Saturday was jam packed with activities of all types happening across Nacogdoches, from events that benefited special causes to celebrations of history and tradition.
The day began at Pecan Park with "Speak Up For Kids," an event that benefited the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Deep East Texas.
Photo by Jeff Abt |
Members of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity raise their ax handles on the field at Homer Bryce Stadium prior to the Lumberjacks' game against Nicholls State Saturday. As part of the their reunion weekend, fraternity members brought back the tradition of holding their ax handles high to form a ?victory line? as the football team ran onto the field. The reunion was primarily for members who graduated from SFA in the 1960s and '70s.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
John Morrison, right, president of the Nacogdoches chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, speaks with Dr. Willie Trotty, vice president for research and development at Prairie View A&M, before addressing the crowd Saturday night at SFA during a banquet celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Dave Sommers, 11th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps, left, speaks with retired Master Sgt. Dan Singletary, right, during the Marine Corps Ball at Hotel Fredonia Saturday night.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Nacogdoches High School cheerleaders cheer on the runners of the ?Speak Up for Kids? 5K CASA run at Pecan Acres Park Saturday morning.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Children wait at the starting line of the kids .6-mile version of the 'Speak Up for Kids' 5k CASA run Saturday morning in Pecan Acres Park.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Sophia Quinones, left, and Adriana Quinones, center, take pictures of the Veteran's Day parade in downtown Nacogdoches Saturday morning.
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Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Staff photos by Andrew Rogers
Participants in the Veteran?s Day parade carry flags down Main Street in downtown Nacogdoches Saturday.
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People of all ages ran and walked a course around the park raising money for CASA and awareness to their causes while music played by singer and songwriter Kasey Lansdale entertained the crowd.
The first race, a kid's .6-mile course, sent the youngest runners across the park. At the conclusion of the race, a young girl, who was one of the runners, was called up to the microphone and gave her advice to the older runners. "Keep your pace," she told them.
Congressman Louie Gohmert who was expected to start the race was not present, and the races were started by Mayor Roger Van Horn in his place.
With the shot from the starter pistol, the 5K run began and minutes later the winners began pouring in.
Ray Venegas crossed the finish line first, with a time of 17.52 minutes. Venegas is a runner at Sam Houston State University and said he was here for the workout and a chance to help out CASA.
The first place finishers in the different age and gender groups were: 14 and under male, Max Albro; 14 and under female, Danielle Christian; 15-19 male, Shane Morgan; 15-19 female, Hunter Sorrano; 20-29 male, Ray Venegas; 20-29 female, Tammy Lee; 30-39 male, Scott Harris; 30-39 female, Christina Guenther; 40-49 male, Wes Amason; 40-49 female, Becky Vanshabroek; 50-59 male, Harry Arriola; 50-59 female, Icaren Jolnlik; and in the 60 and up category, Jimme Jones.
Across town, the veteran's day parade rolled through the downtown streets.
At the edges of the downtown brick streets, well wishers cheered and waved as the parade wound its way past them, honoring the veterans of current, past and future wars.
As the day went on, people began to gather on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus, many of whom were there to cheer on the Lumberjack as they took on Nicholls State.
Members of Delta Pi chapter of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity had gathered for the weekend in Nacogdoches for a reunion they dubbed the "Hippie Years Reunion," with most of those in attendance attending SFA and pledging Delta Sigma Phi in the 1960s and early '70s. Fraternity brothers gathered on the field before the game to bring back their old tradition of the "victory line," holding up their signature ax handles as the Lumberjacks took the field.
As the game got under way, across campus in the Grand Ballroom of the Baker Pattillo Student Center, the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People celebrated the organization's 100th anniversary.
"This organization has been around to help support minorities who are involved in the political process, in education and in economic development," Dr. Willie F. Trotty, vice president of office for research and development at Prairie View A&M University, said. Trotty was the toastmaster for the event.
Trotty, who grew up in Nacogdoches, said he has seen many changes during his own lifetime.
"I grew up here in Nacogdoches and went to the E.J. Campbell High School when it was segregated," he said. "The Nacogdoches ISD was integrated while I was attending school."
There have been many accomplishments in Trotty's life, he said, "but there is still a long way to go."
At the Hotel Fredonia, another anniversary was being celebrated.
"Tonight is the celebration of the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps," Dave Sommers, 11th Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps, said. "The Marine Corps was founded in 1775, and every year since then, Marines all over the world gather to celebrate the birthday."
Sommers spent 32 years in the Marine Corp, but the title of Marine doesn't end when service concludes, Sommers said.
"There's no such thing as an ex-marine," he said. "That's the importance of tonight — bringing together all the marines from all generations."
At the Nacogdoches Exposition Center, the SFA Rodeo concluded Saturday Night, bring an end to the three-night collegiate competition.
