Carol of Lights Celebrates 50 Years
By: Julie Musgrave
Updated: December 5, 2008
A Lubbock tradition lights up the holiday season tonight, and this year -- the Carol of Lights celebrates 50 years of Christmas cheer for Texas Tech.
50 years ago -- a few people gathered in the Science Quadrangle with a few cups of hot chocolate to watch a few lights be lit. Today -- the tradition has grown to about 20,000 folks gathering, and the few lights that started it all now equals 25,000 and spans 13 buildings. It's grown to be one of Tech's most treasured traditions.
Alice Scott is part of the Carol of Lights board, she says her team has been planning the event since April. And there's a special person this year to do the lighting -- Dr. Bill Dean was there for the first gathering, and was the first person to turn on the lights. Tonight, 50 years later, he'll do it again.
Dr. Bill Dean, Lit First 'Carol of Lights': "To a lot of Tech people, this really signals the start of the Christmas Season. You know, lights are up, trees are up, and people are selling things, but this is really the official start of the Christmas season for us."
Alice Scott, Carol of Lights Board: "It is the most gorgeous site that you'll ever see. When the lights all do come on, and you hear the singing, this wonderful grand ceremony with the saddle tramps, the masked rider and everything, it's beautiful."
