Perryville Homecoming events planned for Saturday

Perryville High School will celebrate Homecoming this weekend.

Homecoming events include a bonfire rally, which begins about 7 p.m. Friday on campus near the bus parking lot; the Homecoming parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday from Perryville City Park; and the Perryville Pirates vs. Scott City Rams football game, at 1 p.m. Saturday.

1933 grad to be grand marshal of parade

Irma Hoffstetter

Irma Hoffstetter

Irma Hoffstetter will serve as the grand marshal of the 2014 Perryville Homecoming parade.

The procession begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, going through the historic downtown from City Park to the high school campus.

Hoffstetter, who celebrated her 100th birthday in May, is a graduate of the Perryville High School Class of 1933. While a student at Perryville High, the former Irma Lorenz served as class president, yearbook editor, glee club president, "M" Club president, Girls' Service Club president, Home Economic Club president, and played basketball and volleyball. She was a member of the pep squad, the music and news clubs, and the typing team. She was also an honor student.

She is retired from The Republic-Monitor after a 58-year career. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, and still lives at home in Perryville.

Hoffstetter and her late husband, Louis, had one daughter, the late Judy Douglas. She has three grandchildren, Vicki Reeves, Dave and Michael Pingel, and six great-grandchildren.

Hoffstetter is expected to attend the All-Alumni Reception, which starts immediately after the parade, in the Perryville High School library.

Homecoming events also include a bonfire rally, which begins about 7 p.m. Friday on campus near the bus parking lot; the Homecoming parade, which begins at 10 a.m. from Perryville City Park; and the Perryville Pirates vs. Scott City Rams football game, which kicks off at 1 p.m.

3 alumni to be honored during Homecoming

Bill Cairns

Terry Edwards

Steve Leidholdt

The Perryville High School Alumni Association will honor three graduates with the 2014 Distinguished Alumnus Awards during the annual Homecoming celebration Saturday.

This year's recipients are William "Bill" Cairns, class of 1962; Terry Edwards, class of 1972; and Steve Leidholdt, class of 1979.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Perryville High School Library, during the All-Alumni Reception.

William "Bill" Cairns is a 1962 graduate of Perryville High School. He was nominated as a Distinguished Alumnus for his volunteer work with the PHS Booster Club, the predecessor of the Alumni Association.

He served as an officer of the Booster Club for more than 15 years, helping to organize the Homecoming parade, booster dance and arranging transportation to away sporting events.

He retired in 2008 from the Knights of Columbus Bowling Center, where he served 17 years as manager.

Cairns also was a sports writer for 31 years for The Republic-Monitor and a sports announcer for KSGM radio 21 years. He previously owned Perryville Ice Co. and was a leadsman at Gilster Mary-Lee for 18 years.

He and his wife of 51 years, Linda, have five daughters: Rhonda Cairns, Tina Mueller, Cheryl Stueve, Debbie Wehmeyer and Jennifer Hudson. They have nine grandchildren: Gary, Caleb, Cameron, Niklas, Kimberly, Stefani, Ericha, Hope and Alaina, and a great-grandson, Rhys.

Terry Edwards is a 1972 graduate of Perryville High School. He was nominated as a Distinguished Alumnus for his work with music students at Perryville High School and his volunteer work in the community.

Terry retired in May from the Perry County School District where he worked for 31 years as the middle and high school choral director.

Terry previously taught at St. Vincent High School and in the St. Joseph, Missouri, School District.

He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators and Missouri Music Educators Association, and has held various elected positions with Southeast Missouri Music Educators.

He is a past recipient of the KFVS Heartland Teacher of the Year Award, and earned many awards from the faculty and students at Perryville High School.

Terry and his wife of 35 years, Jane, have four children, all of whom are graduates of Perryville High School.

Jacob, a graduate of Greenville College, is a professional musician and lives with his wife, Stephanie, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Steve Leidholdt is a 1979 graduate of Perryville High School.

He is president, CEO and founder of STL Communications, one of the top technology firms in the Midwest. He was nominated for his support of the Perry County School District by providing substantially reduced rates for telephone services, along with free technical support and materials. He also provides support to the association through donations such as this summer's Cardinals ticket raffle.

He founded STL Communications in 1989.

Steve and his wife, Sandy, have been married for nine years. His son, Joshua Leidholdt, is 23.