It happened 50, 60, 70 years ago
MILFORD — The annual Milford Alumni Banquet gathered a good crowd Saturday evening to remember school days and to catch up with old friends June 9. While there were graduates from classes 1941 to 1968, the evening especially recognized classes of 1948, 1958, and 1968.
After social hour and dinner, which was catered by Penguin Point, the program opened with Ron Baumgartner cracking a joke before giving the treasurer’s report. He also took a moment to thank those who worked to make the meeting possible before introducing Dan Brown, class of 1968, as the master of ceremonies. Baumgartner commented that Brown is the youngest alumni at the banquet and that he broke the school track record by running the hurdles in 16.2 seconds.
Brown took over the mic, commenting that it was his class’s 50-year anniversary and recalled brainstorming with Tom Gunden, class president, on how to get people in the ’68 class to come to the the banquet. Both agreed that a good reason to attend was that it was “one of the few places you can now go and still have a good chance of being the youngest people in the room.” Brown took the time to recognize Vietnam veterans and others who served.
Robert Geiger, class of 1948, recalled the other four alumni attending out of 24 graduates. In introducing them, he shared some memories with them or about their families and what’s going on in their lives currently. Geiger remembered how good class of ‘48 was at sports and the trips that were taken.
A list of deceased classmates in the last year was read aloud by Brown, followed by a moment of silence and remembrance.
Fred Weisser opened with a quote from Principal Harold Young to the 25 members from the class of 1958, “The members of your class are to be commended for staying in school until graduation was obtained. Graduating from high school is a milestone in your lives of which you will always be proud of.” Weisser went on to say that in 1958, gas was 24 cents, a movie ticket was $1 and a postage stamp was 24 cents.
“The most common phrase I heard at our class gathering earlier was ‘I can’t believe it’s been 50 years.’ I don’t know how it seems possible for 50 years to go by this fast, but it did,” said Tom Gunden, class of 1968. Twenty-six students graduated in 1968, with the motto, “We have crossed the valley. The mountain lies ahead.”
Gunden went on to say that he didn’t believe that what ‘68 experienced as seniors was any different from any other class’s last year of high school, but that every event that occurred that year happened for the last time in Milford High School and tears were shed. Ball games, school plays and dances were all performed for the final time. The class of 1968 was the last class to graduate from Milford High School.
“It’s something special to have graduated from Milford High School,” added Brown. “A small school like this is just a unique opportunity. It was a time that’s passed but I think we were really fortunate to have that experience.”