Index of University Press Releases

Oct. 1, 2007

Wesleyan caps homecoming week with parade, game
Ross Dolan - The Daily Republic

Taking advantage of summer-like weather, a crowd turned out for the Dakota Wesleyan University annual Blue and White Days homecoming parade down Main Street Saturday.

It was a tough day for hair but a great day for a parade.

Ross Dolan/ Republic - Members of the Korean War Veterans Association ride in a convertible during the Blue and White Days parade Saturday in Mitchell.

The annual event, which capped a weeklong list of homecoming activities, was greeted with temperatures that soared into the 80s and southern wind gusts of 25 mph. The combination, however, was a good one for parade participants who also marched southward, with flags and banners flying.

This year’s parade theme, “Where’s Wesley?” encouraged a faux search for DWU’s well-known and relatively ubiquitous tiger mascot. Following the parade Wesley was spotted on a pickup truck headed for Joe Quintal Field, where the DWU Tigers played host to the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves.

Unfortunately for DWU, Wesley’s presence couldn’t prevent the homecoming host from falling to NWU 37-13. (See related story)

At the parade, “we had more bands this year, but fewer floats,” said DWU Activities Director Susie Hadrick.

The parade lasted about a half-hour.

About eight area bands pumped up the energy for the game later in the day.

Overall, Hadrick said this year’s parade had about 60 entries. Among the floats was one that featured guests of honor from the DWU Class of 1957, in town celebrating their class’s 50th homecoming. Members of the Class of ’57 were honored Friday during a special president’s luncheon.

A damper to the weeklong celebration came during the third quarter of the football game, when DWU sophomore lineman Kirk Byrd of Murdo required medical attention following a play and was quickly tended to by team physician Robert McWhirter.

Mitchell Chief of Public Safety and DWU alumnus Lyndon Overweg was part of the rescue team that took Byrd to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Byrd was later flown to Sioux Falls to check for a possible neck injury.

It appears, however, that Byrd’s injuries were neither life- nor career-threatening.

“Your heart just drops,” said DWU President Bob Duffett, who escorted the ambulance to the stadium gate. “I love football and I love these kids. We all said a prayer for him.”