UK HOMECOMING 1963, "ALL FOULED UP!"

UK Homecoming 2019 seems to have been a great success.  Good weather, a football victory with our wide receiver at quarterback, and a new Homecoming Queen and King.

President John Oswald crowns Julie Ritchey Homecoming Queen, 1963
Photo: The Kentuckian

Homecoming 1963 did not turn out as well.  First, UK lost to Georgia 14-17 in route to a 3-6-1 season in front of 30,000 fans at an unseasonably warm Stoll Field.  Second, UK's "Marching 100" band apparently consisted of only 80 members!

However, the biggest mistake that day was President John Oswald crowning Julie Ritchey Homecoming Queen at halftime rather than Vivian Shipley.  Apparently, President Oswald was given the wrong name and, according to the Kentucky Kernel, "once the mistake was made, nobody knew just what to do."  Both Ritchey and Shipley "registered mild shock. Assisting with the ceremony were two UK cheerleaders "who had counted the votes and knew who the winner was supposed to be."

The announcement of the correct queen, Vivian Shipley, was not made until well into the third quarter of the game when Julie and Vivian switched roles along the sideline.  Shipley told the Kernel, "I just didn't know what to do, so I just decided the most graceful way out was to smile and be crowned first attendant.  It was a funny feeling to watch them crown someone else, and terribly embarrassing.  It is just one of those things that you don't believe will ever happen, at least not to you."

Vivian Shipley's reactions as she finally learns she is the Homecoming Queen for 1963
Photo: The Kentuckian

The homecoming day was saved by the official dedication ceremony for the Helen G. King Alumni House located on Rose Street across from the stadium that, by all reports, went very well.  New UK President John Oswald officiated at the ceremony which was also attended by former UK presidents Dr. Frank Dickey and Dr Herman Lee Donovan.

Vivian Shipley

Vivian Shipley is now a distinguished poet!  Following college and graduate school, she has had an outstanding career as a writer and teacher and is a member of the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

The not so tranquil Thanksgiving of 1959

When someone mentions students riots one immediately thinks of students in the 1960's and early 1970's demonstrating in support of the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the anti-war movement, or any number of student movements from that time.

At least some UK students decided to disrupt the "tranquility" of the 1950's by engaging in a demonstration on the UK campus and through the streets of Lexington which was reported in detail in the November 24, 1959 Kernel.  What major societal issue could cause such a student disturbance in 1959?  Well, students wanted a holiday from class the day before Thanksgiving. 

The problem began a year earlier in 1958.  Following UK's 6-2 football victory over Tennessee.  Governor Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, a huge UK sports fan and Chair of the UK Board of Trustees, proclaimed the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a state holiday in recognition of UK's victory over the Vols effectively dismissing classes at UK that day.  Governor Chandler claimed to have no knowledge of the UK faculty's earlier decision not to dismiss classes that day.  All of this placed UK President Frank Dickey in a nearly impossible position.

In 1959 some students requested that classes be dismissed again on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  The UK faculty voted not to dismiss classes and the trouble ensued.

The day after a demonstration through downtown Lexington a second protest march by the students was held on campus.

To this day a debate continues among most colleges and universities about how best to handle classes the week of Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.