East Texas Baptist University's Homecoming Parade brought current students and alumni together for music, entertainment and friendly reunions.

"This was a very special parade," said Brittany Gant, student body president. "The whole process of the Homecoming weekend — this was the first year for us to really get to interact with the alumni association and the alumni in general."

Courtney Case/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

Brandon Booker and Natalie Morrison swing dance next to the Student Foundation's float Saturday during the East Texas Baptist University Homecoming Parade.

The parade began with a huge banner reading "Back to the Future, ETBU Homecoming 2009 — Time was..." Each of the floats was themed after an era, including medieval, the Wild West and several decades.

"We haven't been back together in years, so we are having a great time," said Becky Montgomery of Hillsboro, who graduated in 1983. "We came in last night and talked all night."

Five women from the classes of 1982 and 1983 stood close together, sharing the moments with excitement, taking photos and laughing over the changes.

The ETBU band marched, followed by President Samuel "Dub" Oliver and his wife, Susie Oliver.

At the end of the parade route, performing entrants gave the judges well-rehearsed reminders of why they should win first prize.

"One of our crew came from around Huntsville, Ala., to be here," said Ms. Montgomery.

Toby the Tiger was impatient with the performers and revved his four-wheeler, bouncing on its shocks as he waved to the crowds and threw candy.

The Tigerline drill team float took onlookers back to the days of the cave man with a volcano and the dancers wearing primitive costumes. Then came the Greek men dressed in togas who shouted greetings to the audience.

The medieval float was drawn by horses, which were actually men clapping coconuts together, and must have had a candy catapult. A poor young woman was also on trial for witchcraft as the Baptist Student Ministry parodied "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Some alumni with the 50-year class reunion traveled from as far away as Georgia and Missouri to join classmates for Homecoming, said Barbara Huffman of Marshall.

"Only two of us live here in Marshall — me and Doris Simmons. We got together a committee of seven and did the planning," Ms. Huffman said.

In all, there were 77 students who graduated from ETBU in 1959.

"We've lost a large number of our classmates in death," she said solemnly. "Many of us had not seen each other in 50 years, and it's just been awesome to see everyone, renew acquaintances and share memories."

A float featuring cowboys and native Americans included a jail and teepee with a war dance at the end, which had the two factions circling each other with suspense.

Then, the Roaring '20s met the roaring Tigers as the Linebery Hall Council danced for the judges as the crowd applauded wildly.

Other floats included the soup kitchen from the Great Depression, a salute to the 1940s with a plane and military uniformed dancers, Homecoming Queen Stacy Hooks and King Travis Jones, the ETBU Cheer squad, and a '50s flashback with "Grease."

The 80s float was "Back to the Future," but for the Pricers, coming back to ETBU for the Homecoming Parade provided all the time travel they would need to find love.

"We were freshmen together in 1951," said Rena Pricer, who stood with her husband, John Pricer, during the 2009 homecoming parade.

"He left and fought in the Korean War in 1952 and didn't come back to school," she said. "I went on and finished."

Pricer played the violin for generals and still loves playing. Both went on to raise families before finding themselves single again.

In 2006, Pricer, living in Port Orchard, Wash., received a school newsletter in which a classmate recalled his rich baritone voice. That year, he decided to visit ETBU during Homecoming.

"After 56 years, he came back for his first reunion," said Ms. Pricer. "We were classmates in chorus and music."

During that 2006 parade, someone hailed Ms. Pricer by her maiden name and they realized they were standing right beside each other.

They both remember that moment with clarity.

"We were standing by the Ornelas building watching the parade go by," said Pricer.

Pricer had been too shy to ask her — or any woman — out on a date during his college days, but their reunion during the parade blossomed into a rich romance.

As they recalled their meeting at the parade, they smiled with youthful energy.

"I had though of her some over the years, but she didn't know I was single," said Pricer, who added that they fell in love over the scriptures by reading to one another over the phone.

They were married in 2007 and spend half the year in Port Orchard, Wash., and the other half in Waskom so they can visit the campus to see the parade.