Friday, September 14 - Informal Gathering at Amelio's.
Saturday, September 15 - 50th Reunion Celebration at
the Logansport Golf Club.
5:00 p.m. Registration: 50th Reunion Tattler book presented to
each classmate.
Reception: Hors d'oeurves and cash bar.
6:00 p.m. Class photograph by Rich Voorhees.
Master of Ceremonies - Ron Nazerine
6:29 p.m. Invocation - Tom Castaldi
An Invocation for the Class of 1957 Gathered for a Golden
Reunion -
Well, here we are Lord. They say that we were the first Logansport
High School Class to exceed 200 students when we came together
back 54 years ago.
You know we're not all here tonight.
Some couldn't overcome the traveling distance.
Some are...well, I guess, too shy...and I don't know why.
Some are too sick to make it back, but we're with them in spirit.
Some have passed away. You know best about that. We loved them
and we miss them dearly.
We have some new faces among our "ole" classmates...those
who chose to share their lives with us and surely are helping
make this evening complete and festive.
So for all of us, we're grateful for having been put together
in the first place, thrust under the influence of those who taught
us in the classroom.
And bless the reunion committee for working so hard to find us
and see us together once again.
The Class of 57 asks for Your continued blessings and safekeeping
as we continue to experience every sort of life's challenges.
We've got a lot to offer so let us know what You want from each
of us.
It's been 50 years - we've scattered here and there - but for
now, here we are Lord...shine Your grace upon us. Amen.
6:30 p.m. Buffet Dinner.
7:30 p.m. Message and Recognition of reunion committee volunteers from Reunion Committee Co-Chairs - Barb Davis Dingeldein and Susie Parker Whallon. Kent Hall distributed an engraved keepsake "Class Reunion 50 Years" medallion to each class member present. Each classmate, and guest attendee, also received a souvenir red and black pen imprinted with the words, "Class of '57 - 50th Reunion" and an image of Felix the Cat our school mascot.
7:45 p.m. LHS Class of '57 Reunion Service of Remembrance -
Ellen Tucker Lail and Jon Hershberger.
Jon opened with these remarks: This evening,
we would like to take a few minutes to remember the 50 deceased
members of the Class of 1957. Since we last met in 2002, we have
lost another 15 classmates. Each of us, no doubt, will have some
unique and vivid memories of our school years at LHS with many
of these dear friends
As Ellen and I read the names of these
former classmates, we hope that there will be some fond recollections
that come to all our minds. We remember these LHS classmates who
are no longer in our company here on earth:
Ellen and Jon alternately read three names
and the dates of the deceased:
Ron Adair, Sharon Beatty, Jim Beety, Ron Beck Jill Billman, Kay
Burch, Joe Burgess, Dale Burrough, Jean Coulson, Shirley Culp,
Ted Daniels, Janet Fellers, Jim Flory, Fred Foreman, Claudette
Forker, Jim Green, Madonna Guckien, Doris Gunter, Roy Handy, Jim
Henry, Jim Huffman, Charles Isles, Lewis Alan Irvin, Larry Justice,
Sue Klein, Ruth Kline, Carl Leedy, Raymond Lohning, Joe Lombardi,
Dave Loner, Larry Long, Raymond Million, Merland Noble, John O'Neill,
Jim Paschen, Pat Pasquale, Sheila Peterson, Carl Pickens, Mary
Raderstorf, Dale Ristedt, Lynn Rivers, Grady Rogers, Peggy Rohrbaugh,
Jerry Roller Joe Sabatini, Fred Schue, Tom Short, Larry Smith,
Jim Thompson, Joe Trotter.
Reflections - Jon Hershberger: Our
friends leave a legacy of friends, children, grandchildren and
even some great-grandchildren who also miss their presence! Those
of us, who are Christians, know that the Bible clearly states
that the only eternal legacy we can really leave behind is in
the investment of our lives and love in serving God and others
that. He brings across our paths. We, the living, still have an
opportunity to leave the legacy of a life well-lived!
Prayer - Jon Hershberger: Dear Lord, we thank You for those of our classmates who are no longer with us and for the good memories that have come to mind. Tonight, we celebrate and remember all our journeys together at LHS and the times over the past 50 years when we have been together. May our fellowship be rich and may our lives be a real blessing to others around us. Amen.
