SEMO plans Homecoming festivities

Southeast Missouri State University will celebrate Homecoming Oct. 17 to 19 with the theme, "Southeast: Bridge to Success."

"This year's Homecoming theme is a signal to alumni to return to campus and remember the days they spent here," said Jane Stacy, director of alumni services and development.

The Merit Award/Copper Dome dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Show Me Center. The event will honor the 2002 Merit Award recipients and Copper Dome Society members.

Southeast's Homecoming parade will kick off events on Oct. 19. The parade is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Capaha Park. It will proceed east on Broadway from West End to Main Street and then south on Main Street.

Donald C. Bedell, a Sikeston, Mo., businessman, will serve as the parade marshal.

He is chairman of the board of Health Facilities Management Corp., which operates nursing homes in Missouri, Arkansas and Arizona. A 1,000-plus-seat performance hall planned for the River Campus arts school will be named in Bedell's honor after he made a seven-figure gift to the university's fund-raising foundation.

Bedell's son, Donald, serves on the university's Board of Regents.

The All Alumni Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Show Me Center. The luncheon will honor the Distinguished Service Award recipients and the classes of 1942, 1952, 1977 and 1992. The Jerry Ford Band will perform.

The weekend will culminate with Southeast's football team battling Eastern Illinois University at 1 p.m. at Houck Stadium.