Alumni Happenings

October and November, 2007

New Members
Renew Your Membership Now!
Buy a Brick
Archived Newsletters
Help Wanted
Upcoming Events
Reunion News
Parade
Ham and Bean Feed
Alumni Brunch
2nd Annual Alumni Celebration

A LETTER FROM OUR NEW PRESIDENT!

 

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Knoxville Alumni Association! In only its first year, the Association boasts more than 300 members representing classes from 1940 through the 2000’s, has raised more than $175,000.00 for the S.O.S. initiative, and been honored with the Matthew C. Job Pride in Knoxville Award.

And this all happened because of YOU! On behalf of the Board, thank you for your support of the Association. Because of YOU, the Association exists.

As we build upon our recent successes, I’d like to share some of the goals we hope to accomplish by this time next year:
• Grow our membership to 1,000 members.
• Provide opportunities and events that allow members to network.
• Establish a scholarship program for graduating seniors and alumni.
• Participate in activities and volunteer opportunities that will positively impact students (reading books to students, helping with student organizations, concerts, or athletic events).
• Continue our S.O.S. fundraising goal of $1 million.
• Support initiatives that improve the school district either financially or through volunteer service projects (such as planting trees at a school or repairing playground equipment).

As you can see, we have many exciting opportunities ahead of us, and we’ll be looking to YOU to help to make them happen. Please contact me or a board member if you have ideas to meet these goals or just want to participate.

Thank you again for supporting the “Alumni Black and Gold.” If you’re not a member and would like to be part of the excitement, I invite you join today by filling out the membership card found in this newsletter.

Kevin Stittsworth ‘91
President

 

So many people have been generous with their donations of pop cans and this month was no exception. However, we could not trade in the brand new door knob entry set that was in a Menard’s sack and amongst the cans at the SOS Pop Can Building :~) So if this note jogs your memory and you can’t find your new door knob, please give Bob Edwards, our #1 Can Man, a call at 842-2222. Greg Ball says we will sell it back to you at a fraction of the cost of what you paid for it!

 

Following is the list of our new and renewed Alumni members from September 29th through the end of October. Just one month!! The asterisk following their names denotes Charter Members. We are including everyone who joins Alumni now through December 31, 2007 as Charter Members. Next month we will publish the November/December new members and in January we will publish the total Alumni Charter Membership list. Please, let me encourage you to get on board now to be a supportive Charter Member of YOUR Knoxville Alumni. The yellow highlighted names refer to Lifetime Members.

Please notice that the names are listed by classes. We’ve had 59 new/renewals this month of which 7 are lifetime members! Great Job Kids!! Soon we will start a challenge to see which class has the most members. Hurry and join now if you are ANY class EXCEPT 1966! Yes, they are still in the lead but I know the Class of ’64 is hot on their trail. :~) It’s fun to see each month which class has the most participation. I LOVE MY JOB!!

Click on this link to view the list

If you prefer that we not publish your name, just respond to KHSAlumni@mchsi.com and we will be happy to comply with your wishes . . . . . . but who would not be proud to be KHS ALUMNI!

 

Why not a membership to Knoxville Alumni Association! It will be a gift that will give for an entire year, or a lifetime if you prefer :~)

 

 

Following, please find your Alumni membership, donation and/or pledge card. Please print this off and mail it in if you haven't already done so. If you have made a pledge to S.O.S. for the calendar year of 2007 you are encouraged to send in your pledge at this time – the year is almost over! Please make your check payable to Knoxville Alumni Association and make a notation in the memo if your check is for a pledge, membership, bricks, ‘K’ Club or S.O.S. Thanks again for all your support!

All yearly membership dues for the new Alumni year are payable now. Membership runs from Homecoming to Homecoming! The new year has begun!

Click here for a form to renew your membership or to donate to SOS.

 

 

Please notice on the above form there is an area for Friends of Alumni too. We’ve had so much interest generated from people who want to be supportive of Alumni that did not go to school in Knoxville, so we’ve created a new category. Let us know if you are interested or have questions.

 

 

If you have trouble printing off ANY of the order forms, just drop us a note KHSAlumni@mchsi.com and we will be more than happy to send the requested form to you in an attachment.

Click here to print off an order form for a brick

Every graduating class of KHS is encouraged to purchase a brick honoring their class. The distinction of the first class brick purchased goes to . . . . . . KHS Class of ’87!!

Other classes that have purchased a brick are:

KHS Class of ‘47
KHS Class of ‘55
KHS Class of ‘64
KHS Class of ‘66
KHS Class of ‘71

Now the challenge is on, will your class be next? Watch for next months newsletter :~)

 

If there are previous Alumni Happenings Newsletters that you have not received and would like to, please go to the Knoxville Alumni Association’s web site to see them, just click on Newsletters

The crews at the stadium are currently working on putting new glass block windows in the towers. Concrete work has been going on too. Check out next month’s newsletter for more pictures.

