out your spot, pull up your lawn chair and enjoy the show at the annual Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming parade scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 19 on Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

Youths who are products of the ‘80s and ‘90s are in for a special treat because this year’s floats will depict video games of the techno-era, including Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, Zelda and Mega Man. There’s no need to bring your GameCube or XBox, though, because the parade, with its nearly 140 entries, will provide plenty of entertainment throughout the morning.

Angie Grissom of the University Advancement office and Homecoming parade coordinator, said the Southeast Student Alumni Association wanted this year’s floats to exemplify the direction of the new era, with a focus on technology, computers and electronics.

“This is the group who grew up with video games,” she said.

This year’s parade, which is one of the largest in the region, will begin at Capaha Park and run east on Broadway from West End Blvd. to Main Street. The parade then runs south on Main.

Donald C. Bedell, a Sikeston, Mo., businessman, who currently serves as chairman of the board of Health Facilities Management Corporation, will serve as parade marshal. Bedell's company operates nursing homes in Missouri, Arizona and Arkansas. A 1,000-plus-seat performance hall on the proposed River Campus will be named in Bedell's honor after he made a seven-figure gift last fall to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation to support this effort. His son, Donald B. "Brad" Bedell, serves as a member of the University's Board of Regents.

The parade will feature 19 area marching bands, including the University’s Golden Eagles Marching Band, 12 large floats, about eight smaller floats, and a multitude of other truck/trailer entries. Floats currently are being built at a number of sites around Cape Girardeau, primarily by Greek fraternities and sororities, with the addition of several community-built float entries.

Also in the parade will be three color guards, including the American Legion color guard, the University’s Air Force R.O.T.C. color guard and the New Madrid County Central Junior R.O.T.C. Drill Team.

The parade will feature a number of dignitaries, among them members of the Homecoming Court; retiring Man and Woman of the Year, Tom Foley and Merideth McDowell; Robert Cox, National Alumni Council president; this year’s Alumni Merit and Faculty Merit Award winners; Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University; and Jane Stacy, director of alumni services.

Grissom says entries in the parade will begin lining up at 7:30 a.m. in Capaha Park, where floats will be preliminarily judged. Joy Benton of the University’s Printing and Duplicating office and who serves as a parade advisor, will be on hand at that time to assist with final details.

Final judging occurs on Broadway in front of the KFVS-TV Tower. Winning floats will be announced, and the Man and Woman of the Year will be crowned at half time of the Southeast vs. Eastern Illinois Homecoming football game at 1 p.m. at Houck Stadium.

For those unable to attend the Homecoming parade, you can tune into KZIM Radio at 960 on the AM dial, where parade commentary will be carried live from Zimmer Radio at 324 Broadway.

 

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