By Colter Hettich, Features Editor
Elvis has left Midland, and he is on his way to Abilene. No Elvis-themed event would be complete without an Elvis impersonator, so Dee Carter will do his best to fill the King’s shoes. In addition to multiple performances and appearances throughout the Homecoming Weekend, Carter, complete in classic Elvis attire, will lead the 2008 Homecoming Parade as grand marshal.
During his time at ACU, Carter sang with the men’s Glee Club and a quartet. After spending several years in California with the musical group Silver Creek, he returned to Texas and almost dropped music entirely. But 10 years ago, after a fateful Elvis performance at a church party, he got back into the business.
“I started getting calls to do birthday parties and such. The more serious it got, the more serious I got,” Carter said.
Homecoming attendees will get to see Carter in four or five different costumes and a Broadway Wig Company Elvis wig. He watched All Shook Up on Broadway and called ACU as soon as he heard the Homecoming Musical choice.
“I get a lot of kick out of [performing]. It’s just a whole lot of fun,” Carter said. “Some people don’t like Elvis, and that’s fine. I tell people up front I don’t live his lifestyle.”
Spectators who do not see the grand marshal will have plenty more opportunities to get a taste of Elvis.
“All the floats this year were encouraged to choose an Elvis song and incorporate it into their float,” said Samantha Adkins, coordinator of alumni projects. “It will be interesting.”
The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to end by 10:30 a.m. at the latest. Eighteen floats and other entries will file down East North 16th Street and Campus Court, spreading Wildcat pride. Five judges will decide the winners of the traditional float competition; entries must be present before 6:30 a.m. to qualify.
The parade will begin at ACU Drive South, between Sikes Hall and the Williams Performing Arts Center. After turning west onto East North 16th Street, the procession will make a right at Campus Court and end in the Edwards Hall parking lot. “The public can expect the parade route to be closed and sealed off between 9-9:15 a.m.,” said ACU chief of police Jimmy Ellison. “If students or others are parked on the interior of the campus when the parade route is closed, they’re stuck until the parade route re-opens.”
Ellison also said any car left on ACU Drive South – between East North 16th Street and Teague Boulevard Circle – “past Friday night” will be towed.