 

The KHS Camera Club and Knoxville Alumni Ruby Robuck Dursky, KHS Class of ‘65 for the great job taking pictures the night of our 2nd Annual Alumni Celebration. They caught so many wonderful moments; now we can hold those memories for a lifetime. Click here to view some great pictures!

And a very special thank you to all our volunteers who helped make our evening a HUGE success.

 

Our SOS regular meeting for the month of NOVEMBER is Wednesday, NOVEMBER 14th. We will meet at Swamp Fox, 116 North Second Street at 6:30 PM. Please come early and we encourage you to bring a friend for a bite to eat and support Swamp Fox who so generously allows us the use of their facility free of charge. Please check out Swamp Fox’s e-mail address lrrcc@iowatelecom.net and request their daily specials.

Please mark your calendar now!

Wednesday, December 12th

Alumni is working with the Knoxville School District to implement a program for volunteers. Please, contact Mike Cunningham 641-891-8944, if you have ANY interest in volunteering in ANY capacity for the Knoxville Community Schools. The schools are always looking for adult help in many areas; help with reading, math, helping out at various school activities, etc. Please give Mike a call or e-mail, check on him to see how he’s doing with his ‘retirement’ and say you’d love to help him volunteer for our youth!
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We need YOUNG volunteers to help with the Family New Year’s Eve party. We have lots of events planned for the kids and are eagerly awaiting young, enthusiastic volunteers to help carry out the fun. Please respond to KHSAlumni@mchsi.com that you would love to help!!
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Pella Corp Employees: All employees who make a donation to the Save Our Stadium Renovation Project can receive a price match from Pella Corp. Please contact us at KHSAlumni@mchsi.com if you would like more information.

 

The drawing for the Alumni Photo Quilt was held, Friday, October 19th at the Second Annual Alumni Celebration. Valeria Mesecher Smith, KHS Class of ’38, our distinguished senior member in attendance, had the honor of drawing the lucky raffle ticket. And the photo quilt goes to . . . . . . . Tom Hanna, KHS Class of ’63, of Lodi, California! Tom’s Dad, Bill Hanna, KHS Class of ’40, was on the photo quilt as part of the Class of 1939-40 long distance runners. Congratulations Tom!

 

 

* A request has been made to the School Board to sell limestone rocks from the stadium that cannot be re-used in the restoration. More information as it becomes available.

* December 31: Alumni is planning a Family New Year’s Eve party for all ages! The family with the most generations present will win a prize! It will be at Dyer Hudson, Marion County Fairgrounds. It’s going to be a 50’s Rock ‘N Roll Party - A Sock Hop!! Of course we encourage you to come dressed for the era :~) The band is The Riviera’s. Check them out at www.rivieras.us We will have two New Year’s countdowns; one at 9:00 PM for the youngsters and the other at midnight. There will be something for everyone! Plan to spend New Year’s Eve with all your fun family and friends! Your invitation should be arriving soon.

 

Following are pictures that have been submitted from class reunions.

 

 

Row 1: Ella Ream McDermott, Sally Mott Synhorst, Cathy Visser Husted, Alberta Finarty Mart (1946), Ann Thompson McClure, Kathy Zimmerman McCoy, Verla Kennedy Crooks, Cathy Cooley Compton
Row 2: Wendell Robinson, Betty Husted Gill, Iona Bassett, Harold Hedrick, Eloise Bucklew Langstratt, Marilyn Bruce Haning, Charles Sims (1946), Peg Simpson Stevenson (1948)
Row 3: Lloyd Anderson, Don Adams. Neil Carruthers, Robert Haning, Dean Stevenson

The KHS Class of ’57: No pictures yet

The KHS Class of ’62: No pictures yet

The KHS Class of ’76: No pictures yes

The KHS Class of '72

 

ROW 1: Jonith (Northcote) Van Wardhuizen; Karen (Sandvig) Garrett; Nila (Neil) Landsperger; Sheryl (Smith) Chambers; Suzanne (Oldham) Johnson; Robyn (Anderson) Anderson; Connie (Fee) Lenger; Janet (Borchert) Catron; Diane (Snow) Jensen; Rosalie (Test) Roland.
ROW 2: (L to R) Randy Morse; Tom Cox; Robin (Severns) Findley; Judy (Stevens) Robuck; Sharon (Roush) Salazar; Dixie (Darnell) Schlepphorst; Jennifer (Stubbs) Krpan; Tomma Lou (Bailey) Borchert; Doug Harsin; Maggie Elliott; Chris (Trabert) DeMoss.
ROW 3: (L to R) Mike Philben; Karl Kloster; Steve Goff; Ross Sterling; Steve Coon; Don Nilius; Ted DeJoode; Don Synhorst.
ROW 4: John Walton; John Ashton; Ron Humeston; Park Woodle; Jim Findley; Chris Agan; Don Bailey; Roy Swanson; Rodney Barnes.

