Paola High School Alumni
Paola, Kansas (KS)
Recent Members
| Corliss Corliss Seymour | 1976 |
| Keith Cree | 1949 |
| Melody Medlin | 1984 |
| Michael J | 1994 |
| Phillip Phillip Chrismon | 1972 |
| Stephen Poe | 1963 |
| Thomas G Scherman Thomas G Scherman | 1976 |
| Timothy Razo Razo | 2002 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Paola High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Panthers lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Charles York
Class of 1985
Navy, 20+ Years
Served honorably and proud as a US Navy Senior Chief (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare) Master-at-Arms (Law Enforcement). Retired and now residing in Arizona.
Class of 1985
Navy, 20+ Years
Served honorably and proud as a US Navy Senior Chief (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare) Master-at-Arms (Law Enforcement). Retired and now residing in Arizona.
Chris Burnett
Class of 1974
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a professional musician with US Army Bands Career Program. His honorable services resulted in the receipt of numerous award decorations, for both musical and military excellence, and include: the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two individual awards of the Army Meritorious Service Medal, and many others. Notable highlights of his military music career include: a Staff and Faculty assignment at the Armed Forces School of Music; Leading Chief Petty Officer of the NATO Band at Naples, Italy where he served as NATO Ceremonial Band Conductor, Jazz Ensemble Director, and featured soloist during performance tours which also included several television broadcasts; being featured at the age of 23 years old, as jazz alto saxophone soloist with the Hof Symphony Orchestra (Germany) during two recorded Hauptkoncert (Main Concert) performances of the Rolf Liebermann 12-tone serial work, Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra (comp. 1954); along with jazz performances with his quartet outside of the military jobs.
Class of 1974
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a professional musician with US Army Bands Career Program. His honorable services resulted in the receipt of numerous award decorations, for both musical and military excellence, and include: the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two individual awards of the Army Meritorious Service Medal, and many others. Notable highlights of his military music career include: a Staff and Faculty assignment at the Armed Forces School of Music; Leading Chief Petty Officer of the NATO Band at Naples, Italy where he served as NATO Ceremonial Band Conductor, Jazz Ensemble Director, and featured soloist during performance tours which also included several television broadcasts; being featured at the age of 23 years old, as jazz alto saxophone soloist with the Hof Symphony Orchestra (Germany) during two recorded Hauptkoncert (Main Concert) performances of the Rolf Liebermann 12-tone serial work, Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra (comp. 1954); along with jazz performances with his quartet outside of the military jobs.
John R. Dowty
Class of 1987
Army, 10 Years
10 years of service. Enlisted in Dec 1987 as a 13B, field artillery. Served in Ft. Benning, GA., Camp Page, Korea, Ft. Polk, LA., in the first 4 years. While in Korea I had a chance to fly in a UH-60 Blackhawk and loved it, so while in Ft. Polk I reinlisted to 67T, utility helicoper repair, Blackhawk mechanic...then the next 6 years I spent in Illeshiem, Germany, Ft. Carson, CO., Sololia, Kuwait. Don't regret any of the time spent in the military...some days I do miss flying....
Class of 1987
Army, 10 Years
10 years of service. Enlisted in Dec 1987 as a 13B, field artillery. Served in Ft. Benning, GA., Camp Page, Korea, Ft. Polk, LA., in the first 4 years. While in Korea I had a chance to fly in a UH-60 Blackhawk and loved it, so while in Ft. Polk I reinlisted to 67T, utility helicoper repair, Blackhawk mechanic...then the next 6 years I spent in Illeshiem, Germany, Ft. Carson, CO., Sololia, Kuwait. Don't regret any of the time spent in the military...some days I do miss flying....
Lori Brown
Class of 1995
Army, 11 Years
Joined the US Army in1997 as a Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. Has been stationed in Alaska, Korea, Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas. Spent time in Louisianna and California for field training exercises. Is currently deployed to Iraq for the second time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Class of 1995
Army, 11 Years
Joined the US Army in1997 as a Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. Has been stationed in Alaska, Korea, Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas. Spent time in Louisianna and California for field training exercises. Is currently deployed to Iraq for the second time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
ROBERT P KURTH
Class of 1960
Navy, 22 Years
Entered Navy at Emporia State in January 19, 1964. Attended OCS summers of 1964 and 1965. Graduated from ESU January, 1966. Entered active duty April 1, 1966, aboard USS Randolph (CVS-15). Made first deployment to Northern Europe in 1966, second to Mediterranean in 1967, Transferred to USS Wilhoite (DER-397) in Vietnam in late 1967. Decommissioned ship on return to States in 1968 and was transferred to Navy Postgraduate School for two years for a Master of Science in Meteorology. From there it was back to the East coast to Destroyer School in Newport, RI. On graduation from there it was back to sea aboard the USS Richard E Kraus (DD-849) and after 30 days on board it was back to Vietnam for another visit. When we returned from 'Nam, after a short period, it was deployment to the Mediterranean. From there I was transferred to CINCLANTFLT in Norfolk, VA. I was then not selected for LCDR and left active duty in 1974 and returned to Missouri, my adopted home. I felt I could not give up the time spent without some reward and joined the Navy Reserve forces in Kansas City and finally, retired from the Navy on June 30, 1986.
Class of 1960
Navy, 22 Years
Entered Navy at Emporia State in January 19, 1964. Attended OCS summers of 1964 and 1965. Graduated from ESU January, 1966. Entered active duty April 1, 1966, aboard USS Randolph (CVS-15). Made first deployment to Northern Europe in 1966, second to Mediterranean in 1967, Transferred to USS Wilhoite (DER-397) in Vietnam in late 1967. Decommissioned ship on return to States in 1968 and was transferred to Navy Postgraduate School for two years for a Master of Science in Meteorology. From there it was back to the East coast to Destroyer School in Newport, RI. On graduation from there it was back to sea aboard the USS Richard E Kraus (DD-849) and after 30 days on board it was back to Vietnam for another visit. When we returned from 'Nam, after a short period, it was deployment to the Mediterranean. From there I was transferred to CINCLANTFLT in Norfolk, VA. I was then not selected for LCDR and left active duty in 1974 and returned to Missouri, my adopted home. I felt I could not give up the time spent without some reward and joined the Navy Reserve forces in Kansas City and finally, retired from the Navy on June 30, 1986.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Paola High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Panthers.
School News
Interested in sharing your "cruising" memories?
Hi all!
I am a journalist for KCUR 89.3 FM, Kansas City public radio and NPR member station. I'm putting ...
Read More »
Our Paola High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Paola High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Paola are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!