A message from Sharon Porter,
president of the MU Alumni Association
 

Hello again alumni and friends of Marshall,

 I am writing this article after returning from the hot city of Atlanta, Ga. I was there for  the wrap-up party for the We Are Marshall movie.  What a treat that was, to see Hollywood in action at a stadium very similar, eerily so, to our Old Fairfield Stadium.

So many of our alumni and friends were there, involved and enjoying this taste of home down south. 

The weekend started for me at the lovely home of Pam and Joe Gillette, one of my board members, for a Friday night get together. I met so many wonderful members of the Young Thundering Herd team and heard their stories, met their family members and rejoiced with them in how far our university has come. They are so proud of the university, the football program, and this movie. Joe and Jan we thank you for the lovely evening. 

Then, Saturday dawned HOT and sunny but we, the faithful, were out in force to celebrate. It was fun for me to watch all the tailgating going on in Atlanta, just like at our home games, and then to meet up with old friends and acquaintances. I say thank you to John Gilmore and the Atlanta Alumni Club for doing such a wonderful job at this function and good luck on raising your $25,000 commitment to our EAC.

So many stories came out around those tailgates, from the sister who at age 12 lost her brother on the plane, only to be given the gift of a jersey with his number on it that day. She had come all the way from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to be with us. To Reggie Oliver, arriving straight from the hospital, to not miss this reunion with his old teammates. There were many tears shed Saturday but most were healing and all were with shared joy. I wish all alumni could have been there. Jim Summers, Marco (1969), said it so well when he reminded us we stand on the shoulders of giants and they are watching us!

This movie will put Marshall and our story out to the world and we as alumni need to be ready to recruit new students and help our university in every way we can. Please stay in touch with us at your alumni center as you find needs. I can be e-mailed at sharonp71 @aol.com.

I keep all of you in my thoughts as my husband Jeff and I head to Fairbanks, Alaska, to lead 31 people in mission for two weeks. Rest assured we take Marshall shirts and info with us each time we go.

As always, sincerely yours,