USU will honor four alumni at Homecoming
Four Utah State University alumni were named as dignitaries for USU’s Homecoming festivities Sept. 16-22.
Brothers Sidney and MacArthur Lane, Corey Christiansen and Rolf Kerr will be honored for accomplishments both at USU and during their lifetimes.
“Homecoming is a time to remember the rich history of Utah State, and it is individuals such as these who carry those great traditions of excellence into communities across the country, even across the world,” said Wallace Odd, executive director of Alumni Relations. “The Alumni Association is pleased to honor such outstanding people.”
Sidney and MacArthur Lane, brothers and former football players at USU, have been named the grand marshals for Homecoming. Recipients of the award are chosen to lead the annual USU homecoming parade down Logan’s Main Street. The Lanes will be honored at the Homecoming dignitaries banquet and the Homecoming football game against San Jose State.
MacArthur Lane was a running back at USU and on the men’s track team from 1966-1968. He is a former professional football player and participated in 11 NFL seasons from 1968-1978 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Sidney Lane is a retired high school teacher. He also worked at the University of California. He played football for USU from 1967-1972. He and his brother established the Henry Lane Memorial Fund at USU in honor of their father, Henry Lane. This student loan fund is for African American varsity football students attending USU.
“Sid and Mac are indeed USU legends,” Odd said. “They continue to share their resources and abilities in their communities and professions. They both are remarkable individuals who exhibit the meaning of ‘True Blue Aggies.'”
Christiansen will receive the Distinguished Young Alumnus award. Recipients of the award must have completed their undergraduate degree at USU in the last 15 years. Christiansen was selected for the accomplishments he has made through his career, service and volunteer efforts. He has built a national music following and has more 40 publications with Mel Bay Publications. He has conducted countless guitar clinics and concerts across the country and beyond. A CD featuring his work topped the jazz charts across the country in January 2007.
Kerr, LDS commissioner of education, will be awarded Alumnus of the Year. This award is presented to one individual alumnus of USU who has demonstrated outstanding traits of leadership and character in the past year. Kerr was quarterback for USU in 1954-1955. After serving an LDS church mission in England, he returned to USU in the 1958 season. Kerr currently directs operations of the church’s higher education institutions, including BYU, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii and the LDS Business College. He also has responsibility for seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Kerr has been a member of the Quorum of the Seventy since 1996. He was Utah’s commissioner of higher education, president of Dixie College and served in a number of administrative positions at BYU, University of Utah, USU and Weber State University.