Spring, 2006

The Manhattan High School Alumni Association

Volume 1 No. 1

W elcome

members of

MHSAA

and thank you for joining. If you are

just learning about our organization,

we encourage you to consider joining

MHSAA as a paid member. The Arti-

cles of Incorporation for the Manhat-

tan High School Alumnae Association

(MHSAA) were officially filed with

the State of Kansas on November 30,

2004, and our official By-Laws were

approved by the Board of Directors

January 20, 2006. The mission of

MHSAA is to develop and maintain

information to communicate with

alumni and friends of Manhattan High

School; to promote Manhattan High

School to students, graduates and

friends; to create awareness of the

quality of education within Manhattan

High School; and to enhance Manhat-

tan High School and its graduates

through life-long involvement.

The various articles contained in

this newsletter are intended to ac-

quaint you with the many committees,

projects, and functions MHSAA is

involved with. It is our intent to sup-

port alumni and Manhattan High

School by providing and maintaining

information about alumni and events

while serving as a link between

alumni and friends and the High

School and its Foundation.. The de-

tails of MHSAA membership are on

the back page of this newsletter.

Membership information and applica-

tions are available by writing PO Box

1102, Manhattan, KS 66502, or at

www.mhsalumniassociation.org.

We hope you will join us in sup-

porting this worthy endeavor if ―Deep

in your heart there is a love for dear

old MHS‖. Please feel free to contact

me at (785)537-9123 if you have

questions or suggestions or dfis-

er1@cox.net.

David Fiser, ‘57 President MHSAA

President’s

Message

MHSAA To Restore Indian Mosaic

Do you remember the Indian mosaic below?

MHSAA Awards & Recognition/Wall of Fame Committee Chairman Dan Hall ‘70, right front,

surveys the damage to the Indian with some of his committee: right rear, Don Slater ‘57; at left

Brenda (Hardin) Simons, 75’; Keith Eyestone 80‘.

I f you graduated from Manhattan

High School between 1958 and

1974, you will remember this

Indian mosaic installed in the floor

in front of the school gymnasium

when the school was built 1957. The

mascot that MHSers wouldn‘t let

anyone step on. As it said in the

1958 Blue M next to his picture

―Don‘t Tread On Me!‖ At the breaks

between classes in those early days

high school, it was always interesting

to watch the hall because everyone

just walked around it.

It also has to be admitted that some

MHS Alums do remember him as a

source of torment. "The seniors used

to make the underclassmen shine it,"

MHSAA member Cam Feltner, re-

ported to the Manhattan Mercury,

when the paper ran a front page story

on MHSAA‘s first major project: to re-

store this Indian to it‘s former glory.

According to The Manhattan Mer-

cury‘s story, in the early 1970s some

students pushed coach Earl Gritton's

Volkswagen part way onto the Indian,

and several MHSAA members told of

seniors throwing sophomores onto him

and making them spit shine it with their

rear-ends, Feltner recalled. Over the

years, then, the Indian‘s role was not

just one of pride. It also served as a fo-

cal point for pranks. At one point a

small wrought-iron fence was installed

around the Indian to keep the mosaic

pristine.

The Indian was taken out of the floor

in 1974, according to current Principal

Terry McCarty, and hung up high on the

wall of the gym, behind the home-side

bleachers. continued on Page 10

MHSAA Board of Directors Welcome to

MHSAA

M anhattan High

School is fortu-

nate to have a very

strong and active population to support

all efforts. We continue to be viewed

and respected for our accomplishments in

the classroom as well as in our athletic/

activity programs. This was established

long ago and we want to continue to

honor and meet the expectations that

have been consistent throughout the his-

tory of Manhattan High School. Now,

more than ever, we want our alumni to be

a part of Manhattan High School. You

have played a significant role in the rich

traditions of excellence of Manhattan

High School. Best wishes, MHSAA, in

all your endeavors and GO INDIANS!

Terry McCarty,

MHS Principal

1908 MHS girl’s basketball team

J ulane (Berridge) Conrad‘s Aunt Fern McCormack graduated from MHS in 1908.

Here is the fabulous photo of her MHS 1908 Girls‘ Basketball team. Fern is right end

middle row. Julane sent several more old photos, too. While there isn‘t space to show

them all in this newsletter, they will be available on our MHSAA website. All items

donated to the MHSAA Museum & Archives will be carefully cataloged. Our collec-

tion is growing and we encourage all MHS Alumni to consider our—YOUR Museum—

as the best home for your MHS memorabilia. The Official opening of the Alumni Cen-

ter and Museum is Sat. June 3, room 110, MHS East Campus (the old Jr High School

building) in Manhattan. We hope to see many MHSAA members there! Alumni Mentor staff report

USD 383 Foundation

Welcomes MHSAA

J im Morrison ‗64, President of the Man-

hattan – Ogden Public Schools Founda-

tion, was one of the first to join the MHS

Alumni Association. ―I am excited about

the Alumni Association and believe we will

have many joint efforts,‖ he said.

The Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools

Foundation was founded in 1989 to be a

vehicle for the receipt and administering of

gifts that enhance the quality of education

within the Manhattan-Ogden Public School

district. The Foundation has a number of

scholarships both in individual class names

as well as individuals to achieve many di-

verse purposes.

The Foundation, a 501 C(3) tax-exempt

organization, strives to use all gifts as the

donor would direct for enhancement of chil-

dren‘s education specifically in USD 383.

Contact Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools

Foundation, P.O. Box 191, Manhattan, KS

66505-0191 or visit www.usd383.org. James W. Morrison, ‘64, President

USD 383 Foundation

Congratulations to new

MHS Alumni Assn.

T he MHS Alumni

Association is a

wonderful source for

staying connected (or

re-connecting) with

your classmates.

Many volunteer hours

have been given to make the Association a

success. Each year now MHS graduates

approximately 400 students. With that

many graduates, the potential membership

in MHSAA is substantial. I invite you to

consider being involved with MHSAA in

whatever way possible. Please let me

know if there is anything school staff can

do to support your efforts. We enjoy

reminiscing about the past as well as look-

ing forward to future possibilities.

Robert Shannon, Superintendent

Manhattan-Ogden USD 383

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 2

President………………...David Fiser ‘57

Vice Pres…….. Cam (Smith) Feltner ‘71

Secretary……....Terri (Brown) Olson ‘87

Treasurer….…… … …...Pat Duncan ‘59

Events Officer…. Carita (Clark) Otts ‘55

Information Officer..……. John King ‘57

Directors…………….Mike Buchanan ‘81,

Janet (Krider) Duncan ‘58, Ned Seaton ‘86,

Pete Paukstelis ‘89, Don Slater ‘57, Charlie

Hostetler ‘56

MHSAA

P.O. Box 1102

Manhattan, KS 66502 -1102

www.mhsalumniassociation.org

MHSAA Committee Chairmen

Communications/Public Relations

Co-Chairs: Deanna ( Johnson) Hall, ’74

Randy Stitt ‘88

Membership

Co-Chairs: Oscar Montenegro ‘95,

Pat (Prockish) Petty ‘55

Awards & Recognition/Wall of Fame

Chair: Dan Hall, ‘70

Special Events

Chair: Carita (Clark) Otts, ‘55

Reunions and Retirements

Chair: Dean Taylor, ‘52

MHS Museum & Archive

Co-Chairs: Robert Dickens ‘54

Jan (Ray) Freeby ‘47

Website/Information Systems

Co Chairs: John King ’57

Janet (Krider) Duncan ‘58

Julane (Conrad) Berridge ’57 Donates

Old Photos to MHSAA Museum

MHSAA Museum and Archives

T he September 26th meeting at

the American Legion was

eventful for many reasons, but

the single event that has kick started

the MHSAA Museum and Archive

occurred that evening when Harold

Robinson ‗48), the first African-

American scholarship athlete at KSU

and in the then Big 7 Conference of-

fered a large collection of his memora-

bilia to the MHSAA Museum. Among

other honors, Harold was inducted to

the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in

2004. Staff report by John King

Harold Robinson

Donates Memorabilia

Harold Robinson ’48 and MHSAA President

Dave Fiser at Sept 2005 Gen. Meeting

Don Pady accepts football trophy

A nother significant contribution

to the MHSAA Museum came

from Ron Sowell (Class of

1956). Ron told the group he was

given the Central Kansas Football

Championship Trophy by Sonny Bal-

lard a classmate and teammate, who

was an outstanding athlete at MHS and

KSU, which he in turn wanted to do-

nate to the MHSAA Museum.

MHSAA president Dave Fiser

worked with MHS Principal Terry

McCartny in an effort to secure space

at the Manhattan High School - East

Campus, or ―the old high school‖ for

those of us who graduated before

1958, and the cooperation of all con-

cerned bore fruit in 2005 with a room,

Room 112, at the MHS-East Campus.

The original room was moved to the

present location, Room 110 where the

MHS Museum and Archive is now

housed (the old ―Jr High‖ side of the

building.)

Shortly after the space was received

by MHSAA the board O,Ked the pur-

chase of display cases and other items

needed, which are now being installed

in the new facility. Story reported by John King

‘57, Alumni Mentor Staff

Ron Sowell Donates

Football Trophy

DON PADY ,’55, 1ST MUSEUM/

ARCIVES CHAIRMAN

Don Pady, MHS Class of ‗55, got

the MHS Museum and Archives ball

rolling last year. Don was the archivist

for the Mayo Clinic, has tons of exper-

tise in this area, and found out that

other Kansas schools have established

museums, so why not his alma mater,

Manhattan High School? When the

MHSAA was formed, Don contacted

the MHSer‘s involved in putting to-

gether the organization and presented his

idea. They took it to heart, asked Don to

head the committee within MHSAA,

which he chaired until his resignation in

February because of a serious heart condi-

tion.

MHSAA owes DON PADY a hearty

THANK YOU for his work, and wishes

him well!

Committee Members Robert Dickens

‗54 and Jan (Ray) Freeby ‗47 have agreed

to step in continue where Don has led.

