Singular honor for Class of 1950

This will be the first time that a 65-year anniversary class will be honored at the Monongah High Alumni Reunion on May 23, 2015 at the Knights of Columbus in Fairmont on Mary Lou Retton Drive.

That would be the Class of 1950.

It’s because people are living longer now and therefore more alumni are alive 65 years after their Monongah High graduations.

The other honor classes are 1955, 1965 and 1975 for the traditional 60^th, 50^th and 40^th anniversary classes.

The Class of 1950 and the Class of 1955, both honor classes, will have a combined dinner on Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Three Ways Inn Restaurant.

The official lodging for 1950 and other graduates is the Fairfield Inn, not far from the Three Ways Inn. That way, former Lions can have reunions at the Fairfield, the Three Ways Inn and the K of C.

Tony Eates and John Olesky are co-chair of the Class of 1950 gatherings. Tony’s wife, Lucy, will help with decorating the tables and labeling them “Class of 1950.”

Hopefully, the tables will be adjacent to the dance floor because, at the ages of 82 and 83, the 1950 graduates won’t be able to walk too far to start stomping at the Savoy, or whatever song is being played.

Or even to waltz out onto the dance floor to take their bows as the oldest graduation class ever honored.

Linda Lopez Gandy is president of the Monongah High Alumni Association and doing a lot of the groundwork to make the event a success.

Quips Linda:

“Let’s hope for a great turnout. Already working on my speech. Where's Mrs. Snoderly when you need her? Did I just say that. She never liked it because I wouldn't take Speech.”

Mrs. Snoderly, who was Miss Thomas when she began at Monongah High, also taught Social Studies.

As usual, treasurer Donna Davis will be handling dinner-dance reservations.

More details as they become available, but be sure you keep May 22 and 23 clear on your calendar so that you can show up and enjoy chatting with your former Lions classmates.