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Held on November 16, 1946, the first homecoming at the University of Houston was "dedicated to students and former students of the University who served in World War II." The festivities included the football game against the North Texas Eagles, the crowning of Mary Ray Curry as the first Homecoming Queen, a barbeque, and a barn dance.
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The November 17, 2007 homecoming game, a 35-28 victory over Marshall, marked Case Keenum's first complete game at quarterback. At the 2011 homecoming game, he became the NCAA's all-time leader in career yards, as he threw 376 yards and 6 touchdowns and UH defeated Marshall 63-28. That year Keenum would lead the team to a 13-1 record, a Ticket City Bowl victory against Penn State, and a #18 finish in the AP poll.
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In a match for the record books, Houston and Texas Christian University broke the NCAA record for the most passing yards in a game. With UH’s David Klinger passing for 563 yards and TCU’s Matt Vogler throwing for 690, sixth-ranked Houston prevailed on Homecoming Day, 56-35.
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In the homecoming match-up, the football team defeated Arkansas 20-9. The team went on to win the Southwest Conference and play in the Cotton Bowl. Between 1976 and 1979, UH won the conference three times and made three Cotton Bowl appearances.
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Renu Khator’s formal investiture as UH Chancellor and President took place on November 7, 2008 as a part of homecoming weekend. Khator declared, “It is fitting that the investiture will be part of this year’s homecoming festivities. Just as homecoming celebrates the university’s history, the investiture will honor UH’s longstanding legacy and look ahead at its goals.”
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Following the construction of the “8th Wonder of the World,” the UH football team played the 1965 season (and many thereafter) in the Astrodome. On November 6 the homecoming game saw the Cougars upset heavily-favored Ole Miss 17-3. Bo Burris’ 84 yard touchdown pass to Warren McVea set a school record for longest passing play.
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The 1984 homecoming parade returned to downtown Houston for the first time in over 30 years. Track star Carl Lewis, winner of 4 gold medals at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, served as the parade’s honorary Grand Marshal.
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Beginning in 1950, a homecoming parade wound through downtown Houston. 1951’s Homecoming celebration was dedicated to the Cullen family, and the winning float was a replica of the front of the Ezekiel Cullen Building with “Win for the Cullens” inscribed at the base.
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Students on campus worked to prepare for the homecoming activities and welcome visitors to campus. In the fall of 1947, one very special arrival came to campus: UH’s first live mascot. Following a contest to name the cougar, Shasta’s name was announced at the Friday night homecoming bonfire.
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1996 marked 50 years of homecoming celebrations at the University of Houston. That year, the football team returned to campus, playing homecoming and other home games in Robertson Stadium. Shasta and Sasha greeted the court at halftime, and the Cougars prevailed 56-49 against 20th-ranked Southern Mississippi.
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On November 23, 1968, Lynn Eusan was crowned the University of Houston’s first African-American homecoming queen and in turn became the first African-American Homecoming Queen at a predominantly white University in the South. On the field, the Cougars posted their highest score ever, defeating Tulsa 100-6.
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In addition to more familiar titles like “Homecoming King,” or “Mr. UH,” the campus once celebrated the dubious distinction of “King Ugly.” Here, Homecoming Queen Rosalie Chrodo presents the award to Wayne Dessens at the Homecoming Dance. The plaque was presented to a representative of the fraternity/sorority pair that raised the most money for various campus causes.