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 3

Jan (Ray) Freeby ‘47 and Robert Dickens worked to go through some of the

donations that the MHSAA Museum is acquiring in their new headquarters.

Committee members include Gerry (Baker) Walton ‘55, Virginia (Vera) Perbeck

‘55, Don Pady ‘55 and Charley Kempthorne ‘55.

Join Us—Let’s Celebrate

ALUMNI CENTER

OPEN HOUSE!

June 3, 2006

9-11:00am

MHSAA President Dave Fiser ‘57 talks things over with Membership Committee Co-Chair Pat (Prockish) Petty ‘55 and Ravae (McDowell) Eetuini ‘’74. Committee Members not picture are Co-Chair

Oscar Montenegro ‘95, and Marilyn (Fair) Wagner ‘95

W hen President Fiser pre-

sented the their Golden

Alum Certificates to Edna

(Maxwell) Edwards, ‗28 and Helen

(Whitney) Toburen ,‗31, not only were

they very happy to receive them but

Edna Edwards smiled and shook her

head in slight disbelief. ―Is it really for

me,‖ she asked? ―It was my husband

who always received all the awards

and certificates.‖ But MHSAA was

very proud and happy to award these

first two certificates, given to Alumni

Members of MHS who are over 90

years of age. We now count five

Golden Alums in our membership. In

a recent conversation with MHSAA

Tresaurer, Pat Duncan, Pat told us,

"Helen thanked everyone involved in

Edna (Maxwell) Edwards ‘28 and Helen

(Whitney) Toburen ‘31. our first Golden Alums,

with their MHSAA Golden Alum Certificates,

presented to them by MHSAA President Fiser

developing a Manhattan High School

Alumni Association, and said, "It's been

so long coming. Thank you for giving

me such a part of it. I really enjoyed

Manhattan High School". Somehow we

get the feeling that we should be thank-

ing Helen, and all our senior members!

Helen told Pat that her family is

enjoying the web site. Helen's three

children also graduated from Manhattan

High School. Her daughter Karen

(Toburen) Walters and husband John

(both '59) are members of MHSAA, as

is her son Lynn Toburen ‗69. See the

MHSAA web site for more on all our

Golden Alums, which include Agnes

(Bane) Chartier ‗31, Ethyl (Graham)

Chapman ‗28. and Kathryn (Crowder)

Washington ‗24 (see story pg 5.)

T he 2007 MHSAA membership

drive has begun! It‘s an official

bargain for the rest of this year. In

action at the February 24th Board of Di-

rectors meeting, the board voted unani-

mously to approve the change of member-

ships from a fiscal year to a calendar year.

As a result, the 2006 memberships will be

good until December 31, 2006—three

more months on your current membership

dues. But the Membership Committee

hopes Annual Members will join early for

‗07 and avoid the end of year rush, so they

are starting early, too.—you‘ll find a form

Membership Drive for 2007 for early renewal on page 12 of this news-

letter. Regular renewal forms will be in the

mail during the Membership Drive, leading

up to the MHSAA Fall Annual Meeting on

Sept 11. The membership list currently to-

tals over 360 members in all categories and

is growing daily.

The Membership Committee members are

also available to make presentations at

MHS Class reunions. If you have sugges-

tions, questions or wish to participate on our

committee, contact Pat Petty (785)539-

4237 or email ppetty@ksu.edu or Oscar

Montenegro oscarm@centralnational.com.,

(785)323-4039.

W ake Forest

s e n i o r ,

Brad Hall ( Manhattan, KS)

and Jamie Carroll ( Nashville, TN) and

reached the finals of the 60th National

Debate Tournament (NDT) held March 24

-27 at Northwestern University. Wake

Forest placed second in the elite field of

78 teams, losing on a split decision in the

final round to Michigan State University.

The team finished the preliminary rounds

6-2, defeating Dartmouth in round eight,

earning a spot in the elimination rounds.

On their run to the finals they won

consecutive 5-0 decisions over Harvard‘s

second team (round of 32) and Northwest-

ern (round of sixteen). In the elite eight

they defeated pre-tournament top-ranked

Harvard 3-2 and second seeded Emory 4-1

in the semi-finals. Hall and Carroll im-

proved upon their sweet sixteen 2004 and

elite eight 2005 performances.

Among the 156 debaters at Nationals Car-

roll was names 8th best speaker and Hall

9th after the preliminary rounds.

CONGRATULATIONS, BRAD!

Links to the Wake Forest Website are

available from the MHSAA website. Alumni Mentor staff report

BRAD

HALL ‗02

Wins

National

Honor

Staff report by John King ‘57

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 4

MHSAA’s GOLDEST Alum

By Bill Washington, ‗56

K athryn was born in Smith Mills, Kentucky in

1906 and she will be 100 years old on June

1st. She and her older sister Louise were the

children of Margaret and William Crowder. After later

living in Stratford, Texas, Meade, Kansas, and Wy-

more, Nebraska, they moved to Manhattan on Armi-

stice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, and established Crowder

Cleaning and Dye Works in Aggieville. She attended

Eugene Field elementary , lost her father in 1923, and

graduated Manhattan High School in 1924. While at

Manhattan, she had the lead in the operetta ―The Prin-

cess Chrysanthemum.‖ Upon graduation, she attended

Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and graduated

in 1928. She taught music for a few years and married

Vance Washington in 1930. Vance was also a Manhat-

tan High graduate and played on the 1923 Champion-

ship football team. They moved to the Washington

farm and ranch that year that Vance‘s grandfather

George had settled in 1871and continued by his father,

Ed.

