I’ve been running like crazy all day, still trying to get things squared away after vacation. I had an exhilarating afternoon, capped by a friend opening a small box that much to my astonishment held not one but two Rice ARA Gold Medals:
One belonged to George R. Brown and the other to Alice Pratt Brown. They’re inscribed with an unexpected date: November 11, 1966. For many years the ARA awards were given at commencement and now they’re given at a dinner that weekend. I was curious why it would have been scheduled in November but it turns out that November 11 was the Friday evening before the Homecoming game. (We lost, by the way, a 7-6 heartbreaker to A&M.)
You can see the same box in this picture that was taken at the 1966 ceremony. The presenter is, of course, the one and only Oveta Culp Hobby:
A little while later another, more surprising, medal turned up. This one was for the Hugh Scott Cameron Award, given in memory of the first dean of students at Rice in recognition of a student who has rendered distinguished service to the student body. It was given to George Brown in 1968 and although it normally goes to a current student I don’t think anyone ever deserved it more than he did:
Bonus: Dean Cameron, from the 1950 Campanile. It’s the only picture of him I’ve ever seen.
Extra Bonus: I also happen to have a photo from that 1966 Homecoming game.
Rice University Owls Football 1966 game against Texas A&M, action shot