This article has been posted with written permission from Andrew D. Perrine, Associate Vice President Communications and Marketing, Madison Magazine.
Top Dawg fan
Homecoming “king” Bill Dunn
By Emily Tait | Madison, The Magazine of James Madison University
Nothing can keep William “Bill” Dunn away from his beloved alma mater. A member of the Class of 1977, Dunn has made it to 40 straight JMU Homecomings! He participated in his first four Homecomings as a student, and from there on out he just couldn’t stay away.
“I love coming back to campus and Harrisonburg. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than tailgating on Goodwin field, mixing up my ‘Famous Bloody Mary’—and enjoying good food and a great atmosphere,” says Dunn. “Anybody who knows me well knows I will be there. I have missed friends’, weddings on three occasions to make it to Homecoming. It’s something that I look forward to and will continue to look forward to as long as I can.”
While at JMU, Dunn was a College of Education business administration minor and an active member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He has volunteered at the university for more than 25 years and is a past president of the Northern Virginia Duke Club of chapter representatives. Homecoming serves to unite past and present and celebrate the spirit of JMU. Dunn’s feat is a testament to the fact that JMU students and alumni can never have enough Purple Pride.
After seeing the above article, we reached out to Brother Dunn for some additional comments:
Do you go all out every year setting up your own tailgate with friends, or is this something you do with your brothers of Theta Chi?
“We tailgate at all of the home football games, not just Homecoming,” said Dunn. “There are a mixture of Theta Chi and alumni at the tailgate, and then we all intermingle between the other tailgates set up at the games.”
This November will be your 41st Homecoming game. Out of the 40 games, is there one that stands out to you as a favorite?
“The culture of the way we tailgate that has changed over the years,” said Dunn. “From 1973-1985 everyone “Partied on the Hill,” and those are some of my fondest memories,” he said.
Are you still involved Eta Kappa Chapter – participate in alumni events, etc.?
“Eta Kappa chapter had lost its charter for a number of years, so I had kept in touch with many of my brothers, but not involved with the chapter so much,” said Dunn. “I did attend the 40th Anniversary and plan to attend the 45th. This year I also plan to visit the chapter house. When I was in college the house was off campus,” he said.
Has your Theta Chi experience had an impact on your life since graduation?
“I made life-long friends and have many cherished memories while being a part of Theta Chi in my college days,” said Dunn. “I am still in touch with many of my brothers and visit with them often. I have also enjoyed meeting the younger brothers over the years,” he added.