ATTENDING, BUT NOT PICTURED: Bob Anderson, Kathy Jo (Rhoten) Burtman; Bob Willis, and Glenda (Smith) Bowerman.

 

Barb Isley Stull, Bev Sterling, Nancy Reed Kingrey, Missy Carter Gray and Lynn Cole Witzenberg

 

The KHS Class of '87: No picture yet

 

Devin Niday, Amy (Van Baale) Sander, Melissa (Brooks) Reinke, Karl (Crook), Andrea McNamara, Jawna (Beaver) Harris, Wendi (McDonald) Reeves, Becky (Utterback) Stephens, Shane Bellon, Nickki (Reed) Bridges, Jessy (Null) Wilson, Valerie Gotta, Brian Koonce, and Shelly (Wells) Vander Hart

 

The KHS Class of '96: No picture yet

 

 

Click here to go to the class contact page

You can reach a particular class contact just by clicking their name.

To add your name to contact information please e-mail us.

 

 

Mike Husted, KHS Class of ’69 and Terry Edwards, KHS Class of ’68 proudly carry the Knoxville Alumni Association banner in the Homecoming Parade.

 

 

Shown on this side of the Alumni/Stadium float are: Pennie Edwards Sommar, KHS Class of ’66, Connie Cummings Husted, KHS Class of ’72, Sharon Neifert Stittsworth, KHS Class of ’66, Connie Shinn Pregon, KHS Class of ’69, Bette Hook Cunningham and Mike Cunningham, KHS Class of ’64.

 

 

Friday, November 2, 2007 there was a continuous flow of people at Dyer Hudson for the Morning Kiwanis delicious ham and bean feed. The community was served from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The proceeds from it that will go to S.O.S. will be announced at the S.O.S. Meeting, Wednesday, November 14th at Swamp Fox.

 

 

The Saturday following Homecoming we held our Annual Alumni Business Meeting and Brunch in the High School Commons Area.
Outgoing members of the Alumni Board are Bob Edwards, KHS Class of ’49; Larry Rowley, KHS Class of ’60 and Jona Schrader Roberts, KHS Class of ’69. A huge, heartfelt thank you goes to all three of these fine representatives for their year plus of service to the Knoxville Alumni Association.
Following the delicious brunch was the election of three new board members. I am very happy to announce our new Alumni Board members. Joining us in serving you are Phil Langstraat, KHS Class of ’61; Greg Ball, KHS Class of ’80 and Candy Cole Jerkins, KHS Class of ’70. Welcome to the team kids!
Your officers for the new Alumni year are: Kevin Stittsworth, KHS Class of ’91, President; Mike Cunningham, KHS Class of ’64, Vice President; Candy Cole Jerkins, KHS Class of ’70, Secretary and Greg Ball, KHS Class of ’80, Treasurer. The board members are: Connie Cummings Husted, KHS Class of ’72; Phil Langstraat, KHS Class of ’61; Pennie Edwards Sommar, KHS Class of ’66; Kevin Wadle, KHS Class of ’89; and Pat Thomas Kading, KHS Class of ’64.
Following are a few of the Alumni who attended the brunch and some comments!

 

Pictured above is Chuck Walter, KHS Class of ’41 our distinguished senior member of Alumni and our youngest member, Jessica Ball, KHS Class of 2004. They were both honored at our business meeting. Mr. Walter was our very first lifetime member of Knoxville Alumni Association. Thanks for your belief in us Chuck! And Jessica, it’s wonderful to have such a beautiful young lady on our team! Thanks for the energy you bring to Alumni :~)

 

 

October 19th, 2007 It’s hard to believe it’s only a memory now. We worked and planned and planned and worked for months in preparation for our Second Annual Celebration. A huge thank you goes out to all the dedicated workers that made this event possible; so many hours go into getting ready for the celebration. And then the time comes for the party to begin :~) Without YOU attending it though, it could not have been a success. But a success it was! We had over 100 more this year than last and are eagerly anticipating what next year will bring. Our profit from the Celebration was $4160. and we had over $3,000. in memberships for the month of October alone! We are thrilled to say Knoxville Alumni Association has just invested in a $7,000.00 CD to go toward scholarships through Dollars for Scholars to our graduating seniors in May, 2008. By going through Dollars for Scholars, this money will double! Now how exciting is that . . . . we got to have a great party, see people we haven’t seen for years, enjoy a great band AND further some of our fantastic KHS Senior’s education!! WAY TO GO ALUMNI!!

 

Some greeted . . . .

Some just looked good!

Well, here we are at the end of another Newsletter. Time goes so quickly and we have so much to accomplish, but we all love what we are doing! YOU are the reason for our inspiration and YOU keep us going to make our Alumni one of the best in the state!

We love hearing stories of classmates being united again after so many years by a simple e-mail address of a friend they have not seen or talked to in years. Honestly, my job is the best!

Please stay in touch . . . . .

Blessings to all,
Pat Thomas Kading
KHS Class of ’64 :~) and
Knoxville Alumni Association

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