Past Homecoming queens invited to ride in Oct. 25 PHS Homecoming parade
Perry County School District 32 will celebrate its 70th Annual Homecoming at Perryville High School on Saturday, Oct. 25 with The Return of the Queens.
“To mark this milestone anniversary, the Alumni Association is inviting all past PHS Homecoming Queens to ride in the homecoming parade on Oct. 25,” said Eric Buchheit, president of the association. “All alumni classes are asked to connect with their homecoming queens to plan their attendance. This is a fun way to celebrate our traditions and relive memories as we celebrate our 70th homecoming.”
Each Queen should register for the parade by Sept. 1 by completing the form at https://bit.ly/3EffdKt. Once registered, you will receive periodic updates via email and will receive text message instructions on the day of Homecoming.
Queens are invited to ride in their own vehicles (car, truck, golf cart) in the parade at 10 am Saturday, Oct. 25. Parade line-up starts at 9 am at City Park.
Queens are invited to be recognized during the All-Alumni Social at 11 am Oct. 25 at Perryville High School.
A group photo of the Queens will be taken at 110 am in the PHS Gym.
Dress for the day: You should dress comfortably for the weather. We do encourage green & white for special parade guests. Wear your crown and/or sash - or even your Homecoming dress, if you still have it!
We are also seeking volunteers to provide decorated floats/wagons for the queens. Contact Kate at kmartin@pcsd32.com if you would like to provide a float/wagon and truck/driver.
Ann Kiefner, the first PHS Homecoming queen, is crowned by PHS Booster Club President Tommy Cissell on Nov. 18, 1955. Her attendants included Stella Dietrich (also pictured), Janet Muench, and Georgia Barber. From the 1956 PHS yearbook, The Tuba.
Ann Kiefner was first PHS Homecoming Queen
The first PHS Homecoming was held on Friday, Nov. 18, 1955, and it rained most of the day and evening. The parade began at 6:30 pm at the American Legion and made its way through town to Pirate Stadium. The first Homecoming Court included four senior girls, each chosen by one of the classes. The senior class was represented by Stella Dietrich, the junior class was represented by Janet Muench, the sophomore class was represented by Georgia Barber, and the freshmen chose Ann Kiefner to represent them on the court. Each class built an elaborate float for their candidate. The Perryville Pirates football team hosted the Chester Yellowjackets, losing in a 6-7 nailbiter. At halftime, Ann Kiefner was crowned as the first PHS Homecoming Queen by Tommy Cissell, president of the PHS Booster Club. An alumni dance followed, but there was no dance for students.
Until 1986, one girl from each class was voted onto the homecoming court, and the students voted for one to be queen. Since then, a senior girl has been chosen as queen. Beginning in 1974, it has become tradition to also elect one boy to escort the queen; today, students elect a queen and king.
The following are the PHS Homecoming Queens, and the year they were crowned (not their graduation year).
