Approximately 1,035 graduates will receive degrees during Elon University's 116th commencement exercises Saturday, May 20. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Under the Oaks in front of West Residence Hall. Details...
Former baseball manager Jack McKeon, a 1963 Elon alumnus who led the Florida Marlins to the 2003 World Series championship, will deliver the commencement address. McKeon, 75, orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds in baseball history in 2003, taking over a Marlins team that was 16-22 and guiding the club to a 75-49 regular season record, the National League pennant and a World Series victory over the New York Yankees. At age 72, he was the oldest manager ever to reach the World Series.
McKeon’s career in professional baseball began in 1949 as a minor league catcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization. In 1952, while playing minor league baseball in Burlington, N.C., McKeon became friends with Doc Mathis, who was baseball coach at Elon from 1954-1956. McKeon helped coach the Elon baseball team and attended classes at Elon in the off-season.
McKeon, who lives in the town of Elon, began his professional managerial career in 1955 and eventually managed the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Oakland A’s, as well as the Marlins. He also spent 10 years as San Diego’s general manager. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003.
The baccalaureate ceremony will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, May 19 in Alumni Memorial Gymnasium in Koury Center. The speaker is the Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest who teaches religion at Piedmont College. In 1995, Baylor University listed her among the 12 most effective preachers in the English language.
Elon Fellows graduates will be honored in a Friday pre-graduation ceremony called “Leaders for the 21st Century.” Recognition will be given to students who are graduating as Honors Fellows, North Carolina Teaching Fellows, Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows, Business Fellows, Science Fellows, Journalism and Communications Fellows, Social Science Scholars and Arts and Humanities Scholars. The ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. in McCrary Theatre.
Students earning Master’s of Business Administration degrees will be honored in separate commencement exercises Friday, May 19. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in Whitley Auditorium.