Homecoming King and Queen

SIU Carbondale Homecoming Royalty -- The king and queen of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2013 Homecoming are Jesse Cler of Penfield, second from left, and Brittany Greathouse of Bolingbrook, third from left.  They were honored at Saluki football halftime ceremonies on Oct. 19. With Cler and Greathouse are retiring 2012 Homecoming king and queen, Corbin Doss of Springfield, far left, and Whitney Clark of Chicago, far right.  (Photo by Russell Bailey)

October 22, 2013

Greathouse, Cler reign over homecoming festivities

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Brittany Greathouse of Bolingbrook and Jesse Cler of Penfield reigned over 2013 homecoming festivities at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this past weekend.

Greathouse, a senior majoring in finance, was one of five candidates for queen, and Cler, a senior majoring in agribusiness economics and plant and soil sciences was one of five king candidates.

“Unleash the Legend, Homecoming 2013!” was the festival’s theme that celebrated the university’s storied history and future.  This year’s festivities included the grand opening of the university’s new Student Services Building, coronation, football game and other sporting events, a comedy show and much more.

William R. Norwood, a U.S. Air Force B-52 pilot and 1959 SIU graduate, was the grand marshal, led the parade along with his wife Molly, a 1961 alumna and retired teacher.  Norwood had a 31-year career with United Airlines where he was the company’s first African-American pilot and captain.

Other members of the homecoming court included queen candidates, with their majors and hometowns: Mildrea Hood, senior, radio-television, Chicago; Kaylan Mahone, senior, speech communication, Richton Park; Alyssa Oros, senior, mass communications, Aurora, and Emily Spenner, senior, speech communication, Nashville.  King candidates included Marvin Ledell Dixon, senior, speech communication, Rockford; Cordaro McKee, senior, marketing, Chicago; Eli Roberts, senior, economics, Chicago, and Brandon Ashanti Willingham, senior, journalism, Calumet City. 

The 2013 Homecoming Parade winners include:

Large floats -- 1.  Alpha Gamma Rho; 2. Alpha Gamma Delta and Delta Zeta; 3. Sigma Pi/Kappa Alpha/Southern Illinois Dance Company.

Small floats --1. Dental Hygiene and Aviation; 2. tie, The Reserve of Saluki Point and Delta Chi;  3. Skyline Creek Production.

Walking/marching units -- 1. SIU Craft Shop; 2. Air Force ROTC;  3.  Students for Health.

Car/truck -- 1. Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC);  2. Residence Hall Association; 3. SIU Recreational Sports and Services. 

Band Competition:

Class A -- 1.  Harrisburg High School; 2. Carbondale Community High School; 3. Frankfort Community High School.

Class B -- 1.  Cobden High School; 2. Egyptian High School; 3. Trico Junior and Senior High School. 

Class C -- 1.  Harrisburg Middle School;  2. Carbondale Middle School;  3. Sparta Lincoln Middle School.