Purpose:

According to the bylaws approved at the alumni banquet in May 1962, the Marceline High School Alumni Association’s “objectives and purposes are to: encourage and promote social contact, communication and fellowship among graduates of Marceline High School, to develop among the alumni, students and public a greater interest in education, to sponsor an annual banquet for members of the Association and to work at all times for the betterment and advancement of Marceline High School, its programs and activities.” The alumni association “shall sponsor a Homecoming parade preceding the annual Homecoming football game with the Alumni Officers and Committee taking charge of the half-time ceremony. The annual banquet shall be held each year on Saturday evening immediately preceding Mother’s Day.”

Revision to By-laws during September 2021 banquet -By membership vote, the Alumni Association voted to move the alumni banquet to coincide with the Marceline High School Football Homecoming festivities. The sponsorship of all Homecoming festivities was turned over to Marceline High School effective with Homecoming 2023.

Hosts/Organizers:

The Marceline High School annual banquet is hosted by the twenty-year class officers as appointed by the previous year’s alumni officers and committee members. A membership secretary is elected at large from the membership. Florence Oliver Leach, class of 1939, served in this capacity for many years with Lori Sportsman Cavanah, class of 1977, being appointed upon Florence’s retirement from the position. Cindi Black Rodgers, class of 1991, was appointed upon Lori's retirement from the position in 2022. The Florence Leach Alumni Scholarship was created in 1999 with a deserving recipient chosen each year from the graduating class.

Banquet Description:

Originally, the only class to be recognized as an honor class at the alumni banquet was the twenty-year class but that has been expanded to include the thirty-, forty-, fifty-, sixty-, seventy-, and eighty-year classes. A special time at the annual banquet is the roll call of classes asking class members to stand as their class year is called. The banquet agenda includes an introduction of current alumni officers, incoming alumni officers, each member and guest of honored classes, an introduction of the twenty-year board of education, faculty and honorary guests, a moment of silence for deceased alumni, recognition of all military and veterans, singing of the school song and fight song, a business session led by the alumni secretary, introduction of the football Homecoming Queen and her escort, and the Florence Leach Alumni Scholarship recipient. The twenty-year class hosting the event selects a keynote speaker to address the banquet attendees. The banquet has become a central part of the “Welcome Home” weekend in Marceline.

Please join us as we celebrate Marceline High School’s proud Homecoming tradition and the annual banquet. The banquet is a unique celebration that allows us to reunite, renew friendships, and reminisce memorable times at MHS.

History:

According to the alumni records housed in the Carnegie Library, the earliest date of an alumni banquet was in 1904 and 1906, with the banquet being held at the Hyatt’s Hotel on Kansas Avenue. The Marceline High School Alumni Association as we know it today was started in 1949. A big thank you is given to the class of 1949 for their efforts in organizing the permanent alumni group. The first Marceline High School Alumni Association banquet was held at the Masonic Temple with toastmaster Glen Downing. Charles Rusher offered the welcome and Herb Dieterich served as the speaker.

Membership Dues:

Lifetime membership dues are collected from the MHS Senior Class each year. The current home addresses of the graduating seniors are added to the alumni address database – see change of address directions below.

Donations:

If you would like to make a charitable donation to the Marceline High School Alumni Association as a private donation, a legacy gift, or in memory of a loved one or friend, please be assured the donation will go to the operating cost of the banquet in order to continue this long-standing tradition well into the future, the Florence Leach Alumni Scholarship given each spring to a graduating senior, or to a specific purpose related to the alumni association as you wish. In order to use the donation as a tax deduction, please make your check payable to the Marceline R-V Education Foundation and mail to Kim Dorrell’s attention at Preferred Bank, P.O. Box 68, Marceline, MO 64658, noting the donation is to the alumni association. If you prefer your donation go toward a specific purpose and/or would like a receipt for your donation, please indicate at the time of the donation. Thank you for considering a charitable donation to the Marceline High School Alumni Association via the Education Foundation.

Alumni Contact Information or to Report a Change of Address and/or an Alumni Death:

An alumni address database is maintained for use in mailing of invitations. If you have a change of address or notification of a death of alumni member and wish to have records updated, please submit it directly to the Marceline Alumni Association:

Mail to:
MHS Alumni Association
P.O. Box 241
Marceline, MO 64658

Or email to: marcelinealumniassociation@marcelineschools.org

When submitting an address change, please include your name, maiden name if applicable, new address, and graduating year.

Distribution of Banquet Information:

Starting in 2021, the Marceline Alumni Association will be making a change in the way we distribute the banquet invitation and information to some alumni members. We are NOT completely going paperless as alumni graduating prior to 1980 will continue to receive banquet information via US Mail. For all classes beginning with 1980 through current year, members will need to obtain the banquet information from one of the following sources: the Marceline Alumni Association Facebook page or the Marceline R-V Schools’ website (www.marcelineschools.org) under the alumni section. We will post the info by March 1 each year, allowing plenty of time to purchase tickets. We will also publicize via local radio and newspaper.

Additional Information:

You may find more information under the Marceline Alumni Association Facebook page or the Marceline R-V Schools’ website (www.marcelineschools.org) under the alumni section.