SIKESTON - When the alumni of The Stars and Stripes meet this year in Sikeston, they will be joined by one of their most famous members: Andy Rooney of "Sixty Minutes."
"He started early in World War II with them," said Jim Mayo, president of The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library Association. "The paper started (for World War II) in April 1942 and he started shortly thereafter."
The alumni meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13-16 at the Best Western in Sikeston.
"They have one yearly - they've been doing it for roughly 20 years," Mayo said. "This one is very special because they're wanting to see their museum. Many of them have donated artifacts and memorabilia to the museum."
Included among the memorabilia at the museum are pieces of Rooney's work. "We have his articles from World War II and pictures," Mayo said. "He went out on those heavy bombers several times. I know he rode on the B-17s, I'm not sure about the B-24s. He did some great stories on the early bombings."
Mayo said he won't be surprised if over 100 alumni attend this year's meeting.
"They're the people who have worked for The Stars and Stripes over the years from World War II to the present. A lot of those people are enlisted men from the military during World War II, Korea and Vietnam," Mayo said. "Gen. John J. Pershing made the comment, 'By the soldier and for the soldier.' Very few officers have worked for The Stars and Stripes - it's mostly been enlisted men."
During the weekend event, Rooney plans to visit The Stars and Stripe Museum/Library in Bloomfield on Oct. 15. "That's the main reason he's coming, in fact," Mayo said. "He's wanting to come to the museum and see it, and he's never been to an alumni meeting. Hopefully he'll be meeting a lot of his colleagues from over the years."
Other Stars and Stripes alumni from 60 Minutes invited to attend include Steve Kroft, who wrote for the paper while serving in the Vietnam War, and Don Hewitt who wrote for Stars and Stripes during World War II. "All these guys got their start with Stars and Stripes," Mayo said.
The museum will be closed to the public during Rooney's visit due to traffic flow problems that would be sure to develop in the limited space.
"You can imagine trying to take him through the museum with a bunch of people in here," Mayo said. "We are still working out details."
The Stars and Stripes alumni, however, will get to rub elbows with Rooney.
"He will be the speaker on Saturday evening at the alumni banquet," Mayo said. "It will be for the alumni and the staff and volunteers of the museum."
Organizers are not sure if a public appearance will be scheduled or not, however.
"He still has a lot of fans," Mayo said. "He's really a nice gentleman."