The thirties were tough years but they always had

plenty to eat, they said later. Kathryn separated the

milk and sold cream and cottage cheese in Manhattan.

They raised Hereford cattle, hogs, crops, and a big gar-

den and fruit trees. In 1938, the first money for Tuttle

Creek dam was approved by Congress. They opposed

the dam as did most of the Blue Valley residents. Bill

was born that year, Mary in 1939, and Sue in 1947.

There was always much work to be done with the

cooking, children, and garden canning. They fed Ger-

man prisoners during and after the war when they were

held at Ft.Riley and were released to farm work detail

during the daytime. There were often ten or more pris-

oners and we remember many of them as kind to the

children and still remember some of their names. We

recall vividly they did not like sweet corn, saying corn

is for the swine.

The big flood came in 1951 and caused big trouble

for farmers and city folks alike. Because of final con-

gressional approval, the farm was condemned under

eminent domain and the family moved into Manhattan

in 1956. The Tuttle Creek opposition believed that

smaller dams in the watershed were the appropriate

answer. Vance died of leukemia at 58 years of age in 1962.

Kathryn has always loved cooking and entertaining, most of

all for her own family. Kathryn belongs to Manhattan Supper

Club, Manhattan Book Club, GU Chapter of PEO, and the First

Presbyterian Church. She is currently residing at Meadowlark

Hills. Her son Bill and his wife Sharron Buzzell Washington;

daughter Mary and her husband Frank Lowman; daughter Sue

and her husband Larry Parker (deceased;) and granddaughter

Jennie Washington Stout are all Manhattan High alumni, and one

great-grandchild, Ben Lowman, is currently attending MHS.

She has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

This photo was taken of Kathryn Crowder Washington during the 1920s

Newsletter Staff assistance for this article: Diana (Kientz) Clark ‘57, member of the PR Committee

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 5

T he first event this committee

planned was an entry in the Cele-

brate 150! Parade in June, 2005.

This marked the occasion of Manhattan

and Riley County‘s 150th birthday. The

committee and other volunteers spent

several hours constructing a blue and

white float. The construction work site as

well as the truck used for the float were

provided by Associate MHSAA member

Mike Oppy (LHS 65)‗. Several MHSAA

members rode on the float in the parade,

with additional members walking. The

float won the ‗Little Apple Spirit‘ Award‘

trophy.

In October, we planned another parade

entry for the MHS Homecoming Parade.

The entry involved several vintage auto-

mobiles in which members of MHSAA

rode. Following the parade, an MHS

Homecoming gathering was held at the

Manhattan American Legion. An appe-

tizer buffet was served and members en-

Doug Stigge, ‘73 Walt Hardin, ‘52 Jerry (Thrash) Ince ‘59 Paula (Hannagan) Hardin, ‘54 John Roberts, 43‘ Ron Sowell, ‘56 Carita (Clark) Otts, ‘55 Maridel (Smith) Berroth ‘54

joyed visiting and reminiscing during

the evening.

We were not idle during the Ides, ei-

ther and March saw us marching again,

this time in Aggieville for the Annual

St. Patrick Day Parade. MHSAA mem-

bers included both walkers and several

of our classic car contingent. A good

crowd was on hand and a couple of pho-

tos are shown on page 7.

We‘ve got more MHSAA events this

year: our FAMILY PICNIC on June 9th,

and we hope we see a good turnout of

MHSAA members at our 2006 AN-

NUAL MEETING September 11th

(details on page 7 for both events.)

MHSAA will also be participating in

Manhattan‘s Juneteeth Celebration and

KSU‘s Purple Power Play on Poyntz.

Other active Committee members:

Delores Carter ’70

Dale Staatz ’59

Janet (Krider) Duncan, ‘58 left & Jerry (Thrash) Ince ‘59,

carry the C150! Banner

MHSAA in SESQUICENTENNIAL PARADE June 2005

It was a beautiful day for a parade and the riders and walkers had a

wonderful time on MHSAA Prize-winning float.

The purpose of the Events/Meetings committee is to plan and prepare for all Association

General Meetings and Special Events.

By Carita (Clark) Otts ‘55, Committee Chair

I t‘s coming - the 2006 MHSAA An-

nual Membership meeting will be

Monday September 11th, starting with

a social hour and 50 cent Tacos from 6-7

PM with the meeting starting at 7 PM. The

meeting will be at the Manhattan Ameri-

can Legion Hall at 114 McCall Road next

to Walmart. We hope to see as many of

you there as possible! As you can see by

the photos, a good time can be expected,

plus there will be MHSAA business to be

done. PLEASE JOIN US. We want and

need member support!

