HOMECOMING 2011

...... -nn MIZZOU HOMECOMING

Hom.e Brewered

In 1911, Chester Brewer orchestrated Mizzou's first Homecoming. Now the late, great athletic director and coach will be honored as the centennial event's grand marshal.

IF THE were to graduate, Brewer began install a Mount Rushmore of influential his career at Mizzou in 1910 figures from its 172-year history, the kindly as director of athletics visage of Chester Leland Brewer would and professor of physical be among the featured faces. He was an training. He passionately intrepid athletic director, a champion for endorsed the value athletics in higher education, a steadfast of competition while proponent of daily exercise and the father coaching baseball, of Mizzou's century-old Homecoming basketball, football tradition. Brewer died in 1953, but the Tiger and track. legend will be honored as grand marshal at "In the college and the event's centennial Oct. 15. university, there is no A University of Wisconsin- Madison question as to the necessity

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of physical education," Brewer said in a two Homecomings -1918 and 1944- since GRAND MARSHALS university assembly address in 1913. "The that 1911 inaugural event (see timeline THROUGH THE YEARS college athlete of today is a clean man. He throughout this section). must be to succeed, and that fact is driven Some of Brewer's descendants, including A variety of alumni and friends into him day after day." his granddaughter, Molly Roland, plan to have been honored over the Brewer left Columbia in 1917 to become a attend the centennial festivities. Although decades by being named grand director for the U.S. Commission on Training Roland did not attend Mizzou, her mother, the marshal. This Mizzou tradition Camp Activities during World War I. After late jean Brewer Miller, BS Ed '53, was a black- began in 1983, and past honor­ stints at Michigan and-gold fanatic. ees are listed below. State University "She used to and the University iron while she 2010, Russ Mitchell, BJ '82 of California, Davis, Chester Brewer urged listened to football 2009, Jon Sundvold, BS BA ' 83, and he returned in 1923 alumni to 'come home' games on the Steve Stipanovich, BES '89 to the University of radio, and when 2008, Juliet Huddy, BA '92 for the annual football 2007, Roger Wehrli, BS Ed '70 Missouri, where he something exciting 2006, David Novak, BJ '74 retired in 1947. game against Kansas on would happen, Nov. 25, 1911. It was the 2005, , BS Ed '56, During his she would shake M Ed '60, and Virginia tenure, he founded start of something big. the iron in the air Zimmerley Stewart, A&S '56 the "M" Men's Club and yell, 'Go, go! ' " 2004, Chuck Roberts, BJ '71 for varsity athletes Roland says. "As a 2003, Sheryl Crow, BS Ed '84 (now Varsity M) and child, I remember 2002, John Anderson, BJ '87 witnessed the basketball team's first Big thinking, I hope that iron doesn't fly across 2001, Jann Carl, BJ '82 2000, John Gordon, BS '68 Six championship in 1930. He oversaw the the room. 1999, Robert Loggia, BJ ' 51, with construction of the Rollins Field bleachers, "Whenever my mother would hear the Melodie Powell, BA '77, JD ' 81, Memorial Stadium and his namesake, Brewer Missouri fight song, she would cry because as acting grand marshal Fieldhouse. that was her whole childhood - being around 1998, James Amos, BA '68 When he urged alumni to "come home" for her father and the university." 1997, Sonja Steptoe, BA, BJ '82 the annual football game against Kansas on Like the portrait of Brewer that still hangs 1996, Bus Entsminger, BS Ed '49, Nov. 25, 1911, Brewer was concerned not only in the Old Varsity Club at the Mizzou Student M Ed 'so 1995, Kellen Winslow, BES '87 about low attendance but also the availability Recreation Complex, the man himself 1994, of room and board in Columbia if people did oversaw much at MU. But for generations of 1993, Norris Stevenson, BS Ed ' 61, show up. Thankfully, city residents opened Tigers, Homecoming has proven to be his M Ed '63, and Melvin " Mel" their homes to alumni, and even Brewer masterstroke. West, BS Ed ' 61, M Ed '69 played hotelier. "I know hundreds of old grads who 1992, Mort Walker, BA' 48 "We must have had 10 or 15 at my home," haven't missed a Homecoming in fifteen 1991, Roger Wilson, M Ed '86 he told The Kansas City Star. "They were years," Brewer told The Missouri Student 1990, Phil Bradley, BS BA '82 stretched out on cots in almost every room." newspaper in the early 1930s - a statement 1989, Dick Richards, BS ChE '69, and Debbye Turner, DVM '91 The record crowd of 9,000-plus at Rollins that still rings true in 2011. "Every year 1988, Donald W. Reynolds, BJ '27 Field witnessed a 3-3 tie, thanks to Tiger Homecoming gets bigger and bigger as the 1987, Bob Broeg, BJ'41 captain Glen Shuck's game-saving kick with university has more alumni and friends." lll 1986, Tom Kennedy, A&S ' 51 four minutes remaining. - Marcus Wilkins 1985, Harold " Spider" Burke, BA '54 The tradition caught fire, fueled by 1984, , BS Ag '25, MA '27

enthusiastic alumni and border-rivalry """" SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF. THE CHESTER BREWER FAMILY'S 1983, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, passions, and Columbia has hosted all but Pc scRAPsooK 1MAGes. 1M1 zzo u MAGAz1Ne.coM BA '69

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