The Salina Journal
Mike Wagner usually wears a plaid shirt, blue jeans and work boots, but this weekend is different.
Accompanying his long black and gray beard trimmed and groomed the diesel mechanic and businessman from Hays has acquired more of an Ivy League wardrobe for the grand opening of St. John’s Military School Historical Museum.
For much of the three days packed with events many of them aiming to raise money for the museum the 1991 SJMS graduate will don suits and neckties to greet his beloved cadet-mates, former faculty and staff, and supporters, when they visit the old campus in north Salina.
Standing in the lobby of Linger Hall, adorned with 131 years of St. John’s Military School memorabilia, Doug Randolph proudly pointed toward a big mural.
“My office was right over there,” said the retired teacher, coach, athletic director and principal at the former private school.
Its proud history is housed in the transformed building, known today at St. John’s Military School Historical Museum, on the west end of the North Salina campus.
“They’ve got it fixed up really nice. It’s just beautiful,” Randolph said during a private tour Friday with the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 809, based in Salina.