Westminster College Homecoming Continues Sesquicentennial Celebration

Westminster College Sesquicentennial Celebration continues with Homecoming festivities Friday-Sunday, Oct. 11-13, and features the Heinz Hitch pulled by the legendary Percheron horses leading the parade Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

The weekend kicks off Friday at 1 p.m. when the Golden Tower Society (alumni of the class of 1952 or earlier) comes together in Ferguson lounge. Alumni can take a campus tour of new construction, watch the Student Government Association's annual Powder Puff Football competition, or join the Friends of the Library "Tea with the Books." At 5:30 p.m. in the field next to the Physical Plant building, there will be a demonstration of the nineteenth century H.J. Heinz Co. delivery wagon, complete with its eight black Percheron horse team that weigh more than one ton each.

Friday continues with a Citation Celebration Dinner where Westminster recognizes its own with citation and achievement awards. This year's recipients include Dr. John E. Davis, Theodore S. Kerr, Donald J. Mitchell, and Harriet Jackson Sarver.

Davis, a 1941 Westminster graduate, took his music degree to the military where he was a Warrant Officer Band Leader of the 9th Armored Division who played for President Roosevelt. After military service and advanced studies, his career took him to Green Mountain Junior College, where he conducted a band for future president General Dwight Eisenhower. Davis finished his career as professor of music at Bradley University, where he spent 31 years. Currently a Professor Emeritus of Voice, his Bradley Choral has performed in 11 European countries and the United States, including the New York City Town Hall, The National Cathedral, St. Louis Cathedral and the National Gallery of Art.

Kerr graduated from Westminster College with a major in business administration in 1993, and will receive the "Outstanding Young Alumni Award." After six years with Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., one of the oldest and largest financial planning firms in Pittsburgh, he founded the Kerr Financial Advisors, a financial planning and investing firm that operates in seven states and administers about $30 million in assets for over 200 families, businesses and charitable foundations. Recently Kerr founded another company, Champion Coaching, to help people learn how to work less and enjoy life more through a one-on-one coaching system that he developed. All profits from this business are donated to charity.

Mitchell graduated from Westminster in 1960 with a degree in chemistry, and went on to earn his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. Mitchell has served as a faculty member of Juniata College since 1964, receiving the Beachely Distinguished Professor Award. With funds from the National Science Foundation, he has spread his love of chemistry to students and teachers through "Science in Motion," a program that sends a mobile science van equipped with the latest instruments and technology from a college, one of which is Westminster, to local school districts.

Sarver graduated from Westminster in 1936 with a degree in mathematics. She was hired to teach all levels of mathematics at Oakdale High School on the condition that she would coach the women's basketball team. This brought about a love for basketball and that continues today as a loyal fan of the Titans. Sarver has been an involved and supportive member of Westminster since her move back to New Wilmington after her marriage in 1941. She was an advisor to the Chi Omega Sorority for 45 years, and has established the Harriet Jackson Sarver Scholarship Fund.

Morning worship at 8:30 a.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel begins Saturday's festivities. The parade theme, "Westminster Through the Years," will be demonstrated in the floats by various Westminster organization. The Heinz Hitch is reminiscent of the original Heinz Hitch that delivered products for about 60 years in the 1800s. The wagon was manufactured about 150 years ago by the Studebacker Corp., used for 50 years, and then taken out of service around 1920. It stood unused and uncared for over 50 years, but was restored in 1978 and then again in 1998 to its original condition. Percheron horses were chosen to pull the heavy loaded wagon because of their ability to put in a full-day's work and still be ready to go the next morning.

Cookie Monster could show up at any time during Saturday's festivities with Westminster birthday cookies. An all-alumni picnic is planned at the Anderson Amphitheater at 11:30 a.m., and is followed by the Titan football kick-off at 1:30 p.m. against the Bethany Bisons at Memorial Field. Saturday evening is filled with various alumni reunion and dinners.

Sunday closes Alumni Weekend with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. in the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church. Former Westminster choir members are asked to come at 9:30 a.m. to get in a bit of practice before the service.

Many events require reservations. For more information, contact Mary James, director of alumni at Westminster College, at (724) 946-7363 or e-mail mjames@westminster.edu.

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