For her 104th birthday, Sunflower Showdown live

By BLAIR KERKHOFF

The Kansas City Star

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Olive Vorse from Topeka celebrated her birthday by attending her first game in Allen Fieldhouse Wednesday to watch Kansas play Kansas State.

Her 104th birthday.

“I love basketball, more than the other sports,” Vorse said. “It's exciting being here.”

She has a Jayhawk painted on side of her face, a KU painted on the other side. The nurses at Presbyterian Manor, where Vorse lives, applied the art.

Vorse was born on a farm near Havensville, Kan., on Jan. 4, 1908.

She attended Wednesday's game with her nephew Dennis Beach of Lawrence, a longtime Kansas season ticket holder, and great niece Hayley Logan of Manhattan. They took up seats near the court and were surrounded by well-wishers and Big Jay, the Kansas mascot.

Beach said Vorse had recently recovered from shingles, and asked to go to a game at the historic building for her birthday.

“This was a couple of months ago, and I thought maybe we could see a game around her birthday,” Beach said. “Then I looked at the schedule and saw Kansas State was the opponent. It was a perfect birthday gift.”

The group brought a sign that read: “I am 104 today. Being in Allen Fieldhouse for my birthday is priceless. Rock Chalk Jayhawk.”