Southwestern and Dr Pepper: A 100 Year Tradition
Southwestern alumni will soon return to Georgetown for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009 in the same spirit of the 1,000 alumni that attended the very first Southwestern Homecoming in 1909. Many traditions have remained from that first Homecoming, such as the Homecoming Picnic, singing of the Alma Mater and fellowship through sporting, theater and musical events. In addition, this year a few lost traditions from 1909 have returned. Our students will compete in the Brooks Prize Preliminary Debate, which was a major aspect of academic life here at Southwestern from 1873-1927. Another tradition to be resurrected this November is the donation of 1,200 Dr Pepper bottles to be consumed by picnic attendants Saturday, Nov. 7, just as in 1909. The Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Works of Waco donated 1,200 bottles of Dr Pepper to Southwestern for the first Homecoming, and the Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Waco has graciously donated 1,200 bottles of Imperial cane sugar Dr Pepper for this year’s festivities.
Southwestern and Dr Pepper also share a relationship that goes beyond Homecoming picnics. Mrs. Virginia L. O’Hara, the daughter of Robert Sherman Lazenby, entrusted a large amount of her Dr Pepper share of stock to Southwestern upon her death in 1975. Her father is considered the person most responsible for Dr Pepper’s popular success, and her husband worked as his partner for years. Thanks to Mrs. O’Hara’s gift, which was worth over $1.5 million by 1981, Southwestern was able to endow the Robert Sherman Lazenby Chair in Physics.
Southwestern and Dr Pepper share the tradition of being Texas originals. Both institutions were pioneers in their field and continue to thrive decades later. We thank Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Waco for their generous support of Southwestern University’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Here’s to another 100!