Donna Herndon to serve as Murray State University Homecoming 2026 Parade Grand Marshal
By Carrie McGinnis | Sep 22, 2026
A variety of special events to take place during Homecoming weekend on Oct. 15-18
MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) is proud to announce 1964 alumna and former Murray State Alumni Affairs Director Donna Herndon as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Homecoming Parade.
Celebrating 100 years since its founding on June 1, 1926, the MSUAA will welcome alumni and friends back to campus Oct. 15-18 for Homecoming 2026. The annual parade will take place Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. along Main Street in Murray.
Herndon has a long history of service and generosity to Murray State and the surrounding community. For decades, she has supported numerous University programs and initiatives. In 2017, she was awarded the Murray State University Alumni Association Golden Horseshoe Award, an award she established as alumni director in 1987, which recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond in service to their alma mater.
In June, Herndon was awarded a DAR Medal of Honor during the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution’s 135th Continental Congress in Washington D.C. The national organization selected Herndon in recognition of her lifetime of dedication to civic engagement, philanthropy and service, including her time as a military spouse while married to the late Major Woody Herndon (‘66), an Army veteran, to whom she was married for 53 years.
Her work in the local nonprofit sector has helped establish or support organizations and programs including The Santa Project, Calloway United Benevolent Services (CUBS), Calloway County CASA, Angels Attic, Angels Community Clinic, the Murray-Calloway County Homeless Coalition, HOPE Calloway, Calloway County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention and countless others.
At Murray State, Herndon’s legacy runs especially deep.
“Donna formerly served as the president of the Murray State University Alumni Association and as the University’s director of alumni affairs,” said Carrie McGinnis, Murray State’s current director of alumni relations.
“She was directly involved in the establishment of traditions and programs that continue to connect Racers today, including Tent City, the Student Ambassador program and the Golden Horseshoe Award,” McGinnis continued. “As the MSUAA celebrates our 100th birthday, it is a great honor to recognize someone I have such admiration and respect for as part of a campus tradition that means so much to us both.”
On being asked to lead the parade Herndon said with a laugh, “I still can’t believe it! I was so excited! I’ve been in a lot of Homecoming parades as alumni director, usually jumping in the car at the last minute.”
She added, “I love Homecoming! It is just the most heartwarming time of the year.”
This year’s Homecoming Parade theme, “Racers Roll the Dice!”, will bring a game-day twist to one of Murray State’s most beloved Homecoming traditions.
“Crafted by SGA Homecoming Director Maggie White, this theme allows student organizations the opportunity to select their favorite games and bring them to life,” said Center for Student Involvement Coordinator and Student Government Association (SGA) Advisor Kade Gambill. “The top three student organization floats will split a cash prize of $1,000 to reward them for countless hours of hard work.”
The parade can be viewed from anywhere in the world at murraystate.edu/streaming.
A detailed schedule of events regarding Murray State’s Homecoming activities can be found at murraystate.edu/homecoming.
Highlights include:
- A Taste of the Arts – Thursday, Oct. 15 at 5:30 p.m. on the stage at Lovett Auditorium. The annual event supports scholarships for students studying music, theatre and art and features student performances, dinner and a live auction. Doors will open at 5 p.m., cocktails will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Purchase your individual tickets or a table at murraystate.edu/homecoming.
- MSUAA Board of Governors Fall Meeting – Friday, Oct. 16 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Sid Easley Alumni Center. Members of the Alumni Association Board of Governors, who meet biannually in the fall and spring, will gather to advise the Office of Alumni Relations on the future and impact of the MSUAA.
- Steinway Grand Piano Dedication – Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall, located in the Old Fine Arts Building. Murray State University’s Department of Music invites individuals to a dedication concert for its new Steinway performance grand piano. A dessert reception will follow. Both are free and open to the public.
- Hutson College of Agriculture Alumni Picnic – Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the William “Bill” Cherry Agricultural Exposition Center on College Farm Road. All Ag alumni are invited to network, eat and check out the progress of Murray State’s new Veterinary Sciences building on the University’s West Farm.
- College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Breakfast – Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 a.m. in the Murray Middle School cafeteria. COEHS alumni, faculty, staff, students, friends and families are invited to come together, reconnect and celebrate the 2026 Outstanding COEHS Alumni Award recipient. RSVP at murraystate.edu/homecoming.
- SGA 90th Anniversary Reunion – Saturday, Oct. 17 at 11:15 a.m. in the Curris Center. Former members of Murray State’s Student Government Association are invited to reconnect, reminisce with former adviser Jeanie Morgan and celebrate nine decades of student leadership. Attendees are asked to RSVP by Oct. 2 at murraystate.edu/homecoming.
- Special Art Exhibition Reception – Friday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. in the Clara M. Eagle Gallery, located on the 6th floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center. The public is invited to a reception celebrating the exhibition titled, “An Eclectic Eye,” and the generosity of the Porter family. The exhibition includes works by world-renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Andy Warhol. These pieces are on temporary loan to Murray State from Distinguished Alumna Lana Porter (’65, ’72) from the collection of her late husband and art collector, Dr. Michael Porter (’64, ’69). The exhibition will remain on view during gallery hours through Oct. 26.
- Homecoming Parade – Saturday, Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. along Main Street. This year’s theme is “Racers Roll the Dice!”
- MSUAA Tent City – Saturday, Oct. 17 at noon inside Roy Stewart Stadium. The Alumni Association will celebrate its 100th birthday at the MSUAA tent with Racer swag, free food, birthday cake and a cash bar.
- Coronation of the 2026 Homecoming King and Queen – Saturday, Oct. 17 during pregame festivities.
- Racer Football – Murray State will host the University of South Dakota Coyotes Saturday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. at Roy Stewart Stadium. Racer Athletics and the Racer Football Alumni Association will host reunions celebrating both the 1986 and 1996 OVC Championship teams under Coach Frank Beamer and Coach Houston Nutt, respectively.
Tickets for the Homecoming football game are available at goracers.com or by calling 270-809-3000.
For questions, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Carrie McGinnis in the Murray State University Office of Alumni Relations at 270-809-5600.
For more information about Murray State University Homecoming 2026, including the full schedule of events, visit murraystate.edu/homecoming.