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 6

A Spring Family Picnic will be held Friday, June 9 for all MHSAA members and their immediate family (spouse and children.) We will gather between 6:00pm and 6:30pm at the Manhattan City

Park shelter house (just behind the Larry Norvell Band Shelter.) At 8:00pm, the Arts in the Park concert series will present “The

Benders: on stage at the Band Shell.

The main dish will be barbecued pork sandwiches, prepared and served by the KSU Meat Lab at 6:30pm. Hot dogs will be avail-able for children. Lemonade and iced tea, as well as table ser-

vice will be furnished. We are requesting that each family bring a side dish.

This might include salad, baked beans, potato salad, a dessert, etc.

A donation jar will be available to help defray costs of the meat and the facility rental fee.

Bring your lawn chairs or blanket for the concert and come join us for a picnic in the park! What better way to spend a late

spring evening. For additional information, please call Carita at 785-539-1311

Janet (Krider) Duncan ‘58 Charlie Hostetler ’57 Randy Stitt ‘88

Diana (Clark) Kientz ‘57 Deanna (Johnson) Hall ‘74 Gina (Mundy) Scroggs ‘88

By Deanna Hall

Publicity Committee CoChair

W atch for current happenings at

Manhattan High School as they

are highlighted in a series of

television ads on Manhattan cable television

channels throughout the year. This series

can help Manhattanites stay in touch with

what is happening at our Alma Mater. The

series is sponsored by Manhattan car

dealer Little Apple Toyota Honda. A recent

commercial highlighted the Manhattan High

School Alumni Association and how to

join.

The Publicity Committee looks forward

to finding ways to keep our organization in

the public eye and welcomes any sugges-

tions and ideas.

Our committee members are also prepar-

ing articles to appear in future issues of The

Alumni Mentor. And we are working with

Manhattan High School to ensure the Riley

County Historical Society receives a new

Blue M every year.

Paula (Hanagan) Hardin ‘54, Tausca (McClintock)

Schillaci,’58 , Jerry (Thrash) ‘59 Ince, right corner

John Roberts poses behind

Ralph Teaford’s Model T

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 7

Reunion News Class of ‘57 - Reunion dates are June

7-9, 2007. The headquarters will be the

Ramada Plaza Hotel, 17th & Anderson.

Contact: Jan Carlson Journey 785-537-

7177, or jabberj@interkan.net.

The Class of ‘71 will have a reunion

this summer—contact Cam (Smith)

Feltner 785-539-7861 email cfelt-

ner@msn.com, or Sandy Chandler,

email schandler@ksu.ed.

Dave Rogers says the Class of '75 is

starting the "Birthday Process" for a

Class of '75‘s 50th Birthday this

year. Classmates can find the needed

information at the class web site:

Ready to Help MHS Classes hold their reunions

By Dean Taylor, Committee Chairman

T he MHSAA Retirement Com-

mittee is organized to assist

those who may be thinking about

where to retire. We would like you to

return to Manhattan. We have a First

Class Community; we want the cream

of the crop to live here; MHS Grads are

the cream of the crop. Thru the Manhat-

tan Chamber of Commerce Retire to

Manhattan Committee we can provide

all required information to make a deci-

sion. The MHSAA Web Site has a re-

tire to Manhattan Link. Check it out

then contact us for any further informa-

tion of assistance. Let us know when

you are ready to make your look it over

trip to Manhattan. The Chamber is

forming a future residents of the Flint

Hill consortium. Let us know if you

would like to join this group

left: Helen (Whitney) Toburen ‗28, Marie (York) Dellen ‗44, Dean Taylor ‗44, Wann (Harwood)

Towers ‗49, Patty (Keck) Schrader ‗49, David Gaume ‗93, Dorothy (Gilmore) Smith ‘69

http://members.cox.net/mhs1975. Further

information will also be posted at the

MHSAA site, or e-mail:

drogers@burnettauto.com.

The Class of 1986 is having their reunion

this spring (2006). Here is some informa-

tion from their reunion site.: The reunion

is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend,

May 26-28, 2006. . The event schedule is

as follows:

Friday: Afternoon - Tours of MHS

Evening - Informal gathering , Bobby T's

Saturday, 10:00am estimated Morning/

Afternoon - Golf at Colbert Hills After-

noon – Manhattan art gallery tour Dinner/

Dance at Wareham Opera House, 7pm,

cost to be determined.

The Class of '91 is having their reunion

this June on the 23rd and 24th. Please

contact: Laura (Reitz) Kaufman at laura-

kauf@comcast.net for informa-

tion. Also, Molly (Weigel) Rapp: 913-

599-0663 is available for questions and

information.

Class of 1996 Ten-Year Reunion Sep-

tember 8-9, 2006. Please forward your

contact information (home address,

phone, etc.) to Mary Seltzer Boomer at

(415) 637-5776 or

mk_boomer2005@yahoo.com.

The Class of 1951 is having their 55th year

reunion in Manhattan June 2-4 with head-

quarters at the Manhattan Ramada Plaza

Hotel. Contact Mary Quinlan Wingate

mqwingate@msn.com for information.

