Huntington Times

Marshall University, the Marshall University Foundation, and the Marshall University Alumni Association have announced that Dorothy “Dot” Hicks will serve as grand marshal for the university’s 2024 Homecoming activities from Sept. 30 through Oct. 5.

“We are proud to recognize Dot Hicks — a trailblazer, leader and legend — as this year’s grand marshal,” said Matt James, vice president of alumni relations. “Her commitment and contributions to our university have made a significant impact, and we are honored to celebrate her service throughout Homecoming week. This has been a year of breakout women sports, so there’s no better time to highlight our own Herd sports icon.”

Hicks will lead the annual Homecoming parade at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. The parade will proceed down Fourth Avenue in Huntington before concluding on campus. The parade is part of a full week of activities themed “The Marco Games,” which features multi-sport events promoting unity and athletic excellence.

Hicks is a former administrator, coach, and professor at Marshall University and was called the “pioneer of the women’s sports program at Marshall” during her induction into Marshall Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 1990. She has also contributed philanthropically to the university with multiple scholarships named after her. In March 2008, Marshall opened Dot Hicks Field, its softball stadium.

“Being selected as grand marshal is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me,” Hicks said. “It’s been wonderful thinking about it, and I’ve thought about it a lot.”

Originally from Old Hickory, Tennessee, near Nashville, Hicks graduated from Peabody College with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology and special education. She earned a doctorate from the University of Tennessee in higher education and administration before arriving in Huntington in 1969 after teaching for 14 years at East Tennessee State University.

At Marshall, Hicks founded women’s intercollegiate athletic programs and served as an associate athletic director in the 1970s. She was also a professor in the Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and chaired the Physical Education Department. She coached several sports including tennis, golf, and volleyball and later served as director of athletics for women’s sports.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Hicks said. “I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I wanted to make sure the athletes had what they needed. Teaching was my first love, and I thought women should have the same rights as men.”

In 1974, she awarded the first two athletic scholarships in women’s sports to golfer Nancy Bunton and basketball player Kathy Haas.

Hicks shared that there was a time when she thought attending college would not be possible for her until her Kiwanis Club in Nashville helped her receive scholarships.

“I promised them that when I was financially able, I would create scholarships,” she said. She has since created numerous scholarships with the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.

After retiring from Marshall in 1999, Hicks moved to Woodlands Retirement Community in Huntington in 2000 but maintains ties with family in Nashville while considering Huntington her home.

“It’s wonderful to see the students and what they’ve done with their lives,” Hicks said. “Marshall is the best school in the country because of its faculty, students, and administration."

In addition to leading the Homecoming parade on Oct. 4., Hicks will participate in other major events on campus leading up to the Homecoming football game against Appalachian State University on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Other highlights include:

- Unity Walk on Monday

- Alumni Association's Class Reunions

- Black Alumni Hall of Fame

- Alumni Tailgate presented by Woodlands Retirement Community

More information about this year’s Homecoming can be found at www.formarshallu.org/homecoming.