ARCADIA, Kan. — 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 2026 banquet was held in Arcadia, Kansas at the Community Center with 59 attending. The membership also includes the Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Class of 1965. The banquet was held in Arcadia on Saturday afternoon, May 23th 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 2025 prepared by Marilyn Flagg, Historian. The change of addresses, phone numbers, etc. was enclosed also prepared by Marilyn. The 2025 Financial Report done by Shirley Landon, Treasurer, and the 2025 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 Tom Watt of Arcadia welcomed the 32 Alumni and 27 guests. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag was led by Gary Skidmore. The invocation was by Merle Engle.

At the opening of the business meeting, President Tom Watt (Class of 1968) introduced alumni officers Interim Vice President, Greg Sisney (1972 Arcadia Grade School Graduate); 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 2025 Minutes or the 2025 Treasurer’s report. They stand approved as presented.

A topic of new business was that Bonnie Hines of Arcadia offered to sell her sound system to the alumni at a very reasonable price. All of the alumni that attended agreed that this sound system was much improved over last year. All in attendance voted to pay Bonnie $500. Many of the alumni who attended gave donations to have it fully paid for.

The nominating committee for election of officers is Chairman, Larry Shead. Assisting Larry is Sharon Barnard Foster, and Mike Sheffield. Merle Engle made a motion to keep the current officers and a second was made by Larry Shead. All in favor voted yes and motion carried. Tom Watt will remain as President; Greg Sisney as Vice President; Virginia Smith as Secretary; Shirley Landon as Treasurer; and Marilyn Flagg as Historian.

Special recognition was given to members of the 60th (1966), 70th (1956), and 80th (1946) this year.

Those attending from the 60th class were Beverly Cockman Terrill and guest Larry Terrill; and Jerry Morris.

Attending from the 70th were Shirley (McKinstry) Landon.

There were none in attendance for the 80th class.

Fred Dixon was recognized for being a teacher in the Arcadia school system. Jan Steele was recognized for being the daughter of Richard (Dick) Steele, long time music teacher in Arcadia.

All 23 guests were asked to stand and be recognized.

Virginia Smith, chairman of the Scholarship Committee, announced the winners of the 2026 A.F. Bowlus/Betty Kirksey Scholarship as Lilyanne Mercier and Trinity Dawn Darling. Lilyanne is the granddaughter of Tom Watt. In Lilyanne’s absence, Tom’s wife, Phyllis Watt, accepted Lilyanne’s award. Trinity is the Great Granddaughter of Richard and Virginia (Morris) Coonrod. Trinity’s great Aunt, Marilyn Flagg, accepted Trinity’s award. Lilyanne and Trinity each received $1,000. Another “AHS” scholarship was awarded to Cruz Ruoff in the amount of $750. Cruz is the grandson of Joyce Gable Niebrugge. Cruz lives back east and was unable to attend. Others on the scholarship committee were Shirley Landon and Greg Sisney.

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: Bonnie Morris Smith; Priscella Krieger Lyons; Jack Hurst; Charlotte Morris Foust; Wynona Blacketer Fiser; Bob Hartzfeld; Herschel Vaughn; Leonard Totman; Barbara Dawson Swearingen; Pat Smith Wright-Morris; Verlee Harris Parrish; Mary Alice Darnaby LeGrande; and Ronnie Smith.

The roll call which consisted of the following and the 1946, 1956, and 1966 classes listed above was done by Tom Watt.

1949 - Jerry Skidmore

1950 - Betty (Clarkson) Skidmore

1951 – Shirley (Bean) Theobald and guests Frances Glenn; Helen

Buchner; and Charles Theobald

1953 - Bobby Charles Harris and guests Bobby Harris, Paul and

Katie Harris

1954 - Esther (Engle) Cousins and guest Janice Crooks

Gary Peterson and guest Patty Peterson and David Lowe

1955 - Mary Lee (Eggen) Payne

1957 - Merle Engle and guests: Ted and Cindy Engle; Jim Engle

and son, Jaden Engle

Francis M. Jones and guest Karen Kay Tripp

Lilly (Turner) Sheffield

Lou Sheets and guest Linda Sue Sheets

1958 - Fred Dixon

Sandra S. Stelle

1959 - Michael Sheffield

Gary Skidmore

1960 - Jerry Coonrod and guest Jan Steele

1962 - Marilyn (Coonrod) Flagg and guest Linda Morris

Joyce (Elliott) Maycumber

Helen (Morris) Nichols

1964 – Donna Daugherty

Ronnie Kellogg and guest Barbara Kellogg

Virginia (Harris) Smith and guests Cortney Hixon and Chris Philips

Steve Morris

Ronnie Portwood and guest Mary Portwood

1965 Terry (Yates) Bright

1968 - Donnie Schaub

Larry Shead

Tom Watt and guest Phyllis Watt

1972 Greg Sisney

Jerry Skidmore (Class of 1949) was given an award for being the “Oldest” alumni. Shirley (Bean) Theobald (Class of 1951) was awarded for traveling the “Most Distance”.

The school song was led by Mary Lee Eggen Payne.

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.