Stansbury A Tradition For 35 Years At Morgan

Retired Professor Has Been Chief Commencement Marshal Every Year Since '74

"She's bright," he said. To butter her up even more, he thrust a polished black leather wingtip shoe from under his black gown.

"See, I'm wearing the same shoes I wore to your graduation," he told her. Waters graduated in 1991.

Stansbury said he doesn't believe anyone has been selected to replace him. But he has an idea of how to improve next year's ceremony, which he told his niece "took 35 years to figure out." The full professors should parade down the steps after the other faculty, so they get better seats.

"But I won't be here next year," he said, as if suddenly realizing he wouldn't be able to improve the show.

Switching subjects, Stansbury asked again, "What time is it?"

"A quarter of," his niece said.

"Good, we're right on time," he replied.

Waters handed her uncle his mace. He walked a few feet to join the front of the "platform party." And then, with his entire family in the audience, just like the other graduates, he took the first of his last steps onto the university's football field.