“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.”
Highlighting her role as grand marshal, Hicks will lead the annual Homecoming parade at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. The popular parade is set to make its way down Fourth Avenue in Huntington before ending on campus. The parade will be a part of a full week of activities for this year’s Homecoming, “The Marco Games,” which takes a Marshall spin on multi-sport events from a wide range of disciplines providing unity and athletic excellence.
Hicks is a former administrator, coach and professor at Marshall, and was dubbed the “pioneer of the women’s sports program at Marshall,” during her induction to Marshall Athletics’ Hall of Fame in 1990. Hicks has also left a legacy of philanthropic giving toward the university with multiple scholarships bearing her name. In March 2008, Marshall opened Dot Hicks Field, the university’s 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.”
Hicks, who is originally from Old Hickory, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, graduated from Peabody College with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology and special education. She received a doctorate from the University of Tennessee in higher education and administration and arrived in Huntington in 1969 after 14 years teaching at East Tennessee State University.
Hicks founded the women’s intercollegiate athletic programs at Marshall. She served as an associate athletic director in the 1970s and was also a professor in the Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, which included being chair of the Physical Education Department. She coached several sports at Marshall, including tennis, golf and volleyball. She went on to serve as the director of athletics for women’s sports and the liaison to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.
“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 the men.”
In 1974, Hicks awarded the first two athletic scholarships in women’s sports to golfer Nancy Bunton and basketball player Kathy Haas.
Hicks said there was a time in her life when she thought it would not have been possible for her to attend college. Her Kiwanis Club in Nashville thought differently, and through their help, Hicks was able to receive scholarships to attend college.
“I promised them that when I was financially able, I would create scholarships, which I have done,” Hicks said, creating numerous scholarships with the Marshall University Foundation and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.
Hicks retired from Marshall in 1999 and in 2000 moved to Woodlands Retirement Community in Huntington. Though she still has family in Nashville, Hicks said Huntington has become 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, in my opinion, because of the faculty, students and administration. With our current administration, we’ll be known all over the country and maybe even the world.”
In addition to the Homecoming parade, Hicks will also participate in other major events on and around campus leading up to the Homecoming football game against Appalachian State University on Saturday, Oct. 5. Other highlights of Homecoming week for alumni include the Unity Walk on Monday, Sept. 30; the Alumni Association’s 25th and 50th Class Reunion, and Marshall University Black Alumni’s Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 4; and the Marshall University Alumni Tailgate presented by Woodlands Retirement Community on Oct. 5. More information about this year’s Homecoming can be found at www.formarshallu.org/homecoming.