Homecoming is a tradition across the United States in both high schools and colleges where there are events to promote school unity and spirit.

The University of Missouri, the University of Illinois and Baylor University each claim that they began the Homecoming tradition. Currently, the National Collegiate Athletics Association recognizes the University of Missouri as the founder of this tradition. A sports coach planned the first Homecoming event in 1911 to welcome back alumni and to celebrate the school’s new facilities. At the University of Illinois, two seniors planned an experimental event in 1910 to promote school spirit which turned out to be a school wide celebration. In 1909, Baylor University hosted “Good Will Week,” which consisted of a football game, parades, a formal dance and class reunions for alumni. Yet, their tradition did not continue after that year and only started up again in 1915. The celebrations have since become popular all over the United States

For Gunn, Homecoming began when the school first opened in 1965. “Homecoming was something that high schools had been doing for years,” Student Activities Director Lisa Hall said. “It made sense that when Gunn opened, they would [have] something to welcome back alumni.”

During halftime at the football game, the candidates for Homecoming Queen were announced. However, the Queen wasn’t crowned until part way into the Homecoming dance, and there was no Homecoming King. After the Court candidates were announced, each class revealed its float. The senior class of 1965 won the float competition with the theme of “Skin the Bears.” The sophomores came in second with their theme “Smokey the Bear” and the juniors lost with a The Lord of the Flies themed float emblazoned with “Kill the Bear, Spill his Blood.”

In 1966, the first Homecoming dance featured a live band, the St. James Faders.

In 1967, Gunn had its first bonfire as part of Homecoming week. Early in the week, each of the classes had a “wood drive” where people collected wood that was used in the bonfire. The bonfire then took place on Thursday night. Also that year, the school began to have dress up days. Airbands were not incorporated into Homecoming week until 1996. However, changes from the past have left some grateful. “Homecoming seems really different when Gunn first opened,” freshman Max Woo said. “I’m glad that homecoming has changed [to what it is now] since then.”