The Class of 1956 is having their 50th class

reunion June 1-3 , 2006 with headquarters at

the Manhattan Ramada Plaza Hotel. The

schedule will be: Friday, June 2: Social

hour and dinner. Saturday June 3: am tour

of former junior and senior high building;

pm tour of Blaine Thomas museum, tour

of KSU Beach Art Museum and KSU

Alumni Center; social hour; dinner; dance.

For information please contact Charlie

Hostetler at: chh@charlsonwilson.com

By Dean Taylor ‘52

T he MHSAA Reunions Commit-

tee is ready to assist and liaison

with the Manhattan Chamber of

Commerce Convention and Visitors

Bureau with classes in organizing and

completing a successful reunion. The

Chamber CVB arranges Tours of the

area and individual businesses as well

as community attractions, assists with

registration, provides information pack-

ets and any assistance required for a

Reunion news, cont.

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 8

successful reunion. If your class does

not have a local representative the

MHSAA can act in your behalf. Most

classes have a reunion every five

years. If you are in doubt about or-

ganizing a successful reunion contact

us. We would like to have the name

of the Representative of each of the

classes. If you are that person please

let us know. (committee member not pictured:

Betty (Mosier) Wassom ‘70)

T he Website/Information Systems

(WISCOM) mission is to provide

information and facilitate communications

for members of MHSAA. We currently

work through the official MHSAA newlet-

ter ―The Alumni Mentor‖- of which this

is the first issue—and our already estab-

l i s h e d M H S A A W e b S i t e :

www.mhsalumniassociation.org

Due to the work of Committee chairman

John King ‗57, the MHSAA website went

online shortly after it was authorized by

the MHSAA Board of Directors and has

continued a steady update of information

through this first year. You will find late-

breaking MHSAA news here, such as the

April Board of Directors action making

MHS Principal Terry McCarty and USD

383 Communications Director Michele

Jones MHSAA‘s first Honorary Members.

John asked Janet Duncan to become

Co-Chairperson, and she‘s undertaken the

basic photography and newsletter respon-

sibilities. Pat Duncan to join the team,

giving us membership information and

terrific informational reporting skills. It

was Pat Duncan‘s idea for Golden Alumni

Certificates, which the committee de-

signed.

The other WISCOM members are:

Monty Williamson, ‗58

Harry Wareham, ‗54,

Gina Davidson, ‗86,

Jo (Simpson) Vega ‗54.

Tom Alexander ‗57

WISCOM is planning a general re-

vamping of the website in order to offer

more timely and relevant information to

MHSAA members. We heartily solicit

YOUR IDEAS & YOUR NEWS. We welcome your letters, class news, pho-

tos, features of general interest.

Please write to us:

The Alumni Mentor

P . O . B o x 1 1 0 2

Manhattan, KS 66502 -1102

Or email John King: jking@classof57.org

or Janet Duncan: bullbox@aol.com

WEBSITE/

INFORMATION

SYSTEMS

COMMITTEE M r. John Buller wasn‘t some-

body you messed with. He

wasn‘t prone to violence--far

from it. But solidly built, balding, with

an expression that was kindly yet firm as

a boulder, he was the sort of man from

whom one look, only, was all that was

necessary. Behind his wire-rimmed

glasses he gave only a hint of an explana-

tion as to what might happen if you

crossed the line.

And he knew about lines, for he was of

course the teacher of plane geometry.

It‘s been more than fifty years now, but I

remember two things about that course.

One, the blue and orange textbook had a

drawing of an airplane on the cover.

And two—well, number two was more

substantial.

In high school I studied basically not

the three R‘s, but the three P‘s: partying,

people and pool. None of these subjects

was covered in the official curriculum,

but Mr. Buller, being a lover of geometry

and after all an earnest and honest to

goodness teacher, took me aside one day

after the bell rang. He pointed to some

words in the book. I read them. In bold

face it said The angle of reflection is

equal to the angle of incidence. He

smiled just a small crack of a smile, his

blue eyes leveled at me. I read it aloud

for him. ―The angle of reflection is equal

to the angle of incidence.‖

Well, that seemed okay with me. But I

didn‘t see what he was driving at. Then

Mr. Buller saw that he was going to have

to hand it to me. He tapped the words

with his finger. ―That works on the pool

table as well as in the classroom,‖ he said.

I must have looked astonished. What

possible relationship could my busy life

in the poolroom have to do with anything

in a classroom?

Gently Mr. Buller stepped me over to

the cluttered blackboard, and erased a

section of some poor devil‘s mishandi-

work from the class just ended. Then he

took the chalk and drew a line. ―Let this

be the rail of a pool table.‖ I nodded. He

drew another line. ―This is the path of the

ball going into the rail.‖ Crack of a smile,

arched eyebrow. ―If we put a protractor

on that angle of incidence—― here he

paused, ascertaining whether I‘d listened

enough in the classes I‘d made it to to

know what a protractor was. Some-

where in my mind a little man rang a

little bell. Mr. Buller went on, ―…and if

it measures thirty-five degrees, what

then will the angle of reflection be?‖ I

smiled broadly. I was exultant. ―Uh,

thirty-five degrees?‖ I said.

