On March 9, Brenau University will host its annual Dempsey Dash 5K and 1K Fun Run in memory of the university’s long-time executive vice president and CFO, Wayne Dempsey. The event benefits the Wayne W. Dempsey Endowed Scholarship Fund, first funded in Dempsey’s memory in 2014 by an anonymous donor.

Official Dempsey Dash T-shirts provided for all pre-registered participants by February 1. All other registered participants through race day will receive shirt while supplies last.

Certified race: Certification # is GA24002DJ

Why A Bowtie?

Those who participate in frequent races have surely seen a variety of trophies and commemorative tokens, though it may be a safe bet that you haven’t seen a bow tie as part of a race package until the Dempsey Dash!  If you have run the Dempsey Dash before, you have earned a medal with a bow tie, received a shirt with a bow tie-clad figure, or found a bow tie in your race swag.  

Why is the bow tie so prominently displayed in the race logo or awarded to participants? 

The Dempsey Dash is an annual race to support a scholarship named after Wayne Dempsey.  Dr. Dempsey was the Executive Vice President/CFO at Brenau University from 2005 to 2013.  Dr. Dempsey impacted the lives of numerous students as well as faculty and staff through all of his interactions.  Alums who had interactions with him typically had overflowing compliments of Dr. Dempsey.  He was extremely dedicated to fulfilling his obligations as an educator for both the academic and personal growth of those he encountered.  Sadly, Dr. Dempsey passed away from cancer after his retirement.  Based on the positive impact he had on so many lives, a scholarship was founded in his honor to continue to help students in their academic and life pursuits.

But the initial question remains:  why a bow tie?  Those who knew Dr. Dempsey remember him as quite the clotheshorse.  He always dressed to the 9s and had a reputation for it.  He was almost always seen around campus in a well-coordinated suit and tie combination or a fashionable sport coat.  Even his sons remember him as a younger man cutting the grass in an old pair of penny loafers! 

The legend gets murky here as to who started the trend.  His older son claims to have started wearing bow ties in the late 1980s because he had his own fashion style.  Liking the look so much, the elder Dempsey decided to try them out.  Dr. Dempsey then stepped it up a notch and got lessons on how to tie them himself.  He and his son spent lots of practice time mastering the skill.  From there, the trademark look was born.  Dr. Dempsey frequently wore bow ties in his daily professional life, and they became his calling card.  After his death, his sons inherited his tie collection and one still wears the bow ties today.  As a result, the bow tie has become a unique way to remember a great and unique man!