Duvall, Retton Named Parade Marshals

Fairmont State University's traditional Homecoming Parade presented by Student Government will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in downtown Fairmont. Student Government has selected legendary coaches Deacon Duvall and Joe Retton as parade marshals.

Any marching group, organization, community group or business interested in having a float or car in the parade should call the Office of Student Affairs at (304) 367-4643 by Friday, Oct. 5. Line-up for the parade, which is sponsored by the Times West Virginian, will begin at 5:15 p.m. at the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Second Street.

Presented by Student Government, the annual Pep Rally, sponsored by the Times West Virginian, will begin at 7 p.m. at Falcon Center Gym 1. FSU clubs will compete for the Spirit Stick, as cheerleaders and the band lead the crowd in cheering on the Fighting Falcons. Homecoming court candidates, the football coaches and team captains will also be introduced.

Harold S. "Deacon" Duvall, served as Fairmont State football coach from 1952-1971. A legendary coach, Duvall led the Falcons to the 1967 NAIA national championship; won eight WVIAC titles; was three-time WVIAC Coach of the Year; guided Fairmont State to two NAIA national playoff appearances ¬(1965 and 1967); coached four NAIA All-Americans; was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame ¬Class of 1987; was inducted into the West Virginia Sports Writers Hall of Fame ¬Class of 1978; and had a career record of 125-42-3 (74.4%).

Legendary Fairmont State basketball coach Joe Retton was named WVIAC and NAIA District 28 Coach of the Year six times. He was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1976 and Associated Press Small College Coach of the Year in 1975-76. He coached and produced nine All-Americans: Dwight Conaway, Dave Miller, John Jamerson, Dave Cooper, Lerman Battle, Bill Lindsey, Dave Moore, Vance Carr, Leroy Loggins. His teams made 12 NAIA Tournament appearances, four times to the Final Four; the 1967-68 squad went to the finals. Retton had 18 straight seasons of 20 or more victories. The 1975-76 team was ranked first in the Final Associated Press Small College Basketball Poll. Two teams had undefeated regular seasons: 1970-71 and 1975-76. Retton's teams competed in 12 WVIAC Championships. Retton was the "winningest" collegiate coach by percentage in the nation. In 1987, he was inducted into the NAIA Coaches Hall of Fame; he was inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Fairmont State College Hall of Fame in 1993. He had a career record of 478-95 (83.6%).

The Fighting Falcons take on the University of Charleston for the Homecoming football game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, at Duvall-Rosier Field. Visit www.fairmontstate.edu for a complete list of events for the week of Homecoming 2007, Oct. 8-13, with the theme "Hit the Jackpot at FSU."