Alumni Frank and Jane Gabor Named Homecoming Parade Marshals

The traditional Homecoming Parade for Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College presented by Student Government will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in downtown Fairmont. Student Government has selected FSU alumni Frank and Jane Gabor, as parade marshals.

Line-up for the parade will begin at 5:15 p.m. at Everest Drive and Kirkway Drive below the Marion County Rescue Squad. The parade route will run up Fourth Street right onto Fairmont Avenue, which becomes Adams Street, and will pause in front of the Marion County Courthouse. The parade will end near Veterans’ Square.

Any marching group, organization, political candidate, community group or business interested in having a float or car in the parade should fill out a parade entry form online at www.fairmontstate.edu/homecoming or www.pierpont.edu/homecomingor call the Office of Student Affairs at (304) 367-4643.

A Pep Rally for the Fighting Falcons will be held at 7 p.m. at the bleachers at Duvall-Rosier Field. The rain location will be Gym 1 of the Falcon Center.

As a result of the generous leadership gift from Fairmont State alumni Frank (Class of 1961) and Jane (Class of 1960) Gabor, ground was broken in May 2008 for an adaptive reuse project to provide a permanent home for the West Virginia Folklife Center, which was named in their honor as the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.

Frank “Pooch” Gabor, formerly from Grant Town, is the son of Frank and Theresa Gabor. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1953 and served in the United States Air Force from 1954-57. Upon discharge from the Air Force, he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State in 1961. While a student at Fairmont State, he was a member of Tau Beta Iota Fraternity and Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. He lettered for three years in baseball and one year in soccer. He earned his master’s degree in health care administration at George Washington University in 1964.

Gabor’s career in health care administration spans 28 years and includes senior leadership positions at the Hospital for Women of Maryland and the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. In 1977, he became president and chief executive officer of MGH Health Services, Inc., a multi health care system comprised of a hospital and four other subsidiaries. He retired in December of 1990. Gabor has served on the Fairmont State Foundation Board of Directors and the Fairmont State Alumni Association Board. He is a past recipient of both the Fairmont State University Letterman of Distinction and Outstanding Alumni awards.

Jane Gabor, the daughter of Hiriam “Baz” and Mary Clellan White, is a 1960 graduate of Fairmont State. A native of Mannington, she grew up in Nutter Fort, graduating from Roosevelt Wilson High School. While a student at Fairmont State, she studied secondary education and was active in several organizations, including Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Splashers, Alpha Psi Omega and the Masquers. She was the 1955 Homecoming Queen at Fairmont State and was later named Miss Central West Virginia. She is a past recipient of the Alumni of the Year award.

Following graduation, Jane Gabor taught secondary school in Lorain County, Ohio. For a brief time, she also taught at East Fairmont High School. Upon moving to Maryland, she taught in Montgomery County, Md. She remained active in the theatre, and in 1964 she left teaching to devote her time to volunteerism in health care and children’s theatre. She served for a time as President of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Theatre Association in Baltimore, Md.

The Gabors are co-owners of the full-service day spa About Faces Day Spa, in Towson, Md. The Gabors co-own five About Faces Day Spas. The spas are located in Baltimore, Towson, Tinonium, Pikesville and Salisbury, Md. The Gabors currently reside in Baltimore, Md., and are the parents of two adult children.

For a complete list of events for Homecoming 2011, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/homecoming or www.pierpont.edu/homecoming.

HomecomingFolklife CenterFrank and Jane Gabor