By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
As variety shows go, the one for retiring nine-year Justus Gage Principal Bob Franz Tuesday afternoon prided itself on unusual gestures of affection, as well as countless outright professions of love.
Who could resist the teachers and staff in their "Bob's Beauties" T-shirts packing pom poms for a cheerleading routine to the Beach Boys' "Be True to Your School?"
Not their students, cracking up at Robin Ennesser dodging Nancy Northrop's exuberant high kicks.
Not to be outdone, Lynn Konopinski's third grade class planted Franz on a stool at the eye of the hurricane for the surround-sound version of "Leader of the Pack." Vroom! Vroom!
"You wouldn't believe the practice that took," Konopinski muttered as she panted past.
Northrop's class rewrote the lyrics to one of the "Sound of Music" songs.
At least we don't think Austrian children ever mentioned "golf swings" before.
Julie Cook's second graders made him the punch line for knock-knock jokes, then danced the "Macarena."
There was patriotism thundering through the gymnasium, with everyone joining in to help Lee Greenwood be "Proud to be an American."
The booms set the stage for Jamie Ely's hip hop dancers.
Miss Michele Winchester's tap dancers won best-dressed for the boys' dark suits with blue ties that matched the girls' dresses.
Jennifer Dykstra's young students blew kisses, then lined up to hug their departing principal.
Carrie Muessig's first graders carried chocolate Kisses and read personal messages.
Sue Meloche Publishing presented Franz with a first (and only) edition of "Our Memories of Mr. Franz" by her fourth graders.
Dianne Shirrell's kindergarten sang their adapted song as two other principals, Dawn Conner of Kincheloe and Kay Tularak of McKinley, peeked in the gym for a look at all of the commotion.
"Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts featured a guitar line to rival Blue Oyster Cult's.
But the most anticipated moment was when Nick ("at Night") Carter, a cousin to secretary Jane Frontczak, spun "Bobby's Girl," for at that cue, Franz's wife Pat appeared with a red rose and he twirled the "old fourth grade teacher I met 30 years ago" around the gym floor to the children's delight while Marcie Blane, who was 18 when she had the hit in 1962, sang, "You're not a kid anymore."