Melcher honored as pride of the purple
Since 1969 Marion resident Dorothy Melcher has missed just five Kansas State University home football games.
In other words, she's just a little bit of a K-State fan.
OK, make that a huge fan.
KSU recognized her dedication to the Wildcats by honoring the 93-year-old Saturday as K-State Fan of the Game.
Melcher was nominated by Marion resident Jeannie Wildin.
She was presented with the award after the first quarter of the game against Colorado. She went down on the field and her picture was on the Jumbotron.
"It was quite an experience," Melcher said. "I never thought that I would get this kind of honor."
She began attending games when her son, Marion High School graduate Gary Melcher, was part of the freshman Wildcat team.
During Gary's four-year career at K-State, Dorothy and her late husband Wilbur missed just one game, at Tempe, Ariz., and Dorothy has held the same season-ticket seat since 1969 - in section six, right at the 45-yard line.
Dorothy Melcher wasn't always a fan of the purple and gray, but when her son joined the team, that was enough for her.
Of all the games she had seen, this was one of the latest.
A 6:15 p.m. start, coupled with longer time-outs because it was on television, made it nearly 2 a.m. Sunday morning before Dorothy arrived home.
"It was worth every minute of it," she said.
Wildin and her husband, Brad were on the field with Dorothy as she was recognized for the award.
