Missouri Western State University - Griffon Yearbook (St Joseph, MO)

Page 17 text:

Times have changed since 1885 when Mark Twain gave his greatest novel to America, and so has the river used by Huck and Jim. Although the two travelers mainly used the Mississippi, the 'Big Muddy' was almost a mirror image: big and powerful, full of rafts, canoes and the big 'paddle-wheelers' that were the subject of every boy's dreams. Times change, but dreams remain the same. Life on the Missouri Fliver is a fantasy come true each year at homecoming, and this year was no exception. The Belle of Brownville was filled to near capacity on each of its two evening ex- cursions up the Mighty Mo. Although the converted barge lacks many of the -.Qui . ,-,.-:gn . 'af 'li' - I Lila '- romantic trappings of the steamships that once graced the larger rivers of the United States, Missouri Western students seemed quite satisfied with the available entertainment. Some strolled the upper decks, uneffected by the rather cold breeze that rose quickly off the water, while others enjoyed the less quiet action on the main deck. Disco music, provided by DJ's from Kansas City's Marriot Hotel, kept the blood moving for many, while the wet bar at the rear of the boat kept the blood warm for most. The River has changed, and so have the ships and people that travel upon it, but its mystery and power re- main unchanged. l 3 2 Travelers on the Belle lfar leftl visit with companions while others ponder the mystery and power of the Mighty Mo. Capacity crowds lbelowl await their fantasy excur- sion. KEITH DUPFlEE

Page 16 text:

I'Q Gl'l'l S Remain the .Same it KEITH DUPFIEE

Page 18 text:

XTRHVHGHNZG . l Y BEN WEDDLE KEITH DUPFKEE Lead by an excited majorette, iupper left! one of the many bands in Western's parade marched down Frederick Avenue. American Marketing Associations Covered Wagon Wolkswagen that is li took first place llower left! in the decorated car contest. lnspite of a fire on Thursday before homecoming. the Ag Club float lupper right! placed first among an array of outstanding floats. Horse and rider llower right! stride up Edmond St. after venturing through the downtown. The equestrian entrant was sponsored by the Baptist Stu- dent Union. Not Just Another Homecoming Parade Don't you just love homecoming parade stories in yearbooks? They always tell you who won this and who lost that and that everybody had a really fun time . And the reason that most of the parade stories come out that way is because you can't say very much about a parade that hasn't been said hundreds of times before. But the '77 homecoming parade had a few new things to talk about, and the main one was Bill lVlack. lVlWSC had never really had a marching band of any note lexcuse the puni until Mack arrived and turned everything around. He had practices even before school started, and every afternoon after it did. The first home game showed us just how much we'd been missing. But this is not a marching band article. Back to the parade. Previous homecoming parades had been fine: several floats, a few cars, lVloila units and about 12 marching bands. A fine presentation for a Saturday morning. But Mack sprinkled in enough excitement to turn a fine parade into a monumental extravaganza! What did he sprinkle in? THIBTY-SIX IVIARCHING BANDS!!! And the buildings of downtown St. Joseph, old and new, trem- bled in their foundations. What effect does a collection of 36 marching bands have on a small town's college homecoming parade? Starting time was moved up a half hour, streets were roped off to provide parking for about 70 marching band busses, and the park behind City Hall was filled for the first time in its history. Returning to the traditional yearbook style: the Ag Club won the best float award for a