Official Newsletter of the Marshall University Foundation and Alumni Association | October 2023

September was a big month for Marshall University!

Herd football and men's soccer were at the top of their game, and as September came to a close, the university celebrated Homecoming 2023 with a week filled with memories for students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members.

Enjoy our October newsletter and catch up with what you missed, or relive the fun!

Marshall tops Old Dominion in Homecoming game

Marshall quarterback Cam Fancher accounted for 380 total yards of offense and the Thundering Herd got an interception return for a touchdown by defensive lineman Elijah Alston to secure a 41-35 win in front of 22,652 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday.

With the win, Marshall moves to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Herd has now won nine straight games, dating back to the middle of the 2022 campaign.

"Our guys battled," Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. "We knew it wasn't going to be a game where Rasheen (Ali) rushed for 260 yards, but we knew we could come out and move the ball as a team. That was the game plan."

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Griffin Wagoner and Semoni Weaver named Homecoming Royalty, university celebrates week of activities

Marshall University "leveled up" for Homecoming 2023 with a video game-inspired theme titled “Super Marco: Level Up,” which honored beloved mascot Marco, as well as the ways Marshall has "leveled up" in stature the past few years.

Gary G. and Jo Ann White served as grand marshals. Gary White was previously interim president of the university from December 2014 to January 2016. A Marshall graduate, White is a former member and past chair of the Marshall University Board of Governors, as well as an accomplished businessman and leader in the coal mining industry.

Highlights of Homecoming 2023 included traditions such as the Unity Walk, Office Decorating Contest, Homecoming parade and bonfire and Party on the Plaza, as well as new traditions such as the Alumni Association’s 25th and 50th Class Reunion, and Marshall University Black Alumni’s inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony.

This year’s Homecoming Royalty was Griffin Wagoner and Semoni Weaver. Wagoner is a junior from Huntington majoring in criminal justice. His platform is bringing awareness to domestic violence. Wagoner was sponsored by his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi and the Criminal Justice Association. Weaver is a senior from Chester, Virginia, majoring in multimedia journalism. Her platform is helping those in foster care. Weaver was sponsored by the Residence Hall Association.

For the second year in a row, College of Science, dean’s office, took home the grand prize for small office in the Alumni Association’s annual Office Decorating Contest. Marshall Family Medicine won the grand prize for large office.

First place for the Homecoming parade was Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Xi Delta for their Super Mario Bros. themed float. Second place was Kappa Sigma and Sigma Sigma Sigma for their float inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog. Third place was Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Chi Omega for their Guitar Hero theme.

MUBA hosts inaugural Hall of Fame ceremony

Ten people were honored on Marshall University’s main campus in Huntington on Friday during the inaugural Black Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony in the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall.

“This event allows for us to acknowledge the alumnus who has made a strong impact and commitment to the university and/or within the community in which they serve,” said LaKeisha Barron-Brown, president of Marshall University Black Alumni, in an email to The Herald-Dispatch.

The honorees were Dr. Kimberly Austin, Mrs. Katherine Dooley, Mr. Roy Goines, Mr. Sean Hornbuckle, William and Marie Redd, Mr. & Mrs. William Smith, Mr. Ed Starling and Mr. Joseph Williams.

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Photos from our Office Decorating Contest, 25th and 50th Class Reunion, Homecoming Parade, and Marshall Alumni and Family Tailgate, which was hosted by the Marshall University Alumni Association and Marshall University Black Alumni, and presented by Woodlands Retirement Community.

No. 1 Herd men’s soccer extended win streak to program best 10 at Georgia Southern

With a 3-1 win on Sunday in Statesboro, Georgia, over the Georgia Southern Eagles (1-4-5, 0-1-2 Sun Belt), the No. 1 Marshall University men's soccer team (10-0, 3-0 Sun Belt) made program history by extending its win streak to a program best 10 matches.

"It's nice to get in the record books for the guys," Herd men's soccer head coach Chris Grassie said about the historic streak. "They deserve it. They've worked incredibly hard. It's an honor to be in the record book at Marshall, but we're not going to be happy until we get a trophy."

The previous high nine-match win streak was set in 1997.

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In an effort to grow community engagement and service, Marshall University and West Virginia University Student Government Associations are partnering to facilitate the Fifth Annual Month of Service, October 1-31, 2023.

The organizations encourage fellow West Virginian institutions to participate to create a wide impact in every region.

The October Month of Service will seek to alleviate various areas of hardship faced by local communities. The organizations hope to address the four following areas of emphasis:

• Health and hygiene
• Food insecurity
• Literacy and education
• Community service back to respective communities

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

MUAA Board meets, President Black discusses goals



As part of Homecoming week, members of the Marshall University Alumni Association Board of Directors gathered to meet and discuss plans for the coming year.

In addition to their meeting, the board got to tour the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation (above). The state-of-the-art facility is on track to open in the new year.

In a recent article from The Herald-Dispatch, President Jimmy Black (right), who began his term in July, discussed his goals for his tenure, which include expanding the number of chapters across West Virginia, the country and even the globe.

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Alumni Awards

Nominate an awardee today!

You can be a part of Marshall's biggest night of the year for alumni!

Submit an online nomination today to recommend an outstanding member of the Marshall University family for an alumni award.

There are numerous awards including Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna, Distinguished Service to Marshall University, Outstanding Community Achievement and Distinguished Young Alumnus/Alumna.

Nominate someone today or learn more about the awards in the link below!

Business Hall of Fame names four new members

Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business has announced the names of its 2023 inductees into the Business Hall of Fame. The Business Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes:

• Charles R. Hageboeck, president and CEO of City National Bank and City Holding Company;
• Dr. Robert A. Hess, president and co-founder of OVP HEALTH;
• H.D. “Dutch” Miller (posthumously), founding owner of Dutch Miller Auto Group; and
• Thomas B. Wright III, executive vice president – chief human resources officer and executive director of the Leadership Center within the Berry Institute at Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri.

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Marshall to present 'The Book of Will'

The Marshall University School of Theatre and Dance will present “The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 4-7, at the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse.

The show tells the true, Elizabethan-era story of London actors Hendry Condell and John Heminges, who take on the challenge of compiling the First Folio of the works of their friend and mentor, William Shakespeare. It’s a story of love, loss and laughter that sheds new light on the literary legend.

The show is directed by School of Theatre and Dance Assistant Professor Leah Turley.

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