I couldn‘t wait to get to the Hole-in-

One Club to try this out. ―Thank you,‖ I

said, half running from the chalky room

and down the concrete stairs. I didn‘t

pitch the book at the bottom of my

locker as usual but actually tucked it

under my arm.

It would be nice to say that that was

the beginning of a great Euclidean ca-

reer. But it wasn‘t. I never learned an-

other thing about geometry, in high

school or anywhere else. But I have

carried that theorem, I guess that‘s what

they call it, with me. And maybe also,

something about patience and wisdom

and even about being tough without be-

ing mean.

The last time I saw Mr. Buller was in

the crowded waiting room of a doctor‘s

office. He was waiting to see the doctor

as I came out. Grayer, quite elderly, but

still obviously Mr. Buller, there he was,

that faint knowing smile turned upon me

as I came up to where he was seated and

knelt to speak. I introduced myself and

reminded him of the angle of incidence.

―I remember you,‖ he said slowly.

I have six children, all grown now. I

made sure years ago that each one knew

from me personally that, what else, the

angle of reflection is equal to the angle

of incidence. Though I haven‘t picked

up a serious pool cue in forty years, I am

confident that that is still true. It may

even have other applications, I under-

stand.

Charley Kempthorne

The LifeStory Institute

www.thelifestoryinstitute.com

Do you have a story you‘d like to see in the newsletter? One story we are currently

working on, thanks to the question sent in by an MHSAA member, is about Blue M

Queens. (Like the Indian Mosaic on the our cover, some MHSAA members will

remember them and some won‘t!)

Contributor’s Corner Memoirs of MHS

The Angle of Reflection by Charley Kempthorne, ‗55

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 9

By Dan Hall Chairman, Awards & Recognition/Wall of Fame Committee

As a group of mature accomplished individuals, what can we do to help motivate and inspire the future members of our organization?

The MHSAA Wall of Fame!

Not only will the Wall of Fame honor and publicly recognize MHS

Alumni who have “made a name” for themselves, this permanent display at the MHS West Campus will hopefully provide some direc-tion for our current and future Manhattan High School students. Something that they can aspire to. The mission of the Awards and

Recognition / Wall of Fame (ARWF) Committee the past few months has been to set the groundwork for this endeavor. Our game plan is as follows:

1. Selected MHS graduates will be honored by the MHSAA annually, with plaques permanently displayed at MHS West Campus (with pa-per copy at MHSAA Museum). Wall of Fame plaque will feature the MHSAA Logo, Honoree Name, MHS Graduation Year, MHS Senior Pic-ture and Biography of Honoree.

2. Duplicate plaques will be presented to Honoree and family (or just family if presented posthumously) at public MHS event. Basic thought is to make presentation during a regularly scheduled indoor

MHS event where the students are present - recommendation is the Winter Basketball Homecoming in February of each year.

3. Number of Honorees annually will be limited to a maximum of 4. Could be one or two or three or four.

4. Minimum criteria for consideration: a. MHS graduate (no exceptions). b. “Distinguished Service” = significant accomplishment(s) and/ or contribution to mankind, after life at MHS.

The field is wide open: - academics, athletics, business / professional, military service, volunteer activities, personal, etc. c. Recognition beyond the local level - at state, national or worldwide level. d. Age (young or old) will not be a consideration. e. Award can be presented posthumously.

5. Selection Process will be a function of the ARWF Committee - they will be judge and jury. Nominees must have a form submitted, to include a biography along with supporting documents to verify their accomplishments (see the form on page 11of this newsletter). Two references in support of the nominee are also to be included on the

nomination form. Wall of Fame Nomination form and “advertisement for nominations” to be posted on MHSAA website, with forms due to ARWF no later than September 1st of each year. The ARWF Commit-tee will forward names to the MHSAA Board for final approval at their September meeting.

Do you want to honor one of our own, and hold them up as an ex-ample to our youth?

Now is your opportunity!

Please use the form on page 11 and send us your candidate.

MHSAA’S “WALL OF FAME” IS ON THE WAY

But eventually, when several of the

mosaic pieces began to pop out, it was

relegated to storage. Now, thanks to the

alert members of MHSAA who discov-

ered and pursued this situation, MHS

principal Terry McCarty has donated the

mosaic to the MHS Alumni Association.

So some of our MHSAA members may

be seeing this piece of MHS history here

for the first time.

When the restoration is compete,

MHSAA will have a ceremony together

with MHS and it will hang in a place of

honor at the High School again. ―We

think it's a great thing to do, to preserve

the history and tradition for our high

school." Alumni Association President

Dave Fiser said. Principal McCarty

couldn‘t have been more pleased.

