Homecoming

The inaugural homecoming at Eastern State Teachers College now Dakota State University was called Pioneer Day, it took place October 1922.  The day was filled with many activities, including a barbeque and a parade.  In 1923 Pioneer Day was changed to Eastern Frontier Day, because Yankton and Spearfish Normal called their homecoming Pioneer Day.  The change of the name didn’t affect the event; there was a parade and a barbeque that served 6000 people.  The first Eastern Pioneer Day marked the year for the first homecoming queen, Miss Gladys Meade of Fedora, South Dakota.  In 1924 Eastern Frontier Day was changed again to Eastern Day.  Over the next few decades “Eastern Day” was huge success with the parades becoming larger, variety shows, and many people cheering on the Trojans at the football game.

Eastern Day October 19, 1929 the first showing on a documentary film staged by Eastern State Teachers College of the early history of South Dakota and personal life of General Beadle in South Dakota called “Dacotah”.  The film was the first of its kind ever filmed at the time in the United States at that time.  The film deals with geological development, Indian Era, prairie fires, sod houses, blizzards, Indian raids and many other significant details of the settlers.   

1955 the homecoming name was subject to change again.  “Eastern Day” was now renamed Tutor Day.  Most of the Tutor Day activities were variety shows, coronation of the queen of Tutor Day, bonfires, lunches, and dinner for students and alumni. 

1970’s marked the change of the homecoming name again.  Tutor Day was changed to Trojan Days and is currently called Trojan Days.   Along with the Trojans Days were the Trojans Games.  The rituals for the Trojan Games were root-beer drinking, pie eating, and tug of war.  Trojan Days is still the current name for homecoming.    

Kings and Queens From 1950-Present

Dakota State University • All rights Reserved
Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004