Marty Jones and Lucy Bates were crowned the 2013 Homecoming King and Queen at this year’s homecoming football game.
Jones, an agricultural education senior, and Bates, a piano performance senior, said the process involved submitting an application to the OSU Alumni Association followed by an interview of the top 15 men and top 15 women. After that, five men and five women were chosen as the candidates. They are interviewed by more members of the alumni association and from there, it was decided who would be this year’s king and queen.
Bates said the experience was surreal, and she wasn’t expecting to be named queen.
“I just remember thinking, ‘Wait, I think they just called my name.’ But it was really special for me because Kylie Roper, the last homecoming queen, is sorority sister and friend of mine,” Bates said. “It was such a wonderful experience and I was so glad that I got to share it with her.”
As for Jones, he said he was shocked to be named king as well.
“I am honored and blessed to serve in this capacity,” Jones said. “I am so humbled and thankful for the love and support from family, friends, brothers, and fellow students.”
Bates said one of the most memorable moments during Homecoming was being able to ride the float at the parade.
“My mother was actually a homecoming queen for the college of education when she was at school at OSU, and there was a picture of her riding in the homecoming parade that sat in her study the entire time I was growing up,” Bates said. “I thought she must have been the coolest person to have walked the face of the earth because she got to ride in a car in the OSU parade.”
Jones’ favorite moment was joking alongside his homecoming candidate partner, Brooke Ramsey.
“One memory I recall is laughing at one another for asking parade attendees about it being cold out and spilling coffee all over the car right before the starting of the parade,” Jones said. “I was so fortunate to have Brooke as my partner throughout the events of homecoming.”
A piece of advice Bates would like to share with incoming freshmen is to keep the big picture in mind.
“College is not about being involved in every activity OSU has to offer, but about finding your passions and investing in them,” Bates said. “Find the things that are fulfilling and have real value and pursue them with integrity. The time that you spend in college is not a stepping stone to the rest of your life, but is an exciting time of your life that you will never get an opportunity to repeat.”
Jones said he wants to remind all students to always “be a cowboy.”
“Our time at OSU is short so enjoy every minute and to never forget why you are here,” Jones said. “I am most appreciative for the thing that can’t be taken away – my education. The educational and personal developments I have gained at OSU have been my greatest accomplishments thus far. It is my sincere hope that I too will someday pass along the wisdom.”