Troy University’s 2016 Homecoming Celebration will peak Saturday with the annual Appreciation Day Parade and the Homecoming football game that pits Troy University against Georgia State.

The parade will get the day’s festivities underway in downtown Troy at 10 a.m., beginning on Elm Street and following a route around the square and ending on South Three Notch Street.

The slogan for Troy University’s 2016 Homecoming is “The Trojan Games: A Beacon to the World.”

Sam Moody, vice president of campus activities, said the idea behind slogan is that Troy University and its students, alumni, faculty and administration are a beacon, set in a position of prominence and influence.

“I believe that our annual Homecoming is a celebration for all who have, currently do, or will call this place home,” Moody said.

Troy’s Homecoming game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A highlight of the halftime activities will be the recognition of the Troy University Alumni of the Year, Charles “Chuck” Ash, James Wiley Locklar, Dr. Imogene Mixon and Dr. Yves Sucaet.

Ash serves as director of sports medicine for Troy University. He is in his 29^th year with the athletics department and has worked as head trainer for 25 of those years. Ash coordinates all aspects of the athletic training curriculum in what has become one of the most respected programs in the country.

Mixon has chaired the English departments at Enterprise State Community College and Wallace Community College-Dothan before being named dean at Wallace. She serves as a member of Troy University’s Planned Giving Advisor Board and the Trojan Shield Society

Sucaet came to Troy University as an international student. He earned a PhD in bioinformatics from Iowa State where he was co-founder of the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Lab. He is co-founder of Pathomation, a leading innovator of software solutions within the area of digital pathology.

Locklar retired from Henderson Black and Greene. He was a founding partner of National Freezer. His professional achievements include the creation of two computerized lathes and the largest finger-joint machine in the world. He was a member of the committee that paved the way for Troy sports to move to Division I.

An interesting note to Locklar’s selection to Troy University’s Alumni of the Year role is that he is the third native of the Henderson community in rural Pike County to be so honored.

“When Wiley is introduced tomorrow, that will mark the third time that Troy University has recognized a man from Henderson with this great honor,” said Mike Amos, Troy University alumnus. “Wiley is a 1963 graduate of Troy State College and he joins our close friends, Ben Beard and Dr. Bob Boothe who also have received this distinguished honor.”

Amos said the three men grew up together in the Henderson community and are graduates of Goshen High School.

“Not only were these men honored as Alumni of the Year, they have also served as president and longtime members of the National Alumni Board at Troy University,” Amos said. “I know that Henderson is proud of its native sons.”