Homecoming parade brings in Albany State University supporters, alumni

ALBANY — Despite the chilly morning temperatures, a throng of people and cars lined the streets of downtown Albany on Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of the Albany State University homecoming parade.

By 8:45 a.m., on a day in which downtown Albany is normally silent, parking spaces were hard to come by near Pine Avenue. People gathered along Pine in their coats, blankets and sweatshirts to see performances from area bands, cheerleading squads and dance teams, including Albany State’s marching band.

Representation was present from all four of Dougherty County’s public high schools, as well as a majority of the county’s elementary schools and at least one middle school.

Ahead of the parade, Albany State President Art Dunning offered a homecoming greeting to ASU supporters and alumni.

“Homecoming is always a grand occasion and this year, we’re all in as we cherish our past through our alumni and look to the future as we continue to prepare students to become successful members of society, just like the alums who are visiting this weekend,” he said.

Dunning’s statement was meant to play into the theme of the homecoming celebration: “We’re All In.”

Marching bands from Terrell County High School, Americus-Sumter High School, Central High School in Macon, Riverdale High School in Riverdale, along with dance teams and cheerleading squads both from Albany and nearby communities, also participated.

The appearances included a squad from Robert H. Harvey Elementary School, formerly known as Jackson Heights Elementary School.

While the crowd cheered and blue and white balloons that had escaped floated into the sky, the parade lined up near the intersection of Pine and Byron Avenue before traveling eastward on Pine, turning north on North Washington Street and stopping at the intersection of Washington and West Roosevelt Avenue.

John Culbreath, chair of the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital board, is a member of the ASU Class of 1968. He was among those greeting the public at Saturday’s parade.

“Homecoming is a great opportunity to see old friends from 35-40 years ago, attend the football game and the parade, and to fellowship,” he said while voicing his sentiments ahead of the parade. “Albany State College and Albany State University provide a wholesome, nurturing place for us to obtain a great education, and it is a great honor to give back to a school that gave us so much.”

Child development centers, churches, Albany Technical College, elected officials, several student organizations from Albany State and the ASU Golden Ram mascot also took part. The elected officials included Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, a graduate of Albany State, and Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler.

Kenneth Cutts, field representative from the office of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, stood in for Bishop.

The parade, which followed a week of homecoming activities, preceded the football game against Clark Atlanta that kicked off at 2 p.m. on Saturday.