Former Northwestern Professor to lead “Rowdy Under the Big Top” Parade

October 22, 2025

Photo Credit: Kenneth Irving, Northwestern News
Dr. Ken Brown sits in a rocking chair at his home. Brown is the 2025 Northwestern Oklahoma State University homecoming parade marshal.

ALVA, Okla. — Leading the “Rowdy Under the Big Top” 2025 Northwestern Oklahoma State University homecoming parade will be retired professor of chemistry and longstanding Northwestern supporter, Dr. Kenneth Brown.

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.

For up-to-date information on Northwestern Homecoming activities visit nwosu.edu/homecoming.

-NW-

Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480