Submitted by Marilyn Flagg
Even though Arcadia High School closed its doors at the end of the “1965” school year, the annual alumni banquet is still being held on memorial week-end. This year, the 2025 banquet was held in Arcadia, Kansas at the Community Center with 62 attending. The membership also includes the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Class of 1965. The banquet was held in Arcadia on Saturday afternoon, May 24th and was catered by Chicken Mary’s and served by the Stansbury brothers of Arcadia, Ks. Open Door Mission Church Youth.
Enclosed with the invitation to the banquet this year was the deceased for 2024 prepared by Marilyn Flagg, Historian. The change of addresses, phone numbers, etc. was enclosed also prepared by Marilyn. The 2024 Financial Report done by Shirley Landon, Treasurer, and the 2024 Minutes completed by Virginia Smith, Secretary, was a hand out at the banquet.
Social hour was 1:00-3:00 p.m. followed by lunch and business meeting. President Pat Morris of Arcadia welcomed the 40 Alumni and 22 guests. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag was led by Merle Engle. The invocation was by Richard Page.
At the opening of the business meeting, President Pat Smith Morris (Class of 1964) introduced alumni officers Vice President, Tom Watt (Class of 1968); Secretary, Virginia Harris Smith (Class of 1964); Treasurer, Shirley McKinstry Landon (Class of 1956); and Historian Marilyn Coonrod Flagg (Class of 1962) and thanked them for all the work they have done for this year’s banquet.
There were no objections or corrections to the 2024 Minutes or the 2024 Treasurer’s report. They stand approved as presented.
Richard Page led the nominations and election of officers. Michael Sheffield and Sharon Foster were also on the nomination committee.
Richard Page nominated Tom Watt for president in 2026 and Pat Morris for Vice President. Michael Sheffield made the motion to accept and Lilly Sheffield seconded Michael’s motion. All in favor voted yes and motion carried. Shirley Landon will remain as Treasurer; Virginia Smith as Secretary and Marilyn Flagg as Historian.
Special recognition was given to members of the 60th (1965);
70th (1955); and 80th (1945) this year.
Those attending from the 60th class were the following:
Rosedda Burge Carter and guest Teresa Kennedy; Terry Bright;
and Linda Montee Underwood and guest John Underwood.
Attending from the 70th. were as follows: Virgil Curnutt and guest Benjamin Curnutt; Mary Lee Eggen Payne and guests Ron and Cindy
Morton.
There were none in attendance for the 80th class.
All 22 guests were asked to stand and be recognized.
Tom Watt, chairman of the Scholarship Committee, announced the winner of the 2025 A.F. Bowlus/Betty Kirksey Scholarship as Lainey
O’Dell. Lainey is the great granddaughter of Jack and Mary Lee Payne.
Since Lainey lives in Alabama and unable to attend, her grandparents,
Ron and Cindy Morton and great grandparent, Mary Lee Eggen Payne, attended and spoke in her behalf. Lainey was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Katherine Shead was awarded an additional “AHS” scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Katherine is the granddaughter of Larry Shead. Because of her graduation, Katherine and Larry were unable to attend.
Any child, grandchild, or great grandchild of Arcadia High School Alumni may apply for a scholarship.
Marilyn Flagg led the memorial service for alumni deceased since the last meeting. Those remembered were: Mary Coonrod Bournonville; Robert (Bob) Morozzo; Yvonne Blair Gazaway; Helen Cambers Green; Elmer R. Carpenter; Marilyn Ferguson Nuzum; Philip Harris; Don Kauble; Carl F. Morris; Donald E. (Gene) Stevens; Patsy Fanning Scott; Elizabeth Burge Buchanan; Sandra Hanson Hamby; Doylene Shoemaker Chapman; Mary Jo Wozniak McKinney; David Beerbower; Mike Carpenter; Priscella Krieger; and Jack Hurst.
The roll call which consisted of the following and the 1945, 1955, and 1965 classes listed above was done by Tom Watt.
1949 – Jerry Skidmore
Billy D. Yoos and guest William Yoos
1950 – Betty (Clarkson) Skidmore
1953 – Bobby Charles and guests Bobby Harris and Paul Harris
1954 – Esther Engle Cousins and guest Janice Crooks
Gary Peterson and guest Patty Peterson
1956 – Shirley (McKinstry) Landon and guest Tina Caldwell Hooks
1957 – Merle Engle
Francis M. Jones and guest Karen Kay Tripp
Lilly (Turner) Sheffield
Lou Sheets and guest Linda Sue Sheets
1958 – Joyce McKinstry Turner
Laura Coonrod Felt
1959 – William Page
Michael Sheffield
1960 – Hilda Cockman Page
Jerry Coonrod and guest Jan Steele
1961 – Howard Holland and guest Louise Holland
1962 – Marilyn (Coonrod) Flagg
Joyce (Elliott) Maycumber
Helen (Morris) Nichols
Ronnie Smith
1963 – Sharon Barnard Foster
Richard (Dick) Page
1964 – Ronnie Kellogg and guest Barbara Kellogg
Virginia Harris Smith
Steve Morris
Ronnie Portwood and guest Mary Portwood
Pat Smith Morris
Sherry Swafford Page
1966 – Jerry Morris
Larry Smith
1968 – Don Schaub
Sherry Sisney
Tom Watt and guest Phyllis Watt
Billy D. Yoos (Class of 1949) was given an award for being the “Oldest” alumni. Virgil Curnutt (1955) was awarded for traveling the “Most
Distance”.
The school song was led by Jan Steele. Jan is the daughter of Richard (Dick) Steele) long time music teacher in the Arcadia High School.
The benediction was led by Merle Engle.
The servers were the
Stansbury Brothers (Camryn, Wyatt, and Timothy), of Arcadia, Kansas Open Door Mission Church Youth and Judy Stansbury.