TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Richey Elementary throws 30th anniversary party

ADVERTISEMENT

By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: May 2, 2009

As birthdays go turning 50 is one of the biggies. So when administrators at Richey Elementary School realized their school's golden anniversary was upon them, they decided to mark the occasion with a party for the ages - all ages.

On April 24 former students, some who attended Richey Elementary during the Eisenhower administration, returned to the school's Madison Street campus to celebrate alongside the current batch of young scholars during the 50th birthday party.

"Believe it or not, I felt a little nervous this morning," Principal Ken Miesner admitted to the alumni. "You had such a good time here, that's why you came, and I was really hoping this day came out the way we planned it."

Miesner had no cause for concern. Richey's staff put together a celebration that was nostalgic for the old-timers, educational for the youngsters and fun for everyone.

The festivities opened with the school's Tiger Pride Chorus performing a school graduation song written back in the 1960s by alumnus Terry Spencer, who was there to hear her tune once again echo off the school's walls.

Several months of preparation went into the celebration, and it led to the rediscovery of other bits of Richey Elementary history. One that particularly intrigued Miesner and drew chuckles of recognition from the guests was the revelation that mulberry trees had grown on the school's grounds during its few years in existence. And, as the story goes, students in those days really enjoyed those mulberries.

"Apparently, they were very good for eating, and very good for throwing at people and staining their clothes," Miesner said, which is probably why the trees aren't there anymore.

While the mulberries were relegated to memory, research did uncover another tasty treat that could be brought back. Back in the 1960s, the school cafeteria offered distinctive butterscotch brownies with Kix cereal inside. Miesner had the cafeteria staff create a batch for the occasion.

In the lead-up to the anniversary, today's students had divided the lifespan of their school and researched it by decade and by various cultural aspects. Their cumulative work was on display in the school media center. Collectively, the display provided an illustration of how much things have changed in 50 years, from the price of butter and houses, to the TV shows and hairstyles that have come and gone to the way we listen to music - from records, to eight-tracks, to cassettes, to CDs to iPods.

In promoting the anniversary party, organizers had used a class photo found from Richey Elementary's first year. While all the other kids in the photo are in regular school clothes, one little girl in the front row is inexplicably dressed up in a Native American costume. Alumnus Susan Eckstein-Mallett provided one of the most sentimental moments of the celebration when she stood and announced she was that girl. After a smattering of delighted gasps and a round of applause, Eckstein-Mallet cleared up the mystery.

"It was during Chasco Fiesta," she said, "so I have an excuse."

Another alumnus, Douglas Manuel, gave current Richey students a thought to grow on. The display in the school's media center included several of his personal mementos, including a "diploma" from his first day of school.

Since then, Manuel has earned a master's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and became a Lockheed Martin launch operations manager, launching satellites and the Space Shuttle.

"Right now I am the senior systems engineer on the Hubble Space Telescope," he added.

Everything he's learned and done in life, Manuel told the students, was built on what he learned at Richey.

"I'm a geezer, and I can still name my teachers almost 50 years later, and you will, too, because you'll be grateful to them," he said.

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT