Fall 2013: A special “Long Maroon Line”

By Keren Rivas, staff

November 6, 2013

To mark Elon's 125th anniversary, 125 alumni from around the nation formed a "Log Maroon Line" as part of Elon’s 2013 Fall Convocation on Oct. 3, which was headlined by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Participants in the ceremony were selected by members of Elon’s faculty and staff based on their ongoing commitment and involvement with the university, and included alumni from every decade of Elon graduates dating back to 1930s. A special reception in McKinnon Hall following Convocation honored line participants, who were also invited to visit Elon’s new Martin Alumni Center.

“The ‘Long Maroon Line’ celebrates the importance of alumni in both Elon’s past and future,” says John H. Barnhill ’92, Elon’s assistant vice president for university advancement. “These alumni have stayed involved at Elon by serving on boards and reunion committees, attending university events, opening professional doors for other Elon graduates, and investing in the university every year.

“They embody what it means to act as Elon partners, advocates and investors.”

At age 103, J. Rankin Parks ’32 was the oldest alumni present, something that earned him a standing ovation as he led the procession before Convocation. While the Elon he attended was considerably different from the Elon of today, he felt right at home surrounded by alumni who wanted to shake his hand and snap his photo.

“I’m surprised at the growth,” Parks said reflecting on the transformation the campus has undergone during his lifetime. But, he added, “I’m quite proud of Elon and the way it turned out.”

For Elizabeth Fisher Goad ’95, Parks’ granddaughter who accompanied him in the processional, being part of the “Long Maroon Line” alongside her grandfather was particularly special. “It meant a great deal to me,” she said. “Elon is our special connection.”

Members of the “Long Maroon Line”

  1. J. Rankin Parks ’32
  2. Jim White ’40
  3. Earl Danieley ’46 GP’05 ’10 ’14
  4. Jeanne Meredith Busse ’49
  5. Wayne Moore ’49
  6. Jim Drummond ’50
  7. Fred Bowman ’51
  8. Joan Summers Drummond ’52
  9. Helen Hodge Pennington ’52
  10. Dolores Hagan Truitt ’53 P’85
  11. John Truitt ’53 P’85
  12. Don Pennington ’54
  13. Sherrill Hall ’55 GP’08 ’12
  14. Billie Faye Johnson Bolden ’56
  15. Jack Lindley ’56 P’83
  16. George Nall ’56
  17. Dick Simpson ’57
  18. Jim McCauley ’59
  19. Don Blalock ’60 P’92
  20. Jim Humphrey ’60
  21. Jerrie Nall ’60
  22. Ed Wilson ’60 P’86
  23. Nancy Hudson Wilson ’60
  24. Glenda Isley Blalock ’61 P’92
  25. Faye Danieley Conally ’61
  26. Vic Hoffman ’61 P’90
  27. Faye Gordon Humphrey ’61
  28. Della Marie Vickers McKinnon ’62
  29. Jerry Drake ’63
  30. Carolyn Wright McDuffie ’64 P’96
  31. Lowell Thomas ’65
  32. Tyrone McDuffie ’66 P’96
  33. Mary Coolidge Ruth ’66
  34. Bill Ruth ’66
  35. Sam Troy ’67
  36. Noel Allen ’69 P’07
  37. Amy Thomas Hendrickson ’69
  38. Jay Hendrickson ’71
  39. Ellen Rhodes Covington ’73 P’02 ’04 ’07
  40. Gary Evans ’74 P’01
  41. Raymond Beck ’75
  42. Don Covington ’75 P’02 ’04 ’07
  43. Betty Nixon Morgan ’75
  44. Shelly Skeens Hazel ’78 LP’09
  45. Linda Bartlett Moore ’78
  46. Tim Moore ’78
  47. Lorraine McPherson Allen ’79 G’87 P’88 ’91 ’95
  48. Perry Black ’80 P’09
  49. Vickie Blackwell Morrow ’80 P’07 LP’10
  50. Kyle Wills ’81 P’11
  51. Hunt Ward ’82 P’11 ’17
  52. Lisa Johnston Smithdeal ’83 P’12
  53. Bill Tippett ’83
  54. Tracey Walser Nugent ’84 P’15
  55. Sandra Reid ’85
  56. Darryl Smith ’86
  57. Rhonda Andrews Belton ’87 G’92 P’04 LP’13
  58. Kim Bush Mack ’87
  59. Sam Burke ’89
  60. Vickie Somers ’89
  61. Brenda Fletcher ’90
  62. Annette Leath Orbert ’90
  63. Tony Roper ’90 P’11
  64. Antwinette Mitchell ’91
  65. Dave Oakley ’91
  66. Leslie Groves ’93
  67. Mike Mooney ’93
  68. Jay Harper ’94
  69. Krista Horton Mooney ’94
  70. Priscilla Awkard ’95
  71. Elizabeth Fisher Goad ’95
  72. John Keegan ’96
  73. Donna Gentry McCauley ’96
  74. Joy Crawford ’97
  75. Becky Romig Parks ’97
  76. Racheal Lee Stimpson ’97
  77. Regina Carter Booker ’98
  78. Jennifer McCumber Curtin ’98
  79. Misty O’Day ’98 G’07
  80. Lisa Hurtgen Pope ’98
  81. Kebbler McGhee Williams ’98
  82. Julie Messina ’99
  83. Elic Senter ’99
  84. Akilah Owens Harris ’01
  85. Chisa Pennix-Brown ’01
  86. Susan Morgan Patton ’02
  87. Lisa Purtz Keegan ’03
  88. John Pickett ’03
  89. Christian Wiggins ’03
  90. Nichelle Harrison ’04 L’09
  91. Melissa Jordan ’04
  92. Renita Leak Webb ’04
  93. Kristi Garton Hollins ’05
  94. Zack Pund ’05
  95. Sarah Thomas ’05 G’09
  96. Erin Andrews ’06 G’11
  97. Brent Henderly ’06 G’09
  98. Britten Ginsburg Pund ’06
  99. Jeremy Allen ’07
  100. David Morrow ’07 L’10
  101. Ian Baltutis ’08
  102. Aliana Harrison ’08
  103. Gray Hunter ’08
  104. Kim Poe Leighty ’08
  105. Kimberly Cote Simpson ’08
  106. Kyle Smith ’08
  107. Meredith Legin Smith ’08 G’12
  108. Lisa Dawn Akers Thompson ’08
  109. Andrew Wilen ’08
  110. Jordan Bacharach ’09
  111. Brittany Feimster ’09
  112. Kat Gosney ’09 L’12
  113. Jennifer Hiltwine ’09
  114. Stacy Laue ’09
  115. Scott Leighty ’09
  116. Caroline Deal ’10
  117. Kaitlyn Schultz ’10
  118. Jeremy Teetor ’10
  119. Walt Yates ’10
  120. Carl Hairston ’11
  121. Greg Mader ’11
  122. Justin Peterson  ’11
  123. Elena Pipino ’12
  124. Arayael Brandner ’13
  125. Tricia Teter ’13

Posted in: Magazine of Elon