For many, 50 years seems like a long time – for others not so much. Graduates of McMinnville City High 1967 class celebrated their 50-year reunion recently with a stroll down memory lane at the Park Theater.
Barry Medley served as the master of ceremonies, transporting the 56 classmates in attendance through an imaginary time machine. They went back to 1949, the year of their birth; 1957, the year City High School was born; 1967, the year of their graduation; and 2017, the year of the 50th reunion.
He recalled interesting facts from 1967 – Lyndon Johnson was President, telephones had push buttons, television was finally in color, the Vietnam War was escalating, City High was integrated, and the Park Theater was showing “Bonnie and Clyde.”
As part of the program, alumni Peggy McMurray recalled ball games, teachers, classes, parades and the many ups and downs of high school years in her poem “Twas the Year of ’67.”
A large reunion committee worked for an entire year planning the event, and decided the Park Theater would be an appropriate location to hold the reunion.
“We are a close-knit class who had great school experiences and received a great education,” said committee member Carol Chambers. “The Park is reminiscent of good times we had together, a place we frequented, leading to happy times.”
The marquee was lit, welcoming all to the event. Window displays holding various City High School memorabilia, a display of the Rebel mascot and drum display and a video of historic photos entertained all, sparking memories and conversations.
Hors d’oeuvres were served in the lobby, before convening in the auditorium for the program. Period music was played by Larry Garret, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by veterans from the class. Cherry Godwin Falkenberry sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and led the group in the school’s alma mater. Medley entertained the group as he sang “Sittin’ in the Park in the Dark,” a song he wrote during the restoration movement.
Perhaps the most anticipated moment of the evening came with the presentation of the “Senior” Senior Photos on the big screen. As the graduates arrived, individual photos were made of them and were compared to their 1967 senior photo.
“This gave us something to look forward to, a way to tie the past to the present, and was definitely the climax of the evening,” said Chambers. “It was a way to notice we haven’t changed a bit, and we still look the same!”