After 40 years of coordinating Murray State’s Homecoming parade, Jeanie Morgan will trade in her clipboard for a convertible as this year’s grand marshal.

Morgan recently retired after 48 years where she worked as the Student Government Association (SGA) adviser and Center for Student Involvement director. Now, the Murray State University Alumni Association honors Morgan’s years of service and passion with their marshal selection.

Carrie McGinnis, director of Alumni Relations, said Morgan is more than deserving of being this year’s guest of honor.

“There are precious few Racers who can boast the type of lifelong relationship with Murray State that Jeanie has experienced,” McGinnis said. “She came to work in the Housing Office on campus in 1976. For her, it was just like coming home, literally. The Housing Office was actually housed in her childhood home on Waldrop Drive.”

As marshal, Morgan’s responsibilities will include attending events, such as Tent City and the football game, leading the Homecoming parade, participating in the Homecoming queen and king ceremony and posing in the annual SGA picture.

McGinnis said Morgan is more than up to the task; she said that anyone who knows Morgan will know her famous phrase: Homecoming is better than Christmas.

“Homecoming is better than Christmas. If you ask my SGA kids, this is my tagline. I tell this to my students anytime I get the chance,” Morgan said. “You get to share memories with old and new friends and you don’t have to buy presents. To me, it is the excitement of students returning to their Alma Mater, seeing the changes to campus and sharing changes in their lives. I love sharing what is new on campus and hearing about all my students’ latest success and life changes since the previous year when they last caught me up…Every year after Homecoming comes to an end, I am already looking forward to next year.”

While Morgan planned her first Homecoming parade in 1984, she said she never imagined being named Homecoming marshal. She said she is honored to be chosen.

“I’m overwhelmed with many emotions, gratitude, honor, excitement to name a few. I will cherish this memory, and it will make it an extra special Homecoming,” Morgan said. “As grand marshal, I look forward to seeing all the people that love Murray State University come together at Homecoming and I hope I represent the Racer spirit.”

This year’s Homecoming parade theme is “It’s a Racer Holiday.” The parade will begin making its way down Main Street at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19.