A Magazine for the Alumni and Friends of Southern Arkansas University
Dr. Willis continues to record memories of alumni for the SAU Archives.
Alumni are urged to contact him at (870) 235-4223 or jfwillis@saumag.edu
The Varsitonians, the Magnolia A&M and SSC swing band, for some 30 years brought Benny Goodman-style jazz and dance music to thousands of students and citizens of south Arkansas and, once, even to Paris, France. French language professor Charles E. Haydon organized the first Varsitonians in 1936, drawing musicians from the Magnolia A&M College marching…
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Southern State College first offered academic credit for study in a foreign country in 1957 when sociology Professor George Fay took a busload of students on a 38-day trip to Mexico. Students could earn six hours in history and sociology by taking notes and answering lengthy sets of questions about the 25 Mexican cities and…
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In spring 1951, just after Magnolia A&M College became Southern State College, music major Hugh Canterbury mulled over Band Director Richard Oliver’s assignment – compose a piece of original music. At the time, the SSC band played the A&M “loyalty song.” The tradition of lyrically expressing loyalty to colleges originated in 18th Century England. There,…
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Baseball fans first heard the crack of a Mulerider ballplayer’s bat 100 years ago. On March 3, 1911, the Third District Agricultural School’s Board of Trustees authorized $70 for uniforms bearing the school’s initials. That spring the team played ball for the first time. This early start gives baseball the honor of being Southern Arkansas…
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Cheers of encouragement from a special pep rally rang out in the early morning as 12 young men and two mascot mules from Southern State College left campus for Pine Bluff on February 25, 1959. Tom Walters, student body president, and Gene McDonald, vice president, planned to ride Optimaggie and Adolphus all the way, like…
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I attended Magnolia A&M (SAU) in 1933 – and first semester half of ‘34, majoring in Home
Every year, Southern Arkansas University students, faculty, and members of the community have an
Southern Arkansas University celebrated endowments completed in 2011-2012 fiscal year at the recent
Agriculture Center dedication on January 25, 12:00 p.m. Southern Arkansas University prides
The Louis Blanchard Accounting Endowment was established by Jerry and Lynn Mayfield and The Madison
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