Stay HomeComing Oldest Swag Contest

WINNER! From Christy McGhee Blevins, ’02: “This sweatshirt was given to me when I was about 2 years old by my great uncle, Gene Gentry, who was working at Emory and Henry at the time. My mom saved the sweatshirt and I went on to attend and graduate from E&H. I kept the sweatshirt and was able to pass it on to my daughter. This is a picture of her the first time she wore it. I fully intend to keep it for her, hope she will be a Wasp in the future, and pass it down to her kids."

From Stella Aizcorbe '82: "My freshman year basketball warmup circa 1978."

From  Margaret Turman Kidd '98: "This the very first E&H branded item I ever owned. I bought this sweatshirt in 1993 after I decided to attend E&H. As you can see, I made it very 1990s by cutting out the neck and the bottom band. I loved this sweatshirt and still wear it today!"

From Karen Gilmer '02: "It’s my grandfather’s students’ handbook from the year he was Student Body President (1938-39)."

From Jake Price '20: "I got this windbreaker as my first pass down when I pledged Theta Chi Epsilon in Spring of 2018. I’ve held it close to me since then. We *think* the windbreaker is from ’70-’72."

From Bill Neely '74: "I am not sure if this counts, but it is definitely our oldest Emory & Henry memorabilia… this is a hunter's horn used by Thomas “Bingo” Fullerton, E &H athletic director (1914 -1928) and founder of Emory’s first football program …. this horn was used by him when coaching football drills at the college. Bingo was my grandfather, husband of Eula St.John Fullerton, who also attended Emory…..my parents, John David Neely and Ann Fullerton Neely, graduated from E&H (Class of 1951) and my wife, Vickie Mitchell Neely, and I graduated Class of 1974."

From Rufus Shull Class of '70

WINNER! From Rose Neese Houk, '81: "This beanie was my mom’s from 1947 and it was her pride and joy that she kept over all of these years! It’s my most prized possession of my mother’s."

From Chip Campbell '90: "Purchased from Mr. Rhudy at the E&H bookstore back when it was located right outside the cafeteria across the street from the duck pond. I had this hoodie on one night after leaving a Nashville restaurant, when a car pulled up next to me and the window rolled down with an exclamation of “Hey! Emory & Henry! I went there!” On several occasions I recall sharing this sweatshirt with several members of Delta Rho Delta, when I was the sorority sweetheart. Great memories spent with wonderful people. Hail Emory!"

From Susan Taylor Leathers '81: "This is one of two K-Phi jerseys ordered from the bookstore for intramurals, etc. can’t believe I still have it! My youngest son wore my white one as a nightshirt when he was little (still can’t remember why) until it had so many holes it got tossed. It had 1/5 on the back for the number. Can’t imagine why? Both had “Corbell” on them, my middle name. Memories! (Oh, and my mother put nametags on everything! Nothing got by her when I went home on breaks, not even underwear!!"

From Joanna McGrath Heims, ’10: “I was gifted this (GIGANTIC!) grey Emory & Henry sweatshirt in 2006 — soon after getting accepted into the college. Much of my extended family lives across Southwest Virginia (many just over in Lebanon) and they gave me this to celebrate me returning to my “roots”. Despite it being 3-4 sizes too big, I have loved on this sweatshirt year after year— event nervously ripping holes in the sleeves during tense Finals weeks. Now I pull it out anytime I need the comfort of home.”

WINNER! From Jonathan Jonas '93: "This blanket belonged to my dad, Eddie Jonas (1967), when he was an Emory & Henry student from 1962-1967. He and my mom, Sandra Blair Jonas (1970), met in August 1965, and they stood on the sidewalk in front of Byars Hall to plan their first date. When my sister, Ginger Jonas Largen (re 1989) and I were young, we curled up together under this blanket to watch Saturday morning cartoons. It was on my various dorm room beds from 1989 through 1993, and my kids have curled up in it for the last nineteen years. A couple of years ago, I used it as an illustration for my baccalaureate sermon in Memorial Chapel with the class of 2018, which included my nephew Matthew Largen and my niece Elise Bartz Carrigan. This picture taken just after the 2018 baccalaureate service shows the folded blanket with four of our family’s E&H graduates. Now, my daughter Grace is on campus as a member of the Class of 2024!"

From Jenny Poston Bishop ’93: “In 1989, I was a freshman at E&H working in the offices in Wiley. I became friends with Tom Rudisill (’67) who worked there. He bequeathed to me this bow tie and it stays displayed in my home unless it is being worn with pride! He embodied all that was amazing about being part of this wonderful family.”

From Linda Edwards, Class of 1965: This shirt is from 1961!

Caleb Jennings ’11: Caleb was spotted in a recent Zoom conversation wearing a shirt that clearly pre-dated his E&H experience. He told us the story: “My dad got this shirt in the '80s and after I chose Emory & Henry he passed it down to me. It's pretty fragile, so I only wear it for special occasions!" If you're wondering about the special occasion...tune into the "Better Than A Replay" football game on October 24 at 1 pm.

From Laura Beth Weaver: “This is Philip Haven Kinser’s Calliopean Society Pin from 1882. Philip Haven is great-grandfather to Christian Miller (Class of 2006). Christian and I met while attending E&H, where Christian practiced Concert Choir in the Calliopean Room of Byars. We are now raising our kiddos on Philip Haven Kinser’s family farm, Kinmill. When I attended strategic planning meetings recently as an Alumni Board representative, I donned this pin as a reminder of our roots and deep history. Rah! Rah!”

Jane Reynolds Bellamy, E&H ’56, shared a pic of her late husband’s student handbook.

Ron Willoughby, E&H ’59, shared a pic of his Sigma Iota Paddle