EIU Homecoming 2012

1915

Eastern's first homecoming celebration was in 1915. Of the school's nearly 500 alumni at that point, over half were able to return to Charleston for the festivities.

1919

Homecoming 1919 was dedicated to the men of the school killed in WWI. The athletic field was dedicated to Martin 'Otto' Schahrer, who died in France the previous year.

1946

During Homecoming 1946, a record player at the Phi Sigma Epsilon house blared Jimmy Cracked Corn and I Don't Care to celebrate the return of former member Burl Ives.

1947

Coach O'Brien's 1947 squad won the first Homecoming game in seven years, beating Normal and setting the stange for years as a nationally recognized power.

1958

Homecoming served as the 'grand finale' to the Lincoln-Douglas debate centennial in 1958, capping a year of joint celebration between EIU and Charleston.

1974

A male student, Tom Wade, ran for homecoming queen in 1974. When all the votes were counted, Wade had won third place.

1985

John Mattson was crowned Eastern's first homecoming king in 1985. His queen was Kathy Dickey.