HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High School’s weekend of celebrating the school’s past will also help ensure a bright future for generations of students to come.
The school’s biennial Old Grads Reunion over the weekend provided the Humboldt Education Foundation the opportunity to induct its inaugural class into the newly established Humboldt High School Hall of Fame.
Longtime instructors Don Walburn and Edgar Archer were recognized in a special ceremony Saturday, as was the 1968-69 state champion basketball team.
“This is something we hope will endure for decades to come, honoring the achievements and legacy of the best of Humboldt,” announced Ryan Scarrow, master of ceremonies for Saturday’s induction celebration, hosted by B&W Trailer Hitches.
ARCHER taught band, choir and drama at HHS from 1975 until 1989, although his influence extended well beyond those years.
On top of conducting one of the top marching bands in southeast Kansas, Archer also encouraged students to sign up for other performing arts programs, including the Swinging Singers chorale group.
He officially retired in 1989, although he continued teaching for years afterwards as a substitute instructor.
Accepting the award on Archer’s behalf was wife Alice. (He died in 2023.)
WALBURN’S teaching career spanned 36 years, from 1965 to 2001, including a 25-year stint as head football coach, which saw the Cubs win six district championships and finish twice as regional runners-up.
He coached track and field for 20 years and girls basketball for four years, as well as teaching science and PE classes.
Oh, and he also was headcoach for the boys basketball team for 14 years, including the aforementioned 1969 Class 2A state champion Cubs.
Several members of the squad were on hand for Saturday’s ceremony.
As had become customary for the 25-2 squad — still a state record for wins in a single season — the Cubs were blessed with the talent of front-line performers like Lynn Seyfert, who poured in 35 points in the thrilling championship game, an overtime win over Southwestern Heights.
But the game may have been decided by the defensive prowess of Bob Clements, whose defensive intensity against Southwestern’s Gene McVey frustrated the staor, to the point McVey fouled out in overtime.
The Cubs wound up pulling away in the waning moments of a 58-53 victory.
PROCEEDS from Saturday’s event go to the Humboldt Education Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarship funds for dual-credit students, as well as classroom equipment and technology for Humboldt teachers.
