Reporter’s notebook: Obama’s day in Lawrence

A lot of people at Kansas University did a lot of work in a very little amount of time to prepare for President Barack Obama’s visit to the university on Thursday.

KU’s point person for working with the White House to organize the elaborate logistics was Charlie Persinger, director of university ceremonies and special events.

Persinger, who’s been at KU six years, said this was the first presidential visit he’s coordinated.

“I came from Iowa,” he said. “We always handled a lot of campaign stops, but nothing to this magnitude.”

With the President safely back on Air Force One and on his way out of Kansas Thursday afternoon, Persinger said he was working to tally and identify all the KU people who helped since the White House publicly announced Obama’s visit less than a week earlier. Those include the KU Wind Ensemble and Department of Music, KU Office of Public Safety, KU Dining, SUA and Facilities Services, to name just a few.

“It was truly a campus-wide experience,” Persinger said, adding, “all on short notice.”

— Sara Shepherd

Before Obama boarded Air Force One Thursday afternoon at Forbes Field, he took a few minutes to shake hands and chat with spectators on the runway.

One of those spectators was Jason Condiff, 10, who attends Quail Run Elementary in Lawrence. Condiff shook Obama’s hand and snagged a photo with him.

“I’m so happy I can’t even talk,” said the fourth-grader, clad in a Jayhawk beanie and a blue jacket.

Jason and his mother, Rebecca, were among the dozens of spectators who received special invitations to watch Air Force One’s departure. He said he never thought he would meet the president.

He said Obama looked “awesomer” in person.

“It’s probably gonna be the best thing of my life,” he said.

— Elliot Hughes

Jason Condiff, 10.

More reports from President Obama’s visit to Lawrence