Thoms Rowell, associate professor of music, sings the National Anthem backed by the The University of South Alabama Herald Trumpets and the USA marching band at the USA 50th Anniversary Grand Celebration Friday, May 3, 2013, in the Mitchell Center on the university's campus in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Brantley/mbrantley@al.com)

MOBILE, Alabama – Images, recollections and living history were on display at the University of South Alabama Mitchell Center on Friday night as the institution celebrated 50 years to the day since it was founded by an act of the Alabama Legislature.

In what could only be called a black-tie pep rally, luminaries connected to the university’s half-century of education and community impact mingled with alumni, current students, civic leaders and other citizens as the USA band played a rolling medley of songs prior to the ceremony’s start.

By its end, the university was $50 million richer, thanks to a donation by businessman Abraham Mitchell, whose family has given $93 million to the institution. The $50 million – which outgoing President Gordon Moulton called the largest donation by an individual to a public institution – will go toward scholarships and support the Mitchell College of Business.

Friday night’s celebration had initially been intended as an outdoor event at the centerpiece of USA’s newly expanded campus, but was forced indoors due to heavy rain. Nevertheless, spirits were high on stage and throughout the crowd of thousands as the school’s history spilled from the stage along with heartfelt tributes to Moulton, who will complete almost 47 years of work at the university on July 1.

The first commencement was held in June 1967, and since then more than 75,000 students have turned the tassels on their mortarboards on the sprawling west Mobile campus. And in 50 years, the student body has grown from 276 in its first year of 1964 to more than 15,000 today.

A commemorative hardbound book chronicling the university's 50 years was given out to all who attended.

One of the first to attend the institution was Richard Nelson, USA’s first Student Government Association president. In a witty, warm address, Nelson turned back the years and gave snapshots of the early years at “South,” when the faculty and staff went out of their way to learn the students’ names and individual stories.

One professor, Nelson said, went so far as to tutor him on a Saturday, honoring his word to answer whenever called upon.

“It was awesome, just flat awesome,” Nelson said of USA’s early days. Attending the newborn university, he said, gave him “innumerable opportunities in the future and changed my life.”

More than a dozen speakers bridged the gap between Nelson’s time during USA’s infancy and the present, as the Moulton administration comes to an end. Whether representing the Board of Trustees, faculty, alumni or the university’s heritage, each speaker shared the impact attendance had on their lives, and paid tribute to Gordon and Geri Moulton.

As alumnus, and Board of Trustee chair, Jim Yance put it, when Whiddon “passed the presidential baton” to Gordon Moulton, the university gained “two for the price of one.”

In honoring his friend Gordon, former legislator Robert Edington called the outgoing president “the perfect choice” to succeed founding President Frederick P. Whiddon.

“He’s even been known to come out on opening day and help kids move into dorms,” which is not typical of presidents, Edington said.

Similar sentiments abounded as the speakers streamed through their 3-minute speech allotments.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones talked of how all one has to do to meet the Moultons is walk around the beautiful campus they’ve helped expand and polish. And how, when he’s selling Mobile’s strong points to those outside the region, he walks with pride telling of how USA is “one of the foundations of our growth.”

Speaking to all assembled in the large arena, Jones succinctly thanked them saying, “All of you have made us a great city.”

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions made the point that the university also raises the status of the entire region, and that it was “right, just and proper to celebrate” an event such as USA’s golden anniversary.

South Alabama is “an institution unlike anything else that impacts our whole region,” Sessions said, and “Gordon Moulton is one of the greatest presidents this state has had in years and years.”

Gov. Robert Bentley echoed the point, chronicling Moulton’s rise from instructor to president. His tenure grew the university “into one of the most respected research universities in the state and region,” Bentley said.

After the governor’s speech, Moulton rose and took the podium; the only speaker who needed no introduction by Acting President John Smith. And by the time he reached its perch, everyone was on their feet and applauding loudly.

Humbly, Moulton told the assemblage, “I can assure all of you, this has not been a solo journey. Literally, thousands have made this possible.”

He then talked about the early days of his tenure, when his salary didn’t quite reach $10,000 as he and Geri tooled around in their blue Volkswagen.

“Please know that I am sincerely grateful to be a part of this ambitious pursuit to build a world-class university in the blink-of-an-eye timeframe,” Moulton said. “And we can say, without hesitation, mission accomplished.”

That timeframe was greatly advanced due to the contributions of the Mitchell family, and especially his friend Abe Mitchell, Moulton said.

Mitchell then took the stand to a similar ovation, and described his donation, and in particular the scholarship program, which he said would be forever called the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative. The initiative, Mitchell said, would match scholarship donations of other individuals and organizations up to its $25 million commitment, which could mean $50 million in scholarships for thousands of future students.

“Nothing enhances the quality of a person’s life more than higher education,” he said. “And the University of South Alabama is a shining example of how our community and region can be transformed.”