Jim Justice, a Marshall University alumnus and owner of the famed Greenbrier Resort, along with wife, Cathy, daughter, Jill, and son, Jay, will serve as grand marshals for Marshall’s 2014 homecoming parade, set for Saturday, Oct. 11.
Participants in the parade will line up at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of 8th Street and 4th Avenue in downtown Huntington. The parade will begin as soon as everyone is lined up, heading east on 4th Avenue to 12th Street, where it turns right. It then turns left on 5th Avenue and finishes at 20th Street.
The Justices have a proud Marshall history. Jim Justice received a B.B.A. degree in 1974, followed by an M.B.A. in 1976. Jim was captain of the golf team at Marshall, where he fell in love with Cathy. They had known each other before and she was part of the reason he transferred to Marshall from the University of Tennessee.
Cathy Justice graduated from Marshall in 1975 and she is a large part of the family’s success. Jill was an outstanding student-athlete at Marshall, where she played basketball for the Thundering Herd, earning her degree in 2007. She graduated from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and she opened a cupcake boutique in Blacksburg in 2012 called Gobble Cakes. Jay, a Virginia Tech graduate, helps run the family business.
“We are truly honored to welcome the Justice family back to Marshall as the 2014 homecoming grand marshals,” said Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp. “Through their entrepreneurial business investments, their dedication to our state and their personal philanthropy, Jim, Cathy, Jill and Jay represent what is best about West Virginia and its people – compassion, character and generosity. Jim often talks about having a passion for life and loving what he does for a living. Clearly, they all share in that passion and it is our good fortune to count them among the true sons and daughters of Marshall University.”
Nancy Pelphrey, assistant director of alumni programs at Marshall, said she is “thrilled” that the Justice family has agreed to serve as the parade’s grand marshals.
“Mr. Justice has done so much to promote our state and Marshall University,” Pelphrey said. “Everybody is invited to come out and enjoy the parade and show the Justice family how much we appreciate them and everything they have done for Marshall University and the state of West Virginia.”
Jim Justice brought the world-class Greenbrier Resort back into the news with the addition of a new restaurant, casino and the popular Greenbrier Classic, the first PGA golf tournament in West Virginia. The tournament opened in 2010 to glowing reviews and has continued to flourish, annually drawing top-flight golfers and their fans to the mountain state. The resort’s addition of a training camp for the New Orleans Saints professional football team this past summer brought legions of fans to the Greenbrier Valley area as well.
This year’s homecoming theme is “Marco’s Favorite Heroes and Toughest Villains.” The following events are scheduled for homecoming week:
Friday, Oct. 10
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Free picnic on the plaza with music, prizes, games and lunch, sponsored by the MU Alumni Association and the Office of Development. This is the first official alumni event of homecoming weekend. Winners of the campus office decorating contest will be announced during this event. Those attending are asked to bring canned goods to be donated to the Facing Hunger Food Bank.
7 p.m. – Pep Rally on Buskirk Field. This event, co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and the Campus Activities Board, will get Herd fans excited for the MU-Middle Tennessee State football game. The Marching Thunder, MARCO, the MU cheerleaders, student organizations, alumni, fans and friends will be on Buskirk Field at this “Yell Like Hell” Pep Rally. For more information, contact the Campus Activities Board at cab@marshall.edu.
7:30 -9:30 p.m. – Welcome Back Champagne Reception co-hosted by the Marshall University Alumni Association and the Black Alumni Association in the Don Morris Room in the Memorial Student Center. The cost is $25 per person for advance registration and $30 the day of the event. For reservations contact Fran Jackson at jacksonf@marshall.edu or Nancy Pelphrey at Pelphrey@marshall.edu.
Saturday, Oct. 11
8 a.m. – 5K Alum Run. The course starts on Veterans Boulevard and ends near Pullman Square. The entry fee is $25. The run is co-sponsored by the MU Alumni Association and the Huntington Lions Club. To register contact David Specht at spechtl@frontier.com
8:30 a.m. – Homecoming parade participants line up, followed by the start of the parade. It starts downtown at 8th Street and 4th Avenue and finishes at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The Marching Thunder, under the direction of new band director Adam Dalton, will be featured, along with MARCO, the Marshall cheerleaders, Marshall dignitaries and members of the homecoming court. For more information, or to register for the parade, contact Student Government Association President Duncan Waugaman at waugmand@marshall.edu.
9 a.m. – Tailgate blast. The MUAA, SGA and MU Black Alumni Association are hosting a tailgate party at 18th Street and 5th Avenue. The cost is $25 per person. Contact jacksonf@marshall.edu or pelphrey@marshall.edu for more information.
Noon – Kickoff for the homecoming football game as the Thundering Herd takes on Middle Tennessee State’s Blue Raiders. Crowning of Mr. and Miss Marshall 2014 will take place at halftime. For tickets call 304-696-HERD, or visit www.herdzone.com. Use the promo code HC14 to save $5 on each ticket purchased.
7 p.m. – The National Pan-Hellenic Council will be hosting the Step Show at the Keith Albee Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets may be bought in advance for $10 at the Center for African American Students, $12 tickets for Greek (fraternity and sorority members) wearing Greek letters, and $15 for general admission. For more information please contact Jamecia at 304-524-4542 or Cliff at 718-419-0121.
“The Marshall University Alumni Association would like to thank our homecoming sponsors – Huntington Bank, Coca-Cola and Sheetz,” said Matt Hayes, executive director of the MUAA. “Sponsorships such as these afford us the ability to provide better programming to all Marshall University alumni and friends.”
