DURANT, Okla. -- Applause and laughter crackled throughout historic Montgomery Auditorium Wednesday morning as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once again visited Southeastern Oklahoma State University.           

The first visit, on March 18, 1937, celebrated Senior Day with some 2,000 area high-school students packing the auditorium/gymnasium at Southeastern Teachers College.           

On Wednesday, Erma Stewart portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt as she captivated an appreciative audience, including several people who attended the 1937 lecture. Her dress, hat, shoes and stockings were authentic and she ended the hour-long program by answering questions from the audience.

Along with the questions came this statement: "I love your hat."

Martha Childs said her dad, Simon Parker, was president of the STC senior class of 1937 and was chosen to meet Eleanoršs train in Ardmore and escort her to Durant. He stayed at her side during her time on campus and said the only "thing" he kept from the actual time spent with her was a "Dining in the Rear Car" card he snatched from the train.

Southeastern is celebrating its centennial throughout 2009 and the "Visit with Eleanor Roosevelt" was a part of the "100 Hours of Celebration" during the week of March 23-27.

In 1937, First Lady Roosevelt visited Southeastern after receiving an invitation from STC president Kate Galt Zaneis. Eleanor spent the night in the president's home and one highlight of the visit was a special breakfast of fried chicken, hot biscuits and gravy.

Among those attending the 1937 visit and in attendance Wednesday were Faye Monroe Newcomb, Billie Ruth Turnbull Roberts, and Louise Harper Gentry, all of whom played in high school basketball tournaments in SEšs original Snake Pit on the campus loop.

Others present Wednesday who attended the '37 event were Margaret McFatridge Barker, Elizabeth Moore Mitchell Beavers, Louise Brown McDonald, and Dr. Truman Wester.           

Wester, former president of Grayson College, presented roses to Eleanor in 1937 and again on Wednesday morning following the program.

The program included insights into Eleanoršs philosophy as First Lady. She said we should all take note of the sacrifices of our ancestors, do our very best, and always serve with honor and dignity.           

Roosevelt was the first First Lady to write a syndicated newspaper column, and the first to give her political opinions, which werenšt all that popular at the time.

She was a gracious visitor to Southeastern in 1937 and a gracious visitor to Southeastern in 2009.