This Restoration Project will be

guided by MHSAA‘s Awards and Rec-

ognition/Wall of Fame Committee,

under the chairmanship of Dan Hall

‗70. An ‗MHSAA Indian Restoration

Fund‘ will be established to help de-

fray expenses. Watch for more infor-

mation on the MHSAA website and in

our Fall Newsletter. by Janet Duncan‘58

MHSAA Thanks Riley

County Museum

T he Riley County Historical Society

has been extremely helpful to us

when we‘ve needed photos from old Blue

M‘s and other information from the past

about MHS graduates. The MHSAA

Board voted to donate $100 to the RCHS

and we have pledged to buy new Blue

M‘s for them in the coming years—as we

will for our own MHSAA Museum and

Archives. Now, the Riley County His-

torical Museum has all the Blue M's,

beginning in l920, except the follow-

ing: l940, l956, l964, l97l, l972, l973,

l976 and l999-2005. If you have one

you would like to donate please contact

Cheryl Collins at 785-565-490, or send it

to the Riley County Historical Museum,

2309 Claflin Rd., Manhattan, KS 66502.

Alumni Mentor Staff

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 10

Indian Restoration continued from Page 1

DONATE NOW!

MHSAA Indian Restoration

Fund, PO Box 1102, Manhattan

KS 66502

Please use this form to nominate a candidate for the MHS WALL OF FAME

MANHATTAN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

WALL OF FAME NOMINATION

To be nominated, candidate must be an MHS graduate with Distinguished Service after life at Manhattan High School. When consider-

ing ―Distinguished Service‖ in nominating candidates, the significant accomplishment (s) and/or contribution to mankind shall have

recognition beyond the local level (at state, national or worldwide level). The field for Distinguished Service is wide open - academics,

athletics, business/professional, military service, volunteer activities, personal, etc. Age is not a consideration. Award can be presented

posthumously.

Nomination forms will be reviewed by the Manhattan High School Alumni Association Awards & Recognition / Wall of Fame Commit-

tee, who will forward their recommendations for selection of Wall of Fame Honoree(s) to the MHS Alumni Association Board for ap-

proval. Public recognition will be held at the MHS Winter Basketball Homecoming in February 2007.

Forward this completed form to: MHSAA Wall of Fame Committee

PO Box 1102

Manhattan, Kansas 66505-1102.

Completed form, with references and supporting documentation to verify information, must be received on or before September 1, 2006

for inclusion in this year‘s selection.

COMPLETE NAME OF NOMINEE: ___ _________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS (if known):__________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY_________________________________________ZIP CODE_____________MHS GRADUATION YEAR__________

PHONE:_____________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________ SPECIFIC REASONS FOR NOMINATION: (Please Print or Type )

NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING FORM:

ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ZIP CODE: MHS GRADUATION YEAR PHONE:

EMAIL: __________________________________________________

NAME OF REFERENCE 1 (in support of Nominee): _________________________________________________

ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ZIP CODE: MHS GRADUATION YEAR PHONE:

EMAIL:___________________________________________________

NAME OF REFERENCE 2 (in support of Nominee): _________________________________________________

ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ZIP CODE: MHS GRADUATION YEAR PHONE:

EMAIL: __________________________________________________

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 11

Early Annual Membership Renewal*

MHSAA‘s Annul Membership Drive for 2007 begins now. Please take time to renew

your membership. A quick 2007 Annual Alumni Membership renewal now will be valid

through December 31, 2007. You also have the opportunity to apply the $10 Annual

Membership fee you‘ve paid for 2006 toward a Lifetime Membership. The membership

categories are as follows:

The MHS Alumni Association is open to all Manhattan High School graduates,

and Associate Memberships are available for friends of MHS, however only MHS

graduates have voting privileges. Annual dues are $10.00, Life Memberships are

$10.00 for age 90 or older, $50.00 for age 55 or older, $100.00 for those under the

age of 55. Annual memberships are valid from January 1st to December 31st the

following year. Full membership applications are available by writing to our PO

Box 1102, Manhattan, KS, 66502 or easily printable from our MHSAA website

www.mhsalumniassociation.org .

Please Renew my MHSAA Annual Membership ___

I would like to upgrade to a Life Membership ___

Last Name _____________First Name ____________

Maiden Name _____________MHS Class ____

*Even if you are a Life Member, please use this form if any information has changed.

Address: Street _________________________City: _____________________State ___

Zip Code _______

Telephone: _________________ Email Address: _____________________

Please send your membership renewal form, with appropriate payment, to:

MHSAA P.O. Box 1102 Manhattan, KS 66505-1102

Charley Kempthorne ‘55,

Memoir Sessions

C harlie Kempthorne, of the

LifeStories Institute in Manhat-

tan, has agreed to donate his ser-

vices to MHSAA to provide a unique

experience for MHS reunions. Charley

describes these sessions as follows.

―I'll take about half an hour to talk

about writing some individual histories

at MHS and demonstrate how it's

done. We'll write for twenty or so min-

utes, and finally, we'll read our stuff

aloud to the others—or some of us will,

depending on how many we have

there. And discuss it, of course. It

should be a productive session and also a

lot of fun.‖

Charley‘s credentials are well estab-

lished, with perhaps his best-known

memoir student, Jessie Lee Foveaux,

having won a million dollar book con-

tract and a spot on Oprah several years

ago. If you would like to schedule a

Memoir Session for your reunion, please

contact Dean Taylor or Charley (see his

story page 11.) Staff report by Janet Duncan ‘58

THE ALUMNI MENTOR page 12