Saturday, Oct. 3 was a gloomy fall day made a little more brilliant by the explosive performance of the Mineola Mustangs on the football field and through the streets of Mineola.

All Mustangs shared in the jubilation of the decisive and impressive 46 to 22 victory of the Mineola Mustangs Varsity Football Team over the West Hempstead Rams. (Check for more detailed highlights in next week's Mineola American.)

All Mustangs also shared in the pride pumping performance of the Mineola Mustang Marching Band that led the parade through the streets to the field and performed the works of Frank Sinatra during half time.

The theme of this year's Homecoming Parade was "A Salute to Space Exploration," and all the schools expressed the theme visually with floats and costumes signifying important developments in the history, as well as some musings on the future, of mankind's challenge to explore the final frontier.

The Homecoming Court this year was comprised of Freshman Princess Sonia Dovale, Sophomore Princess Jamie Carter, Junior Princess Lauren Scala, Senior Princess Krissy May and Senior King Beau Bruno. The court, minus Bruno who was preparing for the big game, was once again carried along the parade route atop a float constructed by teachers Paul Sommer and Bob Miller.

Miller tossed out the first football of the game in a ceremony honoring him for his years of dedicated service.

According to Assistant Principal Michael Terc, "Mr. Bob Miller has been a dedicated teacher and friend of countless students of Mineola High School. Through the years, he has distinguished himself by teaching Industrial Arts for over 25 years, and has served the students in many roles including: Class advisor, key club advisor, Portuguese Club advisor, driver education instructor and program coordinator, variety show director and master builder of all our Homecoming floats. He is a very talented man who possesses a genuine love and concern for the students of Mineola High School. His sense of humor and smile are always a welcome sight for sore eyes. In addition to being chosen Teacher of the Year on several occasions, today we honor him by having him throw out the first ball of the game. And so we congratulate Mineola High School's own 'Leader of the Pack,' Mr. Bob Miller."

The Mustangs of Mineola made this year's homecoming a day to remember.