Parkersburg High School - Parhischan Yearbook (Parkersburg, WV)

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. V.,- President Reagan is surrounded by Secret Ser- vice agents and other Republican candidates as he makes his speech. Reagan fans, including some ticket holders who could not get into the Field House, listen attentively to the President's speech broadcast over a P.A. system. Secret Service agents escort President Rea- gan's motorcade down Dudley Avenue. 14 Presidential Visit lllll I. lil 'UW U .1 -f '.....-- : : ' 2 3 , K .1 iff, .t ij - OS 5.1: f, k F... fb .4 . A - ff '. A I if x if 'lf' ,. 1!T':i.,. if'.,5' ,Y -, i.,':.,,..'ag 4 4' ,, 'fi 1 5' , 1 wc., a i g ' 5 :V ,I :.. 1555 HU lt, , in 224- -,Q -,

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Hail to the Chief He was coming. At first it was just a rumor. But by Wednesday, the visit was confirmed. President Ronald Reagan would be making a campaign stop at the PHS Field House, Monday Oct. 29, just one week before what would become his landslide victory over Democrat Walter Mondale. At first it was thought to be a joke. Assistant Principal Mike Hayden said his phone rang at 8:30 Tuesday morn- ing. Mrs. Santee said, 'There's some practical joker on the phone who says he's from the White House,' and I said, 'Doesn't that take the cake! Mr. Hayden took the call, agreeing to meet with White House officials the next day, although still believing it was a prank. But later when a group of men with White House credentials appeared at his office, Mr. Hayden realized the call had been for real. From then, lt was like no other week l've ever experienced, Mrs. Santee said. Advance men began in- specting the school facilities and de- termined because ofthe uncertainty of the weather that the Field House would be the location of the Presi- dent's appearance. Security became the prime factor. How to get the President from Wood County Airport to the Field House and back to the Airport. While state and city police officials worked with the Secret Service on those details, other plans were being formulated for the first visit by a U.S. President fcontinuedj x F A .: .5 7 Q 3 12 .5 t 25 Que I. ya Most of the crowd has been waiting for two hours or more to get inside the Field House ........ Republican candidates and officials applaud the President. Presidential Visit 13

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I 4-v Mondalefferraro supporters march down Dudley Avenue awaiting the President. Before boarding Air Force One, President Reagan waves farewell to Parkersburg. After hearing the Field House is full, some 2,000 ticket holders rush to listen to the President's . speech outside. ' X X t A x Xt lx Republican supporters prepare balloons for the President's arrival. Before his departure, President Reagan greets Williamstown Cub Scouts at the airport. ai ll Hail to the Chief to PHS and the first to Parkersburg since Harry Truman made a whistle County's three public high schools received tickets to the speech as did stop in the 1950's. Led by Mrs. Pricilla Hayden, the state Republican chair- personand a teacher at jackson ju- nior High School, the plans for a Wild Wonderful West Virginia welcome began. Secret Service men and advance media people became distinctively recognizable by their suits and ear hearing devices. The school resem- bled a fortress because of the high security. Even the thuse saw the pres- ence of Secret Service agents. Ticket distribution was a high pri- ority. Some 800 people stood in line at the Field House on Saturday morn- ing, many of whom had camped in lawn chairs all night, hoping to get one of the 1,000 tickets that were to be distributed. Seniors in Wood all faculty members at the three schools. All weekend Republican commit- tees worked, decorating the Field House with banners and preparing posters while hoping the rain would cease before the President's sched- uled afternoon appearance. Monday morning students were greeted to a flag decked Dudley Ave- nue and a spotless street. Parking in the horseshoe was restricted. Classes were dismissed at 11:10, and students and teachers joined the line which had already begun to form outside the Field House. By 2 p.m., the time when the Field House doors were to open, the line stretched fcontinued on page 2455 Presidential Visit 15