Dr. Ken Brown to Lead ‘Rowdy Under the Big Top’ Homecoming Parade

June 11, 2025

Dr. David Pecha (right) presents $25 of Alva Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Bucks” to homecoming theme contest winner Shawna Gilbert (left), assistant professor of library science and access services librarian of J.W. Martin Library.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University homecoming committee is excited to welcome current, former and future Rangers to get “Rowdy Under the Big Top” for this year’s homecoming events, Oct. 23-25.

Student and community groups are encouraged to create floats that incorporate this theme for Homecoming.

Dr. David Pecha, Northwestern executive vice president and general chairman of the homecoming committee, expressed gratitude for the numerous submissions for both theme and parade marshal this year.

This year’s theme was submitted by Shawna Gilbert, assistant professor of library science and access services librarian of J.W. Martin Library. Gilbert received $25 worth of Alva Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Bucks” as a prize for her winning submission.

Leading the parade as parade marshal will be retired professor of chemistry and longstanding Northwestern supporter, Dr. Kenneth Brown.

Dr. Kenneth Brown, retired Northwestern professor of chemistry, during the 1978-1979 academic year.

Brown is originally from a town similar to the size of Alva in upstate New York called Herkimer. Brown graduated with chemistry and math degrees from Hope College in 1960 before continuing on to graduate with a Ph.D. in physical and inorganic chemistry from Rutgers University in 1966. He began teaching at Northwestern in August 1973 and retired in May 2004. Brown is still active in the Alva community after retirement.

“I get around,” Brown joked.

He volunteers four days a week at Share Medical Center as well as sitting on the Alva Hospital Authority and Northwest Family Services board. During the summer, Brown also works at the Salt Plains Refuge Center, a job he started as a Northwestern faculty member and he’s retained for over 20 years. He also handles maintenance and operations of the historic Runnymede in downtown Alva. These countless volunteer hours earned him the Volunteer of the Year award from the Alva Chamber of Commerce in 2017.

Some of Brown’s favorite memories around the Northwestern Homecoming activities are from the parade itself, making his selection as parade marshal a full-circle moment. He has assisted the Miss Cinderella candidates at the Runnymede for several years and looks back fondly at bringing his kids to the parades in years past.

“My daughter who lives in New Jersey is already making her plans to be here,” Brown said. “It's a big family thing for us.”

Homecoming button sales will be announced during the Fall 2025 semester. To keep up-to-date with Homecoming events, visit www.nwosu.edu/homecoming. The web page will be updated as events are finalized.

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