 "Photo:")
 "Photo:")
Bells rang out in the Carter Carillon for the first time as three campus projects were dedicated.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community gathered at the base of the bell tower, placed between the re-dedicated Old Main, the newly dedicated Emma Eccles Jones Teacher Education Building and the Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center to hear "Birds of Thunder," a song commissioned specifically for the dedication.
Previously, students, community members, alumni, and friends of SUU met in the Randall L. Jones Theatre to listen to key speakers as part of the celebration.
Former Cedar City Mayor Harold Shirley emceed the celebration, which included presentations by distinguished community members, SUU alumni and current students.
Cedar City Mayor and former SUU President Gerald R. Sherratt spoke to the crowd about the history and founding of Branch Normal College and the sacrifices and incredible dedication of the community to the formation of SUU.
There was a large amount of competition over the decision of where to place the new college. It was alleged that Cedar City was chosen because it was the only competing city without a saloon, Sherratt said.
"Of course, within a few months of the establishment of the school, a saloon was opened in Cedar City," he said.
Iron County School District Superintendant Jim Johnson spoke about SUU's original mission to train educators and said that 75 percent of current teachers in Iron County are SUU alumni.
Anne Judd, an SUU trustee, reminisced about her time at SUU and shared her memories of the fire that destroyed the original Old Main Building.
Attendees watched a video presentation entitled "Building on the Founders' Dreams" and heard "Winters Past," a musical piece performed by Assistant Professor of Music Virginia Stitt. Stitt was accompanied on the piano by adjunct accompanist Tracy Bradshaw.
SUUSA College of Education Senator Kiersten Gray spoke, followed by Prent Klag, dean of the College of Education. Chad Carter, of Carter Enterprises spoke about his perspective and insight on the new structures.
SUU President Michael T. Benson thanked past, present and future contributors to SUU's cause, expressing particular gratitude to the Beverly Taylor Sorenson and Emma Eccles Jones Foundations for their contributions to the University.
View a larger version of this video.
Be the first to comment on this article!