It was a crisp, late summer day — perfect for a road trip and a college football game.
So off to Patty’s alma mater, the University of Missouri (class of ’78), we went.
It was a full, fun day. We headed east shortly after 8 a.m. and didn’t get back until shortly after 10 p.m.
We parked on the grounds of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, where Patty was a “little sister” during her college years and where hundreds of people tailgate before games and hang out long after the games are over.
You wouldn’t know it from the hustle and bustle on the grounds today, but the fraternity house is vacant these days. The MU chapter lost its recognition as a student organization last year (failed to file routine paperwork with the university), and the fraternity is planning to start afresh with a new group of pledges next year.
No matter from the game-goers perspective, though; it’s party on!
From the fraternity house, it’s a short walk up Providence Road to Memorial Stadium.
The photos will tell you the rest of the story…Oh, and the Tigers beat UConn 9-6 before a crowd of 70,000.
To the stadium we go…
Sign down, lot full…
A lot of cars grow tails on football Saturdays in Columbia…
This young woman’s boots made me wince…
The band looked great, but the “Missouri Waltz” is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard…Now, the Kansas state song, “Home on the Range,” that’s another story.
The Golden Girls…
…and a golden girl.
And then it was over…
On the way back to the Phi Kappa Psi house, several other “house” parties were underway.
Back at the Phi Psi house…That’s Patty in the middle.
Here she is again, with an older guy who was hitting on her…
The post-party clean-up is a big job, and one guy who enthusiastically volunteers for it is Steve O’Rourke, a contemporary of Patty’s and a Phi Psi forever!
As dusk settled in, Jesse Hall was aglow…
As was the Tiger Hotel on Eighth Street…And the day wound down.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Columbia is such a beautiful community. We love to go over there and ride the Katy Trail.
Columbia was usually our breakfast stop on the way to any assorted wine fests in Hermann — also a lovely area. Not quite as healthful as bike riding, unless you count the benefits of red wine!
Great picture of you and Patty, Jim!!
Yikes! And you thought *I* got up early! :-)
Looked like a fun day (BTW, did they win??). Good pics; your daughter’s hair is *beautiful*!
Ignore my question. That’s what I get for not reading first!
Not my daughter, Gayle…Just a young lady sitting close by…Our daughter Brooks has beautiful hair, too, but it’s curly. (Tigers won 9-6.)
Thanks, Laura! It’s a keeper…(so is she).
Tiger Hotel: Scene of our wedding reception, Dec. 27, 1980. M-I-Z…!
First time I’ve ever seen it, Leigh…I’ve never spent much time in Columbia.