OCC marks 60 years with cake and flying pirate

Because OCC used to be an army air base before being transformed into an educational institution 60 years ago, it’s only fitting that the milestone anniversary will be heralded by an airborne mascot.

The Pirates will hit their six decade mark Wednesday, and the school is inviting the entire community to watch sky diving champion Jim Wallace jump from an airplane and parachute his way into the OCC quad dressed as a pirate.

A massive cake weighing more than a half ton will be sitting right next to his landing pad, and everyone is invited to partake after a few speeches by campus dignitaries.

“We’re going to need a lot of people here to eat 1,200 pounds of cake, so we want a lot of people from the neighborhood to come,” said OCC Director of Marketing and Communications Jeff Hobbs.

The event, which starts at noon in the campus quad, is free and open to the public. OCC is giving its parking enforcement officers a few hours off, too, so parking is free in any of the OCC lots during the event.

— Alan Blank