Bethany's president to be installed

BETHANY - The installation of Scott D. Miller as the 19th president of Bethany College will be just one of the highlights for students, alumni and friends as West Virginia's oldest college celebrates an event-filled homecoming weekend Friday through Sunday.

The festivities officially tee off at 8:30 a.m. Friday, when more than 100 golfers are scheduled to hit the links at Highland Springs Golf Course in the fourth annual Hugh "Tiger" Joyce Scramble. Homecoming registration begins at noon in Erickson Alumni Center.

The installation ceremony for Miller is set for 2:30 p.m. Friday in Commencement Hall at the college's historic Old Main. An installation reception will be held in the Old Main Corridor from 3:30-5 p.m. Miller will host a donor recognition reception from 6-8 p.m. at his home, Christman Manor at Pendleton Heights.

Activities continue with the annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction from 6-9 p.m. at Harder Hall. This year's inductees are Edward Blundon, Class of '66 (basketball), Daniel Swickard '72 (football), Margaret Fillinger '86 (softball) and Jeff Weekley '96 (baseball). A men's/women's soccer doubleheader against Geneva College will begin at 6 p.m. at Bison Stadium. The final event on the day's agenda is the annual homecoming art exhibit reception, set for 8-10 p.m. at Renner Union Gallery.

The events of Saturday open with the eighth annual Allison's Run/Walk at Cunningham Soccer Complex. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the event to start at 9 a.m. Dedication of the newly restored Christman Manor at Pendleton Heights is scheduled for 10 a.m. An open house for the Judith R. Hurl Education Center, the former Bethany Primary School, begins at 11:30 a.m.

Registration and tailgating at Bison Stadium starts at 11:30 a.m. with the homecoming parade scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. Kickoff for the homecoming football game against Thomas More (Ky.) College is at 2 p.m. with halftime festivities including the introduction of the Hall of Fame inductees and the crowning of the homecoming king and queen. The Bethany volleyball team will host a triangular match with Waynesburg University and Westminster College, beginning at 11 a.m. There will be a live band concert at the tailgate area immediately after the football game with a wine and cheese social set for 6-7 p.m. at Harder Hall.

Saturday's festivities conclude with the annual alumni awards banquet and Wall of Fame induction, set for 6:30 p.m. at Commencement Hall. The Bethany College Alumni Association will present Linda Comins '77 of Wheeling with the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award, while New Martinsville native David Jolliffe '74 has been chosen to receive the Alumni Community Service Award.

The late Rev. Dr. A. Dale Fiers '29 will be inducted to the Bethany College Wall of Fame. Fiers became the first president and general minister of the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) when the denomination adopted a formal structure as a church. Fiers marched with Dr. Martin Luther King in Selma, Ala., and brought Disciples leaders together to create the denomination's poverty and race program. Fiers died Sept. 28, 2003, at the age of 96.

Homecoming weekend concludes Sunday with a 10:45 a.m. worship service at the historic Bethany Memorial Church followed by a noon brunch at Harder Hall.