Alumni Weekend 2008
MMI Alumni Weekend 2008 entertained a crowd of alumni and friends who visited campus April 10-12. Classmates enjoyed catching up at all of the planned events, starting with Thursday night's Alumni Brigade Fish Fry at the Excess House, where Brigade members took on the task of cooking a catfish dinner for approximately 100 in attendance.
Friday's golf tournament attracted 44 players, with the team of Noble Barnes, Grover Snyder, Rayman Rodgers and Harold Barner taking 1st place. Meanwhile, a busload of guests enjoyed our first ever Tour of Historic Marion, which offered them the opportunity to go inside two private homes and stroll through the gardens of Myrtle Hill Bed and Breakfast, owned by Colonel Gerry Lewis, Director of the SAP Program at MMI. As always, the President's Reception hosted by Col. James H. Benson and Mrs. Mary Benson was an elegant social affair.
Saturday's pleasant weather allowed for a full schedule of outdoor events, including a White Knights performance, the Alumni Drill Competition, and a Swamp Fox Demonstration, among others. Music throughout the weekend was provided by the MMI chorus and the Brigadier Band, which included guest bagpipers. Participation in the afternoon parade was not limited to the Corps of Cadets; the Alumni Platoon marched behind a special Guidon flag during the Pass in Review. Marking the end of the weekend's sponsored events was the Alumni Brigade Banquet at Selma Country Club, which was also well-attended.
Individuals honored during the course of the weekend included Alumnus of the Year, Corin Harrison,Jr. (class of '65), and Brigade Honored Teachers Mary Rankin Brooks (class of '76) and Marshall Knudsen, all of whom are Marion residents. A special guest we had the pleasure of hosting this year was BG John C. "Doc" Bahnsen, Jr. (class of '52), author of American Warrior: A Combat Memoir of Vietnam. During his visit, BG Bahnsen proudly presented his inaugural Future American Warrior award, in the form of a .45 caliber Ruger pistol, to Cadet Jeremy Trantham.
The Alumni Office was honored to serve all alumni and friends who traveled to Marion for the weekend, including one former cadet who came from as far away as Egypt. We look forward to seeing you back on campus in the near future!
