Volume 8 , Issue 44

2006 - NWOSU's Homecoming

Is that the Homeland security administering 'crowd control' before the NWOSU Homecoming parade begins?

All this week, we have noticed Alva and NW Oklahoma has been primping, gussing up their streets around the downtown square area, in preparation for Northwestern Oklahoma State University's (NWOSU) annual homecoming parade this Saturday, 10:00 a.m., November 4, 2006.

This year Jim Barker was choosen as "Honorary Parade Marshall." There were lots of Old cars, convertibles carrying beauty queen, contestants, dignitaries and small marching bands from schools around the northwest Oklahoma area. Click on this short movie clip to hear, see "Ride Ranger Ride played by the Ranger marching band.

Do you remember when you were a youngster, perhaps in the early 1950's when the town of Alva (Oklahoma), Northwestern State College and Brooks Bicknell and his group would bring the "Big Show" entertainers to town for Northwestern's homecoming show and coronation, which was held at the Perciful fieldhouse? Everybody from miles around would get dressed in in their finest formal attire to attend the Big Show and Cinderella Coronation.

If we are remembering correctly in the mid-1960's Sonny and Cher were scheduled to be here, but never showed. Not sure why, though. After that, the town quit handling the homecoming and big show -- the college took over control of the whole thing. Seems like Northwestern's homecoming went downhill after that and dwindled in size and production. We hate to say this, BUT... Northwestern Oklahoma could sure use another Brooks Bicknell and his team of people to bring the "pomp & big production" back into Northwestern's Homecoming!

Remember the parades, marching bands, floats from all over that began at Northwestern's campus and marched down College Avenue (6th Street) and down towards Alva's downtown square (counter-clockwise) and ended up at Washington School playground?

The floats were works of art from the College, elementary schools, businesses and other towns around there. At the churches on College Avenue there would be all sorts of food booths with all baked goods, sloppy joes, bar-b-cue sandwiches and drinks.

Your folks would go park their cars along the route to save a spot for elder relatives to sit while the youngsters got to sit on the curbs to watch the parade of bands, floats marching past.

We miss the way it used to be and wonder if they will ever recapture the crowd and glory of the parades in the past. It seems like the bands, floats, crowds have slimmed down. The parade always ends in a few horses, riders and manure scoopers and begins with wailing sirens of police, ambulance and fire trucks. We do enjoy a good marching band to clap and stomp our feet in time to the music, though.
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