THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605050038
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Old Dominion University's first Rhodes Scholar, Samantha Salvia, was cited for her perfect 4.0 average.
The Rev. Samuel D. Proctor, a Norfolk native barred from attending the school 50 years ago because of his race, was invited to give a keynote speech, focusing on the obligation to help the less fortunate.
But at ODU's commencement Saturday, both were upstaged by an ardent suitor in the audience.
As ODU President James V. Koch delivered his closing remarks, a row of spectators in the stands in the back of Foreman Field held up a sign. It read: ANGIE M, WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Heads craned to check out the sign. Scattered applause and cheers broke out.
Koch, struggling to keep the crowd's attention, said: ``Timeout, folks; we're almost finished.''
But the audience was riveted on senior Angela Myers, who, in her cap and gown, had risen from her seat among the graduates and walked toward the back of the field. There, Carl Hooks, an engineer who graduated from ODU last year, was waiting for her on bended knee.
When she got to Hooks, he placed a ring on her finger and handed her a rose. They embraced for a long moment.
The whoops and applause grew.
Koch, realizing where the action was, cut short his speech, saying: ``This is a losing operation. Congratulations.'' And the recessional began.
As the parade of graduates headed out, many shouted well wishes to a teary-eyed Myers, who was looking a bit stunned.
``I'm just speechless,'' said Myers, a 23-year-old psychology major from Staunton.
Hooks, himself holding back tears, said he planned the surprise proposal with the help of his pals and Myers' sorority sisters. He came up with the idea two months ago.
``I wanted it to be something to remember,'' said Hooks, 25, who works in McLean. Besides, ``graduations are usually kind of dull.''
He added, ``She's been hoping for it for a while.''
The other graduates didn't seem to mind sharing the spotlight with the couple. ``I thought it was romantic,'' said Joanne Schenk, a 21-year-old from Virginia Beach.
``It was amazing,'' said Pam Plante, 21, of Philadelphia.
Schenk said, ``It probably made it all the more special for her. Everyone they knew saw it.''
Earlier in the ceremony, Proctor had no such diversions as he gave the commencement address.
Proctor, 74, grew up in Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. But he could not attend ODU - which was then the all-white Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.
So he went to Virginia Union University, a black college in Richmond, and then received his doctorate in theology from Boston University. He became a Baptist minister but switched to academia, serving as president of Virginia Union and North Carolina AT&T.
``I was born in the midst of the Great Depression and all this thick segregation,'' Proctor told the 2,200 graduates. ``. . .But ohhhh what a daddy I had. Ohhh what a grandma I had, and ohhh what a mother I had. I came out of that with a resolution to live a life of service to fulfill my destiny.''
Proctor said graduates must help society answer the questions brewing about the role of government: Is it responsible for promoting diversity? For ensuring children's health and education? For looking after the impoverished?
``These are deep issues, not to be handled by trite slogans and political soundbites. We have to go so much deeper than that. `Deep calleth unto deep,' '' he said, citing the 42nd Psalm.
Earlier, Proctor had said, sparking laughter, ``I'll try hard not to make this a sermon - that's my calling in life. But one never knows what the Holy Spirit will do.'' ILLUSTRATION: JIM WALKER COLOR PHOTOS/The Virginian-Pilot
During President James V. Koch's closing remarks, friends held up a
sign on behalf of Carl Hooks, who graduated from ODU last year.
Carl Hooks and Angela Myers meet on Foreman Field after Hooks'
proposal Saturday. Hooks got down on his knee, handed her a rose and
placed a ring on her finger. Then the two embraced.
Photo
JIM WALKER/The Virginian-Pilot
Not a bad haul: Angela Myers made off with a diploma and a ring, the
latter courtesy of Carl Hooks, an engineer who graduated from ODU
last year. ``I'm just speechless,'' said Myers, a 23-year-old
psychology major from Staunton.
KEYWORDS: GRADUATION OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY by CNB