University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

The " little get- together " attracted 10,000 people in 1977. It became too big for the original sponsor to handle. HROW ARTY Not just another spring theme party . . . ^^^^^^^^^^ wenty-five years ago on May 8, two UT students, Lloyd ^T ^^ Bird well and his girlfriend Jean Graver, needed an excuse to ' ^ involve his fraternity and her sorority in a spring party. The theme of this small get-together came to be known as Eeyore ' s Birthday Party. The following year, 1964, the two students asked a UT professor, James Ayres, to help them sponsor their annual party which was traditionally held at Eastwoods park. In its 10th year, 10,000 people attended the " little get-together. " ^^^L Eeyore ' s Birthday Party has since moved to Pease Park due to the large quantity of people. In 1977 Ayers retired from his position as sponsor. " The event had grown too large for me to handle and the behavior of participants got out of hand, " he said. The YMCA took over sponsorship soon after Ayers ' resignation. Eeyore ' s celebration then became the YMCA ' s main fundraiser and even brought the organization out of the red. " Eeyore ' s is " The Moneymaker ' for us. We are one of the few YMCAs in the country that uses the sale of alcohol for money making purposes, " Les Karnes, fundraising coordinator, said. When people first heard of Eeyore ' s Birthday Party, many were confused by the whole idea of a party for a fictional donkey. " When I first heard about Eeyore ' s, I wondered, ' What is the deal with Eeyore ' s Birthday? ' Then I realized its just an excuse to party, " Tonia Carlisle, history senior, said. For others, Eeyore ' s party reputation spread far and wide. " I ' ve never been myself but I hear it ' s fun as hell! " Tim Cunningham, engineering sophomore, said. Even Texas alumni continued the tradition and sponsored their own Eeyore ' s Birthday Parties in Houston, Dallas and even Los Angeles. But while the gigantic celebration went on at Pease Park, another simpler version also occurred. Ayres continued the tradition of a spring fling every year on the last Saturday in April. His event took place at Winedale, a University historical and social studies center. " My Eeyore ' s Birthday Party is geared mainly towards the children ' s activities. I just wanted to continue the original idea of Eeyore ' s to have good, clean fun, " Ayers said. by Sonia White FEATURES EDITED BY SONIA WHITE Features 1 1