The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-02
AUBURN STUDENTS
 WELCOME NEW GYM
Enthusiastic Ceremonies Held by Students and
 Naculty Yesterday

Auburn, May 1.-(special) With fitting ceremony, 1000 Auburn students and citi- zens. effervescent with Auburn spirit. gathered on the site of the old gymnas- ium, did homage to it's past and welcomed the advent of Auburn's new Sn,0oo gym na asium presented by the alumni and for mer students of that institution as a memorial to the love and esteem which they hold for their alma mater.
 Beginning with a student rally in Lang don hall at 43o the enthusiasm reached such pitch that it never relaxed mo- ment throughout the afternoon. The pa rade began from Langdon hall, the Au- burn band leading. Then came Mike Don ahue as official roller, his weapon con- sisting of nothing more than an old wheel barrow. Following in order came faculty athletes with shovels and mortar boxes and student athletes with brick for the foundation The students fell in the col umn, and to martial air and the Auburn football songs the parade proceeded to the site of the old gymnasurl. Thomas Bragg then introduced Dean Petrie, master of ceremonies, as daddy of athletes at Auburn. manager and coach of the first football team. As master of ceremonies. Dr. Petrie was in form and delivered several timely hits. He also took the students back to the days when the first gymnasium was in the attic of the old main building. Briefly he alluded to the heroes that have gone forth from the old gymnasium and expressed the wish that Auburn teams of the future should surpass even their records of the past.
 Thach Speaks
 Dr. Thach delved further into history and stated that the first gymnasium was I on the campus and consisted of the two uprights and horizontal bar. He likened l the timbers of the old gymnasium and former Auburn teams, declaring that they were strong and of true heart. He wei comed the new gymna sium, declaring that he had rather have it as a gift of the alumni than in other way, and that he l believed Auburn athletics would be bet | ter since they are to have a better home | pr. B. B. Ross, chairman of the ath- | letic committee of Auburn, was intro duced as Dean Basbal Ross, and his "reminiscences of the horizontal bar were delightful. He welcomed the new gym nasium and declared that it wah due to Tom Bragg and his confidence in the l Auburn spirit.
 l Dr. Petrie stated that he was glad tc 1 learn that Auburn once had a bar and
 to hear of the stunts that President Thach and Dean Ross pulled off there He referred to pr. Ross famous 'possun l joke and stated that it suggested fit ting motto for the day" 'Possum I am | able"
 Proud of Records
 Coach Donahue stated that he was proud of the records made by teams oi the past and expressed his belief that I Auburn teams of the future would make greater records. He referred to Auburn record of fair play and courteous spirit to visiting teams, and stated that Inc thought Auburn's new gymnasium woulo
 enable her to extend this reputation. He was proud of the new gymnasium as tht gift of the almni, and declared that in solar as he knew Auburn was the only | college in the United States that had a gymnasium presented under similar cir cumstances.
 Dr. John Rush. '9s, of Mobile. was in. l troduced as bargain, worth 100 but going ! for 99. A stampede was prevented and pr. Rush proceeded with his remarks
 He stated that he was present In '95 wher
 Auburn moved into the then new gym nasium. and that 1t wasf' particularly gratifying to him to be present at the l birth of Auburns new alumni gymnas. ium.
 Other speakers were J. F. Pitts, for the recent football teams: J. R. Lester, fol the post graduate class: Warren An drews for the junior class, and Shu Mir Wong, for the sophomore class. Thomas | Bragg was selected to speak for thu freshmen class and pledged the support oi
 that class to the movement. Over 75
 students then joined Justify in 15 rahs for the new gymnasius and pledged theil
 financial support toward the final comple- tion of the building.