The inauguration of the centennial year for Appalachian State was kicked off in magnificent fashion to a sold-out audience in Farthing Auditorium on Jan. 30. 

Saturday night was the culmination of a year and a half of planning by Appalachian centennial committee co-chairs Dr. Bettie Bond and Dr. Mary Dunlap, and “Centennial First Night” opening ceremony and galas co-chairs Susie Greene and Joni Webb Petschauer. 

Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski, the fifth chancellor of Appalachian State, opened the ceremony with a presentation of the progress that B.B. Dougherty and D.D. Dougherty made in creating this institution.  “What is it in the makeup of a person to have a vision to live and see in this valley ... the area the piedmont people call the provinces, that said there should be a school here in Boone?”       Borkowski quoted Dougherty. 
Borkowski read from memoirs that described Dougherty. “‘Early on, B.B. Dougherty showed the traits that he would need to prepare him and his brother to establish Watauga Academy.” 

Shortly afterward, Borkowski said, “(ASU) was quickly recognized as a special, special university.” 

He ended his presentation with thoughts on the closeness that Appalachian alumni, faculty and students share.  “Faculty came, students came and became distinguished alumni.  With all alumni and staff who supported this wonderful endeavor to create the feeling of the family ... God bless the Appalachian family.” 

The evening began with thoughts from President B.B. Dougherty, the founder and first president, that were narrated by Edward L. Pilkington of the Department of Theatre and Dance.  “We need a school here in the mountains ... Why?  Why?  We need a school right here, and now is a good time to have it.  1899.  At the turn of a new century.” 

The flags from approximately one-third of the counties in North Carolina and flags from countries that participate in student exchanges with ASU were carried into Farthing to adorn the perimeter of the auditorium.  The orchestra accompanied the presentation with “Procession of Nobles” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. 

Students from Circle K, Gamma Beta Phi, International Studies and the ROTC presented the flags. 

A musical and visual presentation of the past century at Appalachian was shown. It was produced by Mike Rominger and Harry Williams. 

The Appalachian School of Music accompanied the presentation.  A variation of the Alma Mater, which was sung a cappella by a 250-voice choir, was arranged by Dr. William G. Harbinson. 

The visual presentation featured photographs of each president and chancellor of ASU.  The pictures encompassed the different eras that Appalachian has experienced. 

The finale combined the voices of the choir and words from Dougherty, narrated by Pilkington.  “For our school I have an ideal ... An institution dedicated to mountain people ... to recognize as their very own.” 

This was the inaugural performance of the composition by Harbinson, “Cherished Vision,” commissioned by the centennial committee.  

Harbinson wrote of his work, “The composition progresses from the quiet opening passage, recalling Appalachian’s modest origin, to an energetic finale that represents ‘A future worthy of our past.’” The finale was greeted with a standing ovation. 

To end the Centennial First Night, co-chairs Bond and Dunlap simultaneously pulled down centennial banners to welcome in the centennial year, and invited audience members to the Broyhill Inn for the following celebration. 

Following the ceremony, the bell tower rang in the centennial year. 

Appalachian graduate in 1977 and the “Voice of the Hornets,” James K. Flynn, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. 

Those in attendance were UNC school system President Molly Broad, fourth chancellor John E. Thomas and his wife, and the oldest descendant of the Dougherty family, D.D. Dougherty’s daughter.