Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Some of us were born there. Some of us grew up there. Some of us still live there. But we all graduated from there 50...er...51 years ago. And now, we are about to attempt to bring it all back home. On the weekend of September 9 and 10, 2022, we will host our 50th reunion in conjunction with the school's 100th celebration.

The details of the school's celebration can be found here.

For those who have not had the chance to see how the school has changed, this is the perfect opportunity to check it out. They are even making way for all graduating classes to have an old farts homecoming dance.

Our class of '71 state champion football team will be honored at the homecoming game on Friday night, September 9, 2022. The class of '71 will plan on tailgating before the game. You can then attend the game or migrate to the American Legion to relax with some of our classmates. Yes, even you who attend the game can join us later at the AL. On Saturday, take advantage of the opportunity to tour the school. I want to see what they did with all the Indian stuff. Our informal, come as you are reunion will be held Saturday night at the Milburn Country Club. We will be offering appetizers at the club. This is not a meal. Want a meal? Gather with your friends and have a bite before you come. FYI, Don Chilito's is gone. We have the club until 1130p. More details to come. This information will also be posted at our facebook page.

We have email addresses for about half the class. You will soon receive a link by email taking you to your page on the class website. Please take the time to review your contact information and update if necessary. This would also be a good time to check out our missing classmates for whom we have no contact information. If you know where we can reach any of these fellow indians, please send us some smoke signals. Thanks.

Greg Clevenger

As the Shawnee Mission North class of 2022 prepares to graduate, let the class of 1971 prepare to party. If you haven't already, save the homecoming weekend of Sept. 9 & 10 to gather with your fellow classmates for our 50th...umm...51st class reunion. The 1 year delay worked well for us as we can now share in the school's 100th celebration as part of our reunion. The classes of '70 and '72 will also be having their 50th reunions that weekend as well. I tried to organize a combined event but they had no interest so as I learn information, I will let you know where they will be so we can crash their parties as well. Here are the details for our weekend as best as my aging memory allows.

Friday, September 9:
---Homecoming parade down Johnson Dr from 1:00 to 2:30pm. Alumni can enter floats and participate in the parade. If there is enough interest, let me know and I can get our class registered for the parade.
---Homecoming pre-game tailgate from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The school will be hosting the event with food (I'm sure for a price) near the gate. We will gather as a class in or near there. Remember, no alcohol on school property. (yeah, right)
---Homecoming game at 7:00pm against...does it really matter. At half time, our 1971 state champ football team will be honored.
---Not interested in football or looking for something to do after the game? Join us at the American Legion, no charge (except for your drinks), for the rest of the evening. Don't know which AL yet.

Saturday, September 10:
---SMN Open house for alumni: 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Specific classrooms will be available for alumni groups to congregate during the open house. Again, let me know if there is interest so we can reserve a room. Does anyone have any particular memories of any particular classroom? I would love to hear the stories. Maybe, we can grab that room for our class. This will also give you the opportunity to see how the school has changed. It has changed a lot. We had the opportunity to tour it as part of our 41st reunion. I want to see what they will do to all the indian stuff.
---The alumni homecoming dance will take place in the Fieldhouse from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The dance will feature music from multiple decades. They will kick us out at 7:30pm because A. we're old and B. because were old and the school wants to have their own homecoming dance with music we wouldn't like anyway. I never attended a high school dance but will likely stick my head in the door on my way to the Milburn Country Club for our own gathering.
---Shawnee Mission North High School Class Of 1971 50th Reunion will be held at Milburn Country Club from 7:00 until 11:30pm. This event is as formal as you want “come as you are” to be. I already heard someone is coming from work in their scrubs. If it's warm, I'll be in shorts and t-shirt. Please eat before you come. We will be providing appetizers. The appitezers are for everyone. It's not a meal. Want a meal? Gather with your friends and have a bite before you come. FYI, Don Chilito's is gone. Cash bar. Sorry. I couldn't make a drink deal this time. We will NOT have a band and only limited activities to interupt our talking. (See, I listen.) Each student attending will receive a thumb drive with a digital copy of the yearbook and whatever else I can cram onto there.

There is a 150 person capacity in our room. It will be very strict. We will have to cut off registration when we hit our limit. I have already heard from people anxious to attend their first reunion. The fee will be $50 per person.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION can be found here/.

The details for the school's celebration can be found at https://smnorth.smsd.org/100-year-anniversary Dig deep to find all the details. I will summarize here. It is very possible that there could be more changes before it happens. You will be updated if there is anything important.

SEPTEMBER 9
Like a parade? The homecoming parade will be Friday afternoon from 1-230p. It is not going down Johnson Drive as usual. Because of road construction, the best places to see it will be from Metcalf Lane west to Robinson on 61st St., along Robinson north to Johnson Drive and along Johnson Drive east back to Shawnee Mission North. It's a shorty but I know the students will appreciate it since they will be getting out of class.

Tailgating will run 5-7p before the kickoff of the homecoming game. While the info says location TBD, the word I got was they will likely be using the small area they created to the west of the main gate by the pool for the tailgate. No cooking or alcohol is allowed. They will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, sodas... for the event. If you've ever eaten their stadium food, you may want to eat first, bring your own, or wait until you get to the American Legion and have a real burger.

If you stay for the homecoming game at 7p, (it's free admission after half time) the school is honoring our class of 71 state champion football team and the class(es) behind us. Most likely it will be either before the game or during a quarter end.

Or after 7p you can migrate to the American Legion at 7500 W 75th St. in Overland Park. Dick Harper has volunteered to be our host for this event. There is no admission charge and it is a cash bar. It's a free event so show up. No band, no karaoke, just fun.

SEPTEMBER 10
Shawnee Mission North Open House from 9a-1p. This is a free event. You can wander at leisure or take one of the guided tours starting every half hour from 930a to 12p. We have reserved classroom 113 for the class of 71. We will convene in room 113 around 11a. That way, we can meet up before we leave for lunch. You are on your own for lunch since Don Chilito's is gone. I want to see what they did with all the indian stuff.

Dust off the dancing shoes. The alumni homecoming dance will take place in the Fieldhouse from 6-730p. Another free event. They want to make sure us old farts are gone before the students take over at 8p. It's not like they wouldn't be able to catch us if we stayed. Maybe they were afraid we'd miss our bed times.

At 7p, we begin our own “come as you are” class of 71 reunion at the Milburn Country Club at 7501 W 69th St., Overland Park. We have the Milburn Room to ourselves until 1130p. This is the only event of the weekend that there is a charge for. The charge for this event is $50 and can be paid in advance by credit card through the class site at SMN71.com , check or cashier's check by mail (details at SMN71.com), or cash at the door. I know I threatened a $10 increase but didn't follow through so your advantage. Even walk-ins will be $50. The math is easier. There will be appetizers and a cash bar. I said appetizers not a meal. Eat before you come so there are munchies for everyone.

That's a good solid weekend with plenty of free stuff for everyone to enjoy. Want some more? Remember where you were on Saturday night because the class of 72 is in the Milburn Room Sunday for their reunion. Crash time. I don't think you will be able to hide overnight.