Stories from Saturday, November 5, 2016

Actress Karole Graham, who co-starred in the 1969 Gordon Parks-directed film "The Learning Tree," shared some of her memories of working with the late Fort Scott native Friday at Fort Scott Community College. Graham, who played the part of Big Mabel in "The Learning Tree," was interviewed by filmmaker and professor Kevin Wilmott, this year's recipient of the Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award during a segment titled "Interviewing Gordon" inside the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the FSCC campus.. ...

The late Gordon Parks was an inspiration to filmmaker and educator Kevin Wilmott, this year's recipient of the Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award. Wilmott, a filmmaker and professor of film at the University of Kansas, was honored with the award Friday night at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center. The event was part of the 2016 Gordon Parks Celebration...

Norma Lorene Seidler (Richardson), born May 2, 1932, died at the age of 84 on Oct. 12, 2016, after a second battle with cancer. She passed peacefully at the home of her daughter, Maria Seidler, in Richmond, Va. Norma's early life was spent in Fort Scott, Kan., where she graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1950. ...

Patricia B. Cook, resident of Redfield, Kan., died Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan. She was born on March 30, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Fred and Julia Brennan Wunderly. She graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1964. ...

John Malcolm Biles, age 62, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Lawrence, Kan., passed away Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence. He was born Jan. 18, 1954, in Fort Scott, the son of Lloyd Martin Biles, Jr. ...

There will be a Winter Sports Parents meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Fort Scott High School. At least one parent of high-school athletes in girls' basketball, boys' basketball and wrestling are strongly encouraged to attend. The first games of the season for both basketball teams will be Thursday, Dec. 1 on the first day of the Willard (Mo.) Classic...

INDEPENDENCE -- Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team concluded regular-season play here Tuesday night with a sweep of Independence in Jayhawk Conference-Division II play, 27-17, 25-22, 25-17. Brette Moore led the Greyhounds (6-3 division, 26-10 overall) with 13 kills. Mickey Trimble handed out 29 assists. Katie Gorman came up with 10 digs. Bri Bogan had 6 blocks...

Fort Scott High School head cross-country coach Tracey Bogina was named Southeast Kansas League Coach of the Year for her work with both the boys' and girls' teams this season. This year's Tiger teams swept the league titles at the SEK championship meet in Chanute on Oct. 13. It was the second consecutive title for the girls' team. Devin Brooks won the individual boys' championship for the second consecutive year and was named as Fort Scott's finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award...

Four of Brown's former wrestlers now in charge of area programs

Fort Scott Community College's men won their season-opening game for the first time since the 2008-09 season Wednesday night when the Greyhounds defeated the Southwestern College junior varsity, 78-44. It was the first time Fort Scott opened the season with a home game since an overtime loss to Redlands to begin the 2010-11 season and the first win in a season opener since beating the MidAmerica Nazarene JV at Arnold Arena on Nov. 3, 2008...

Fort Scott Community College's women gave new head coach Jeff Tadtman a win in his first game in charge, a 64-39 win over the University of St. Mary's junior varsity at Arnold Arena Wednesday night. The Greyhounds struggled a bit to get going, leading just 17-12 at the end of the first quarter. But they opened the second by scoring the first 9 points while the defense forced the Spires to miss their first 10 field-goal attempts...

Virgil Richard Crays, age 79, resident of Uniontown, Kan., died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, at his home. He was born on Jan. 21, 1937, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Virgil Claire Crays and Helen Louise Elbrader Crays. Richard married Corrine Louise Williams on May 5, 1958 in Fort Scott. He was employed as a carpenter and work on his own farm. He loved to hunt big game and fish especially for trout in Colorado. Richard and Corrine lived for many years in Colorado as well as Kansas...

Margaret Louise Cox, age 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, at the Fort Scott Medicalodge. She was born Dec. 17, 1926, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Emory Theodore Phillips and Grace Belle Proctor Phillips. Margaret graduated from the Nevada High School with the Class of 1945. ...