8:00 p.m. Program - Ron Nazerine, who related "Some Fascinating Facts about the Fifties" along with several stories including ones concerning a stray pet dog that needed assistance returning home, as well as anatomy discussions about graying hair and drooping parts "had virtually every one in stitches."
9:00 p.m. Drawing was made that could not have succeeded without
the direction of Susie Parker Whallon, Dee Kasch, Martha Hensell,
Bev Hall, Betty Chambers and Ida Wolf Gunter. Included in the
drawing were cast models of the "real" Logansport High
School building, an excellent framed illustration of the grand
old structure as well as the several decorations...and Tom Knight's
stuffed "Scottie Doggie" he won for selling the most
magazine subscriptions for a class project when we were Juniors.
Co-chair Barb Davis Dingeldein had one
special gift to be presented in absentia. She explained that
on display at the podium table during the evening, a seated teddy
bear wearing a LHS letter jacket was "Dave Bear" to
be given to Pat Wolf Loner from the Class of '57 in memory of
her husband and our classmate, Dave Loner. The action was unanimously
received by all present.
Sometime later - after enjoying an evening of genuine 1950's music and trivia of the era presented by DJ Steve Schwering...everybody went home but with thoughts of returning for our next reunion in 2012.
Report from Co-Chair Barb Davis Dingeldein:
Seventy-seven people crowded into Amelio's
function room at the Friday night reception. Thirty-three women
came to the Ladies' Luncheon on Saturday; and ninety-five, including
sixty-five classmates, enjoyed the Reunion Dinner held at the
Logansport Golf Club. On Sunday, thirty three came to the breakfast
at the Silver Lake Restaurant. Unfortunately, we had received
word that three classmates and two spouses had to cancel their
attendance at the last minute because of illness.
Several emails, notes and telephone calls
have been received from classmates to thank the Reunion Committee
"for the best reunion ever," "for a wonderful weekend,"
as well as, to express their appreciation for the effort involved
to locate classmates, and "for the hard work it took to make
it all happen." During the buffet, several spouses expressed
the notion that although they were not "classmates"
they were enjoying our evening! One classmate wrote that she
has talked about her weekend so much that her husband's eyes glaze
over
so, she stops for a while and begins it all again.
Thanks to the Decoration Committee, our
outstanding fall decorations gave a festive look and a feeling
to the evening as we enjoyed prime rib, chicken breast, pork roast
enhances with three choices of cheesecake for desert. We even
had two anniversary cakes decorated with our "Felix"
mascot.
Editor's comment:
Barb noted that the small group that comprises
the Reunion Committee was, "both happy and thrilled that
the event was received with such generous accolades. The Committees
truly achieved our goal: to make our 50th Reunion an exceptionally
wonderful and memorable experience." Even though Barb commented
that in the days following the event, as the fatigue and relief
of organizing an event so well received by those who attended
set in, everyone involved was exhausted. However, she followed
with this comment, "We have now recovered, and have some
of the most wonderful memories ever. As some have stated, we
have some very wonderful and nice people (and spouses) in our
class and it was a pleasure to spend a weekend together. We already
miss you and hope to see each of you again in five years
if
not before.
"P.S. Carolyn Bailey said she and Pat Baker Dekker would
co-chair the 75th because they think they'll still be around if
they follow their mothers' life spans that's one worry off this
Committee's shoulders." : - Barb Davis Dingeldein
50th Class Reunion Committee
Co-Chairpersons: Susie Parker Whallon and Barb Davis Dingeldein
Golf Scramble: Eldon Hensel and Felix Parkevitch
Ladies' Luncheon: Margaret Fitzgerald Brooks
Telephone: Karen Crook Cunningham, Ellen Tucker Lail and Ida
Wolf Gunter
Books, Letters, Printing: Barb Davis Dingeldein
Mailing: Karen Crook Cunningham, Margaret Fitzgerald Brooks,
Ellen Tucker Lail, Ida Wolf Gunter and Barb Dingeldein
Gifts: Kent Hall, Ida Wolf Gunter and Susie Parker Whallon
Reservations: Mary Dee Riggle Overley and Ellen Lail
Finances: Mary Dee Riggle Overley, Susie Kumler Selvio and Ron
Nazerine
Decorations and Setup: Ellen Tucker Lail, Evelyn Baer Byers, Mary
Dee Riggle Overley, Susie Parker Whallon, Bev Hall, Joe and Dee
Kasch.
Picture/Name Takers: Dee Kasch, Martha Hensell,
Bev Hall, and Betty Chambers