Podcast Points: Baptist Historian Paints a Picture of Baylor Homecoming

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Baylor University Homecoming is approaching quickly, and with it comes excitement and nostalgia for many alumni. Baylor hosted the nation’s first Homecoming in 1909 and remains the standard for collegiate Homecomings to this day. Baptist historian and Truett Seminary  professor Alan Lefever, Ph.D., joins this week’s Baylor Connections podcast to talk about the roots of Homecoming, the traditions that have become Baylor icons and even the occasional shenanigans that accompany college students through the years.

Podcast Points with Alan Lefever

Relationships

• When asked about his favorite homecoming memory, Lefever recalls the first homecoming he had with his wife, Sara. He explains how they enjoyed that time together then, and now she is his homecoming date for life.
• With homecoming being about relationships, Lefever recognizes the important role his youth minister in San Antonio played while he was growing up. His name was Duane Wise, and he was a Baylor grad who was responsible for Lefever ending up at Baylor.

Favorite Activities

• Lefever states that one of his favorite activities of homecoming is the parade. He enjoys when he and his wife walk back and forth across the parade to see old friends.
• “The reunion years are always big. This will be my 40th reunion for the class of 1984, and we have quite a few signed up to come back for our big one before our 50th reunion,” Lefever said.

Baylor History

• “Baylor’s story is intertwined with the earliest years of the Republic and of Texas, and we have larger-than-life characters that are part of that story,” Lefever said.
• S.P. Brooks was not only the father of homecoming, Lefever said, but was president during turbulent times that helped define Baylor. As alumni and students gather for homecoming, Lefever encourages them to tell stories about how they are different people because they go or went to Baylor University.

Genesis of the Baylor Family

• Dr. Brooks had the idea to call the Baylor family back together, Lefever said. Lefever points out that “Baylor Nation” was used for a time to describe the people at Baylor, but “Baylor Family” fit better because of Baylor’s family aspect.
• The first homecoming was in 1909, and people would recognize the bonfire and the homecoming football game against TCU, Lefever said. He also points to the first homecoming parade that is still the highlight for many people at Baylor’s homecoming.

Stories

• Lefever finishes the podcast by describing some of his favorite stories over the years with the bonfires, parades and homecoming football games. He also touches on how busy the homecoming season is for students building floats and performing in Pigskin.
• “I will see all my friends that I graduated with in 1984. We will go to the parade, see more friends, visit about old times, meet up with some of my students that are at Truett today and talk to them about the Baylor experience and how big homecoming has become,” Lefever said.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.