A Letter from the President

Greetings from Ames to all you former band members, whether you are a new grad or one who graduated or attended ISU years ago. Remember, the only requirement for being in the Alumni Band at Homecoming, a basketball game or two, or in the VEISHEA parade is that you attended Iowa State and were a participant in any of the bands here.

If you have not been back to Ames and the campus for a few years why not come this year? These events are great ways to keep up with old friends from your college days and to make new ones, and if you know of others that were involved with the bands who do not get this newsletter, be sure to pass the word along and encourage them to come too. Whatever time the game, itŐs hard to say for sure with TV possibilities always cropping up, there is sure to be a good crowd on hand as they say the season ticket sales for football are up this year as well as demand for donor parking. 

These events are also good opportunities for you to come back and see how the campus has evolved. Did you know that part of Helser is gone and has been replaced by a new community center and there are new suites where Clyde William Field was? Or that there is a new engineering building, Hoover Hall, by the water tower that is connected to Howe Hall by a skywalk? Or how about the Gerden College of Business building, a new parking ramp, or the Johnny Majors indoor practice facility? Hawthorn Court has also been replaced with new buildings, a 4-H Extension building has gone up at 13th and Stange in what was at one time part of Pammel Court, and out at University Village remodeling for the move of the day care is taking place. Starlight Village, where we meet on the Friday night before Homecoming, has also been busy, as they have remodeled their entrance, bar, and restaurant. It may also be your last chance to see some of the buildings that you were familiar with on campus: the EO Building, Storms Hall, and others could be gone a year from now, but it appears Morrill Hall has been saved as restoration plans are under way.

So just pick a reason, pick an event (or come back for all of them), and lets make this one of the largest and best sounding Alumni Bands ever at Iowa State or the Big 12, heck, how 'bout in the world?

Jim Wilcox '79 
ISU Alumni Band President