Through the Decades: A Look at Homecoming History

Homecoming is a tradition that many Burros take part in every year. Students play exciting games in the days leading up to the big game, this year against Hesperia, and root for the football team to win. There, the Homecoming coronation occurs, and the next night the students dance the night away in our gym at our themed dance.

Homecoming has its roots far beyond our contemporary understanding of the event, though. Over the years, schools around the country have shaped their version of the event, just like our own. It is the high point of many a student in high school, and some colleges continue to have Homecoming events too. Let’s take a look back at the roots of the tradition, and explore what it means to America and the Burros.

Homecoming events have their origins in college football games as far back as the late 1800s. These games invited alumni, or previous students at the school, to attend and cheer on their school.
Two colleges claim to have the first homecoming; multiple accounts record Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, as the school to hold the first homecoming, on April 21, 1909; Baylor University in Waco has held Homecoming events since November 1909, with continuity starting in 1915. Both included alumni reunions and parties, and Baylor held their final game of the 1909 season at theirs.

Later, in 1911, the University of Missouri athletic director Chester Brewer invited alumni to attend the annual “Border War” game, the football game against their rivals, the University of Kansas. The game saw 10,000 alumni attend and ended in a 3-3 tie.

After the colleges, high schools began to adopt homecoming traditions. Burroughs adopted the tradition in the 40s when it was founded and has built up the tradition over nearly 8 decades.
In the 1949-50 school year, Homecoming saw the Burroughs beat Lone Pine 36-13 on Friday and Bishop 18-0 the next day. On both nights, there were dances sponsored by the Pep Club. The homecoming queen was Barbara Milsap. Apparently, they even had a real burro there!

Homecoming was as lively as ever in the 1958-59 year, with a bonfire and plenty of traditional floats. The court that year consisted of Queen Dolores Burke and Princesses Carolyn Barker and Pat Rickhoff.

In the middle of the 60s, we begin to see even more detail on Homecoming, including Powderpuff. In the 1963-64 year, the court consisted of Queen Lorinda Shacklett and Princesses Sharon Melia and Jean Crockett.

In the 1968-69 year, Burroughs traditions continued with elaborate floats, a bonfire, and the crowning of the annual homecoming court. That year, a new event, tricycle races, went on. That year’s court consisted of Queen Debbie Murphy and Princesses Susan Parry and Sybil Aulds.

The 1969-70 year was marked by the social change of the ending decade and the first Moon landing with Apollo 11, which happened a few months before school went into session. The year was also the 25th anniversary of Burroughs. Homecoming had become fairly standard in those 25 years, with the tricycle competition going on again and a game of tug-of-war. That year’s theme was “Silver Stairway to the Stars”, likely in reference to the Apollo 11 mission. The bonfire and floats were just as elaborate as ever. That year’s court was Queen Debee Leary and Princesses Pam Castleman and Sandy Hamilton.

The 1978-79 year had a four-member court, consisting of Queen Dawn Nash and Princesses Cindy Doyel, Stacie McCollough, and Denice Ricketts. Spirit Week had plenty of students take part, and the game had all of the classes soaring with excitement.

The 1980-81 year had the theme “Roses and Rainbows”. That year’s Queen was Dana Ballenger, with Princesses Jane Alltop and Kim DeVries as her court. That year’s game was a loss, but still brought up the spirits of the students. Powderpuff and other games also excited students.

For the 1988-89 school year, the theme was “A Night in Paradise”. The multi-use room had now become the common room for dances to take place in. That year’s Queen was Cathy Mercado.
1992-93 had the greatest amount of info yet. The week started on the 10th of October with B Mountain painting by the seniors (fun fact: it used to be a freshman event!). On the 13th, a games night took place, and the next day a game of tug-of-war went on. The 15th saw Powderpuff, with the Seniors winning over the Sophomores.  The 16th had a rally, some class competitions, and the big game against Palmdale, which the Burros narrowly lost. The Queen that year was Camica Edwards. The dance took place on the 17th, themed “A Carousel Through Time.”

1997-1998 was themed “Voyage through the Tropics.” That year, the Queen was Cathy Crow, who was crowned at the game won by Burroughs on November 7th. The next night, students had fun at the Homecoming dance.

The 2001-2002 school year was a stressful and scary time for students and staff following the 9/11 attacks. Homecoming, however, helped to lift their spirits in the face of tragedy. The whole week had creative spirit days. Powderpuff, the rally, and the big game all dominated the scene. The game may have been a loss, but it was still an exciting affair. The court was comprised of Queen Stephanie Ettling and Princesses Lisa Dawson and Dannan Hodge.

The end of the 2000s was marked in the 2009-10 year, with the Fun and Games Night kicking off the week’s events. In Powderpuff, the Class of 2011 took the win. A rivalry known as “Trogs vs. Apes” pitted Juniors in APUSH against Seniors in AP English. The two groups decorated classrooms and kept their rivalry fair. Juniors also won the Float Building competition that week. That year’s Queen was Kayla Rubin.

The 2014-15 year marked the halfway point of the 2010s, and Homecoming was there, as always. The spirit days of their week were Scary vs. Fairy, Mathlete vs. Athlete, Wizards vs. Witches, and Blackout. Juniors were again victorious in Powderpuff, and the Burros beat their opponents at the big game, 31-24. That year, the Homecoming Queen was Bridget Ingle.

In our new decade, we experienced a great deal of academic hardship thanks to the COVID-19 virus. Luckily, we bounced back for 2021-2022 and reconnected with Burroughs. The Amazing Race saw a victory for a team of seniors. The AP Lit and APUSH students were still at it, going head-to-head by decorating the opposition’s classrooms. Powderpuff saw the Seniors win in both the games and cheer. That year’s Queen was Simrin Khara, with the other Top 3 being Brooke Luevano and Lysette Sepulveda.

Homecoming is a time-honored tradition of the Burros, and it has a wonderful, rich history that goes beyond what yearbooks have to say. We encourage you to participate in this great tradition and have plenty of fun!