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Sports Memories by Tom Jones

Homecoming week has a special place in my heart as my grandmother (1916), my father (1947), myself (1980) and my children (2024) are all graduates of Albert Lea High School. This week I am going to look back at the start of the tradition of homecoming, along with a look back at 10, 20 and 50 years of homecoming memories.

In doing some research, former Albert Lea Tribune reporter Cathy Hay wrote a great article in 2014 that said the Freeborn County Standard newspaper reported the first homecoming appeared to have been on September 30, 1919, for soldiers returning from the “Great War.” The day-long event did not include a game but featured two bands, a street dance, a 30-piece orchestra and a tug of war. The day ended with a barbecue with choice meats from the Albert Lea Packing Company.

Luther Academy, which was located where the Academy Apartments now stand on East 4th Street hosted the first actual football game for a homecoming in town in 1922, which was part of the Academy’s 34th anniversary celebration.

Albert Lea High School played their first homecoming game on October 23, 1926, when they tied Mankato 14-14 at the new Abbott Field. The event became an annual tradition in 1932 when Gladys Reese was named the first homecoming queen.

10 years

Two events were brought back to celebrate Homecoming week in town. A window decorating contest was held throughout the town with 25 businesses participating. A parade was also brought back to downtown.

Anna Englin was crowned homecoming queen and Connor Larson was named homecoming king in a coronation that was held on Monday at the high school.

The Albert Lea Tribune put up posters on the front of their newspaper sale racks throughout the town with the jersey numbers of the seniors on the team.

The game featured the Tigers hosting Faribault. Turnovers cost the Tigers early and the Falcons went home with a 37-0 victory. Jakob Kilby ran the ball 20 times for 41 yards to lead the Tigers.

20 years

A big week of festivities were planned for the Tigers game against Faribault with the coronation on Monday night at the high school. Krista Horejsi was crowned homecoming queen and Tim Evans homecoming king.

During the week a senior dinner and dance was held at the Albert Lea Country Club and a bonfire was held at Hammer Field.

The game saw the Tigers jump on Faribault with a 14-7 lead in the second quarter before the Falcons answered with 35 points to take home a 42-14 win. Jared Butler ran the ball 13 times for 160 yards to lead the Tigers with Zach Marty completing eight passes for 83 yards.

50 years

Cheryl Ryan was crowned homecoming queen in a ceremony held on a Monday at the Albert Lea High School auditorium.

The big game featured the Tigers hosting No. 1 ranked Rochester John Marshall, who was coached by John Drews. The Rockets came to town with Kent Kitzmann, a third-year varsity running back who later would set an NCAA record at the time for running the ball 57 times for 266 yards in a game while a member of the Minnesota Gophers.

A parade was held downtown before the game with one float featuring an outhouse with the words “Throw Marshall in the John.”

The game was all John Marshall as they stunned the Tigers 39-0. In the game, Kitzmann ran the ball 19 times for 215-yards.

The Tigers were led by quarterback Matt Wilson, who ran the ball 10 times for 48-yards. Dolph Moon added 27-yards on eight carries.

I hope you join me as the Tigers celebrate homecoming with the parade going through downtown on Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m. and the game on Friday at 7 p.m. with Tri City United.