Brown-Eyed Susans are found planted all around campus.
Gov. Matt Mead has signed an official proclamation declaring August 31st as College Colors Day in Laramie, but “College Colors Day” will extend far beyond our campus.
Alumni and Cowboy fans from across the state, around the country and even across the globe will be wearing brown and gold in support of the University of Wyoming today. Towns like Torrington will be closing off streets and holding barbecues and community celebrations.
When brown and gold were made UW’s colors, the University was only eight years old. In the spirit of remembrance and respect, on March 26, 1895, eight UW alumni met for the purpose of organizing an Alumni Association.
It was a way to stay connected, to keep in touch and to express their loyalty and pride to the school that gave them so much.
Two weeks later, a formal
charter was granted and the University of Wyoming Alumni Association was established with a primary mission to “Promote the University interests and affiliation of its graduates.”
That summer, one of the first activities ever hosted by the new UWAA was an alumni banquet.
Money was not available for decorations, so two banquet organizers, Dick Abrams and Rebecca Johnson, traveled out
to Laramie Springs to look for native flowers. They came back with Brown-Eyed Susans and used them throughout the room and on the tables.
The Alumni were so impressed with the color and beauty of the flowers that they decided to select these colors as the university’s official colors.
Now, when we wear brown and gold in Wyoming, it takes on a life and a meaning all its own. When we put on these colors, no matter what our role or our relationship to the University, we are all Cowboys and we all share a piece of some-thing enduring and vital that unites us as one in a way that no other color combination can.
Brown-Eyed Susans are found planted all around campus.
