“With fond memories and a ‘D’ average.”
Those words are on comedian/actor Tim Conway’s wall tile in the Student Union. Tomorrow night, the 1956 University graduate will return to campus as part of the formal dedication of the Union.
According to Gale Swanka, senior associate director for the Union, this is not the first time that Conway has played a role in the Union’s progress. He appeared in the closing video that aired when the Union closed in 1999. In that video, he talked about the Falcon’s Nest and the memories that he had there. “He has been very supportive of this project,” Swanka said.
“He’s very excited,” said Shannon Loar Tenney, coordinator of Donor Relations for the Alumni Association. She also added that Conway incorporated this appearance into his travel schedule.
Conway, who has won several Emmy awards for his work, is best known for his role on “The Carol Burnett Show” and for the “Dorf” movie series. He has also appeared in “Speed 2,” “Cannonball Run II,” “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again,” and “Air Bud: Golden Receiver.” Animation fans may know Conway from his work on “Spongebob Squarepants” and the TV version of Disney’s “Hercules.”
“It means a great deal to the University to have an Emmy-winning alumni come back,” said Marcia Latta, associate vice president for development. Latta also added that Conway is appearing on campus for free.
As a student, Conway had a radio comedy show that was broadcast from the Falcon’s Nest. “He’s coming back to where it all started,” Latta said.
Conway’s stand-up performance will not be the only highlight on Saturday night. According to Tenney, the black-tie event will also feature recitals showcasing student talent.
Many attending tomorrow’s event will be alumni. “I also think it’s a really exciting event for alumni to rally around,” Latta said. She also said alumni were coming from all over the country, including states like New York, California and Texas.
The event is also another showcase for the new Union, which has been a success, Swanka said. When it came to the number of students using the facility, Swanka said, “We’ve seen that just go up and up as the semester goes on.”
Latta said that she would like to see visiting alumni walk away with a sense of pride in the University. She also hoped that alumni would see that “what was a strong University in their time is even better today.”
