Homecoming 1978: Grand Valley's first -

A black and white icon in a 1970s style of a Laker with sou'wester style hat. Swirly type reads "LAKERS" below.

A newspaper page from the Lanthorn, the largest text reads GVSC's Homecoming 1978. The body of this article is summed up in the body text.

A football game in the 1970s, yellow and blue uniforms on the field. People sit on open bleachers in the foreground, in the background is a red striped tent and the dome.

Two girls, one in a GVSU marching band uniform smile for the camera. The photos is old with a pink cast. Football players are visible in the background.

Maris Timmer Tracy ’78, left, and Kathleen (Ure) Bell ’81 are pictured at Homecoming 1978, prior to receiving their prizes for the Lyrics Contest.

A clipping from the lanthorn, reads: Fight Song "GVSU Victory" Music by William Root, GVSC Band Director, Lyrics by Maris Tracy and Kathleen Ure, GVSC Band Members (Co-winners of Lyrics Contest, October 25, 1978, sponsored by the Student Senate and the Student Life Office). Grand Valley victory, As Lakers we have pride. Our team will lead us on, Blue and white we're at your side. We want a Grand Valley victory, As our foes will quickly see, Raise, your, voices, and cheer for a vic-to-ry. Please join us during half-time as we sing our fight song for the first time.

GRAND VALLEY FIGHT SONG

In the fall of 1978, a contest was held to write words for the “Grand Valley Fight Song.” Up to that point, it was an instrumental, with music written by William Root, GVSC band director.

Two friends and band members, Maris Timmer Tracy ’78 and Kathleen (Ure) Bell ’81, took on the challenge. After a few days in a little music practice room, they came up with lyrics that they modeled after their high schools’ songs.

During halftime of the Homecoming 1978 football game, Tracy and Bell were named the winners of the lyrics contest and awarded a $50 prize by President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers. Bell used her half of earnings to purchase new shoes for her concert band uniform. Tracy said winning the lyrics competition remains one of her best memories from Grand Valley. “Even today I can always win at the game ‘Two Truths and a Lie,’ because no one would think that I was part of a team writing the words to a college fight song,” Tracy said.