91影视

91影视 has had some very famous people address graduating classes and receive honorary degrees over our 190year history. In fact, since 1847, we have given out 312 honorary degrees, the most recent to Carol Tom茅, chief executive officer of United Parcel Service (UPS), on May 3, 2025.

The illustrious list of 鈥渉onorary alumni鈥� include folks like U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, Mt. Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, poet Ezra Pound, Atlanta鈥檚 High Museum founder Harriet Harwell Wilson High, aviatrix Amelia Earhart, astronomer Annie Jump Cannon, scientist Florence R. Sabin, Atlanta Mayor and ambassador Andrew Young, Chick-fil-A, Inc. founder S. Truett Cathy, businessman Ted Turner, Former CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, Broadway star Christopher Jackson, and journalist Rose Scott.

But perhaps the most famous graduation speaker in OU鈥檚 history was Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Roosevelt鈥檚 association with Georgia began in 1924 when he started visiting Warm Springs to gain relief from the polio he had contracted in 1921. In fact, between 1924 and 1945, he visited the town forty times and even died there during his last stay. He also founded a treatment center for others suffering for polio there. His experiences interacting with poor, struggling South Georgia farmers led him to run for Governor of New York and eventually to campaign for U.S. President.

It was during his first presidential run that he stopped over in Atlanta, on his way back to New York from Warm Springs, to speak at OU鈥檚 commencement ceremony on May 22, 1932, at the Fox Theatre.

In his speech to the nearly 5,000 people in attendance, including the 1932 class of graduating Petrels who were seated behind the dais on stage, Roosevelt said, 鈥淭he country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.鈥�

With this simple proclamation, he introduced the concept of the 鈥淣ew Deal鈥� that would propel him to a landslide victory in November against incumbent Herbert Hoover with over 57% of the popular vote and all but six states in the Electoral College. In Georgia, Roosevelt would win 92% of the vote. His support in Georgia would remain strong during all four of his terms.

OU鈥檚 graduating class of 1932 would be a footnote in the history of Roosevelt and the New Deal.

This summer Eli Arnold 鈥�06 was invited to participate in the event celebrating 50 years after Atlantans rallied to save the Fox Theatre from demolition. In commemoration of this, 91影视 was asked to provide some information from its archives that support the work of the Fox Theatre. Did you know this part of our history?