Paola alumni get fired up to see old classmates

Oct 10, 2023

Editor and Publisher

Rod Sipe, a member of the Paola High School Class of 1973, entertains his fellow 50-year reunion classmates by eating fire during the alumni luncheon Saturday, June 3, at PHS. Sipe is a professional magician and fire-eater who has performed at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for the past 44 years.

PAOLA — Members of the 50-year Class of 1973 were the featured guests during the annual Paola High School Alumni Reunion, and they even brought their own live entertainment.

Rod Sipe, a member of the Paola High School Class of 1973, dazzled the crowd by performing magic tricks and eating fire during the alumni luncheon Saturday, June 3, at PHS.

Sipe is a professional magician and fire-eater who has performed at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for the past 44 years.

Janice (Burton) Dial of the Class of 1968 helped members of the 50-year Class of 1973 remember their school days by reading off some highlights from 1973.

The No. 1 song was "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. The No. 1 television show was "All in the Family." Eggs only cost 69 cents a dozen, and stamps were only 8 cents.

It also was the official end of the Vietnam War, and several veterans were asked to stand and be recognized during the event.

Roving reporter Chad Wilson entertained the audience by telling jokes and sharing some fun class pranks and antics.

Wilson said he remembers climbing the water tower by old North School and taking a joy ride in a car before he was old enough to drive.

Wilson said Carl Buchman told him about the time students stacked tires on top of the goalposts at the old Rock Stadium.

Classmates in Wilson's Class of 1971 reportedly hijacked the school's sound system and blared an inappropriate song from Woodstock for everyone to enjoy.

Perhaps the most notorious prank in Paola High School history was the theft of the tom-tom trophy that used to highlight the winner of the Paola vs. Osawatomie football game. Wilson said members of the Class of 1967 stole the tom-tom and then swore themselves to secrecy. It has never reappeared.

Wilson also honored Lillian (Peuser) Tallio, who was the oldest alumni present at the luncheon. Tallio, who is 101 years old, is a member of the Paola High School Class of 1940.

Paola alumni traveled far and wide to attend the luncheon, with visitors coming from as far away as Florida, Wyoming and Idaho.

Former PHS cheerleaders concluded the luncheon and business meeting by leading everyone in the singing of the school fight song.

Some classes held separate reunions throughout the day at homes and places of business, and many gathered in the evening for the third annual Paola Alumni Festival at the Paola Eagles.

Senior Managing Editor Brian McCauley can be reached at (913) 294-2311 or [email protected].

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