Dear Fellow Gator:
It’s Great To Be A Florida Gator!!
2012 marks the 50th Anniversary of Black Alumni at the University of Florida. We expect a record number of black alumni to descend upon GainesvilleOctober 12-14, 2012 for the largest Black Alumni Weekend (BAW) celebration in our history. We will unveil a theme, planned events, lodging, and other details in April–please mark your calendars now.
The integration of the University of Florida was a watershed event that opened the doors of higher education for black students throughout the state of Florida. When Gators celebrate 50 years of black alumni this October, we will be joined by well-wishers from all over the state. After much discussion, the ABA Board of Directors concluded the historical significance of this milestone warranted a special 50th Anniversary commemoration. The Labor Day home football weekend cannot accommodate the additional requirements we need for event space, parking, and lodging for the number of black alumni, dignitaries, and visiting friends we want to host. The October 12–14 period gives us the best opportunity to host a first-class commemoration weekend.
I am asking each of you to call, email, Facebook, or even write a letter to your old roommates, classmates, sorority or fraternity members, and current Gator friends and ask them to join you in Gainesville for this one-of-a-kind 50th year celebration. All eyes will be on Gainesville during this year’s historic Black Alumni Weekend—what they will see is a record number of Gators who have returned to our alma mater to affirm the strong bonds that exist in The Gator Nation.
Please contact Dr. Samuel Lamar Wright, Sr., Chair of the 2012 BAW Committee or me for questions you might have before details are provided in the Spring marketing release. BAW 2012 will be a magical weekend and we hope you will plan now to be a part of it. Go Gators!
Sincerely,
TERRY F. NEALY
President, UF Association of Black Alumni
