Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

Page 27 text:

Steven Hauler Floats Tradition

Page 26 text:

David Barron THE STARS, MOON and earth visited Pittsburg during the Homecoming parade. Alpha Gamma Delta was behind these celestial objects. David Barton TEARING HOPEFULLY INTO a new season was the Corillas. They were preparing to challenge the Missouri Western Griffons in the Homecoming game. Floats Tradition Spectators enjoy eventful parade floats and decorated cars were the first to arrive, gathering at the corner of Tenth and Broadway early Saturday morning. They were driven, pushed and pulled by tired, dedicated students who had worked for weeks to have the best, most original entry. Members of novelty groups were also there, dressed in outer-space costumes and shivering in the cold air of the windy November morning. The yellow school buses began rolling up next, unloading 1,400 band members from 19 Kansas and Missouri high schools and junior high schools. Shortly thereafter, spectators started to arrive. Some huddled inside warm buildings, but still more braved the cold wind and cloudy sky, lining up both sides of Broadway. All were waiting anxiously for the beginning of the biggest Homecoming parade Pittsburg State University had ever hosted. PSU students and alumni were joined by adults from Pittsburg and the surrounding communities, as well as crowds of children, in enjoying the spectacle of 100 parade entries, in- cluding floats, decorated cars, novelty groups and marching bands. Clowns shook the hands of small children, and Cus and Gussie Gorilla roared up and down Broadway on mopeds. Jack Overman, former director of the PSU Student Union, was the honorary grand marshal. In the float competition, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Gamma received first place. Their float por- trayed Gus piloting a space shuttle, under which the feet and tail of a Griffon could be seen. Second place was awarded to Alpha Gamma Delta and Lambda Chi with their Zap the Griffons float. It showed a star fighter, piloted by Gus. The smoke coming out of the tailpipe of the star fighter helped make this float a success. Sigma Sigma Sigma and Sigma Chi placed third, with their Space, the Final Frontier theme, and the Technology Clubs' portrayal of a lunar landing module atop a Griffon snared fourth place. In the decorated car competition, Newman Club received first place; Trout Hall, second; Tau Kappa Epsilon, third; and the Social Work Club, fourth. Sigma Chi won first place in the novelty competition. Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Tau Gamma received second, and Sigma Sigma Sigma third. The novelty groups in the parade included portrayals of the Star Wars Cantina Band, War of the Worlds, and Fat Albert and the Brown Hornet; A novelty group is a group who choose a theme and then act it out. Any club may form a novelty group and march in the parade. For the second year, prizes were also awarded to community businesses and organizations participating in the parade. The Pittsburg area Chamber of Commerce received first place in this competition, and Lowe's Skateway, second. Jody Richards, Uniontown fresh- man, said, I've been coming to this parade for years, since I was a little girl. But this was the best parade I've ever seen Pittsburg put on. —by Stacey Sanderlin David Barton

Page 28 text:

David Bart or EVEN WITH EFFORTS from team members such as Willie Brown, Biggs, Okla., senior, who rushed 918 yards, Pitt State still fell 42-36 to Missouri Western in the 1984 Homecoming game. PITT STATE GORILLAS face off against the Griffons of Missouri Western, Steve David, Houston junior, nose tackle, prepares to fight his way to the Griffon quarterback. David Barron Homecoming Game Tradition