Homecoming Memories
Yes, I am still on my trip down Memory Lane and thought I would reminisce about my Homecomings while I was in high school.
We were state champs my freshman year with the Tigers winning the MCL Championship, the Regional District Class 2A Playoff in Stockton, and then beating Baldwin 26 to14 to claim the State title. So you know Homecoming was great! The parade floats were on point with the Seniors placing first with their Kentucky Fried Cardinals. The sophomores’ float, which I personally thought should have won, was a car completely covered in black tissue flowers made to look like a skunk with the words “Skunk ‘em” on the sides. Our freshman float took third with “Put a Tiger in Your Tank,” and the juniors placed fourth with Joe Cool (Snoopy). That year Becky Waller and Bob Saunders were crowned Homecoming Queen and King. We also beat Plainville 26-0.
My sophomore year I can’t remember what our floats were, but I do remember Shannon Krysl and Steve Rock were our Queen and King. Also, Mom had sewn my sister, Cindy, her Homecoming dress made out of crushed blue velvet and I so wanted it to be mine!
As for my junior year, what would Homecoming be without a burning SHS? The Queen and King were Jolene Desbien and Steve Yoxall. This was also the year of the hats, so all three queen candidates wore wide-brimmed straw hats. Gotta love the fashion of the time!
(Since I am fuzzy on the float themes during these two years, I can say I think one of those years my class did win the float competition with “Pickle the Panthers.”) For my senior year, our Homecoming Queen and King were Carol Denio and Ron Riedel. And I hate to say it, but the hats were still in style! As for the floats, we seniors were over it and we placed fourth. We threw a bunch of junk on a trailer with the sign, “Trash ‘em.” The sophomores took first with “Cardinals are Dead in Our Tracks.” The freshmen were second with a “Tiggerrrific float, and the juniors tag line was “Chew ‘em up!”
And it wouldn’t be a football game at Tiger Stadium without the band marching onto the field lead by the drum majorette to form the letters SHS. (Thanks Mr. Nicholas!)
I know I am fuzzy on some details, but the feeling of those special times are still as clear as ever. So enjoy your Homecoming, from decorating the float to participating in all the class games and dressing up every day! And I promise you this: you may not remember the score of the football game, but what you will remember the feeling, and that is priceless!
