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210 !!!

Monongah High alumni loyalty is thriving

This is an amazing story about a high school that refuses to die even though it hasn’t had a graduation in 38 years.

That means that there are no replacements for the dozens who pass away, find travel difficult because of their health or geography.

And yet the 94th Monongah High Alumni Reunion May 27 in Fairmont drew its largest crowd in seven years!

Think about that. Nearly 200 people were lost from the available pool during that time, but 210 attended this year.

My records show that is the highest turnout since 232 showed up in 2010.

Between those years, 157 made reservations in 2016, 95 in 2015, 146 in 2014, 115 in 2013, 103 in 2012 and 159 in 2011.

That is a remarkable loyalty to a high school that disappeared into the North Marion High merger in 1979.

This is the longest, continuous high school alumni reunion in West Virginia. It began when the late Greta Martin Mike inaugurated the first one in 1922. Greta Martin Mike, Class of 1922, was a Worthington 3rd & 4th grade teacher in the 1930s before she married the barbering Mike brother.

I think Greta married Jimmy Mike, brother of Mutt Mike. I got many a haircut at their barber shop under the Monongah National Bank in the center of downtown East Monongah.

The togetherness extends beyond the town of Monongah to such communities as Carolina, Everson, Hutchinson, Bingamon, Worthington, Four States and Kilarm.

It has kept the MHS Alumni Reunion alive for decades after the high school ceased to exist.

Alumni Association treasurer Donna Colvert Davis, Class of 1961, who collects the money for the reservations, posted: “If we continue to have as many attending in the future years, we will make it to the 100th year.”

Think of that: A century later and the Lions will continue to gather in pride.

Donna added: “The food was good and the band great as usual. Everyone had a great time catching up with their friends.”

Donna is married to Bill Davis, Class of 1958. They live in Monongah. Her sister, Linda Pruitte, lives in Fairmont with husband Richard Pruitte. Their brother, Frederick R. Moorehead, was Class of 1964. His widow is Linda Savereno Moorehead, Class of 1968, who lives in Carolina.

Donna’s parents were Norma Lee Croaston Moorehead and Walter Colbert, killed during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

Alumni Association vice president Dolores Edwards, Class of 1955, wrote: “Everyone is thanking the officers but it is you, the people who attended, that make it what it is. Without your support we could not exist. Stay safe and God bless and hope to see you all next year.”

Dolores lives in Four States.

Donna added: “Join us next year for a really good time and getting together with old friends.”

Alumni Association president Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, married to Jim Gandy, Class of 1964, summed it up with: “If you missed the 94th alumni banquet, you missed a good time, good food, great music, seeing old friends and renewing old friendships. This year was a huge success, due to dedicated work of the officers and board members and John Olesky putting the word out on the Monongah High Alumni blog.

“We had 210 alumni to attend. Without them and their generosity of giving year after year we could not succeed.

“We pass the basket every year for people to donate to the scholarship fund. This year we collected $905 plus the amazing Dolores collected $750 on her own. We have given more than $45,000 in scholarships. I think that is WONDERFUL from a small high school alumni since their beloved school has been closed since 1979.

“We thank you for attending this year and hope to see more of you next year.”

Others would have been there but illnesses and grandchildren’s graduations intruded.

As always, there were separate single-class get-togethers on the day before or after the MHS Reunion at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Marylou Retton Drive.

The Class of 1957, one of the honor classes, met Sunday morning at DJ’s Diner for breakfast. Bruce Edmond picked up the tab. Brenda Manzo, Bill Meredith, Etta Ewing, Alice Greynolds Sago, Pat Rice, Nancy Pettit and Vernon H Fix were 57ers at the breakfast.

Richard Weaver wasn’t with his 1957 classmates because of “health issues; nothing lethal, luckily. So say hello to everyone for me and tell them I wish them good health and a long life.”

Memories flowed like fine wine at the MHS Reunion.

Linda Foster, Class of 1957, recalled: “My Teverbaugh Holler childhood pal, Eric Toothman, and I used to wrestle. I remember hiding in the woods and he could not find me. One night my dad thought there was a bear in the yard and almost shot him.” Fortunately, Eric didn’t become a bullseye.

Frances Toothman added: “Didn’t you help Eric wash his St. Bernard dog, Sam, in the pond?

Linda responded: “I almost forgot that! Sam was too big for a wash tub. How I miss those times.”

Showing up at the MHS Reunion brings those times back to life, at least for one night, maybe two if you’re an honor class.

In the Class of 1967 group photo alone, there are 26 people.

Since Monongah High closed in 1979, there are no more 25-year classes to honor. So the honor classes are the graduates of 40, 50, 60 and 65 years ago. This year that meant the Classes of 1977, 1967, 1957 and 1952.

While the attrition continues because of age, illness and death, the spirit of Monongah High continues to live among its alumni.