Don Bucher, Milford High class of 1965 representative, spoke at the school’s latest and last reunion banquet Saturday, June 14. Recently Bucher has been inducted into the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame.

Text and Photos
By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — With around 190 alumni and guests in attendance, the Milford High School Alumni Association hosted its 100th and final banquet 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14, marking a century of community, memory and school spirit.

“We have a heck of a good turnout… we’ve tripled last year’s numbers,” said Alumni Association President Ron Baumgartner, class of 1962.

The annual event, held at the Milford School building, brought together former students from across the country, including guests from Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia. The evening featured dinner, class recognitions, music, and a keynote address by Milford native and Master of Ceremonies Barrie Rassi, class of 1960.

Milford High School, which closed in 1968 following the opening of Wawasee High School, was first dedicated in 1914. The school began as a consolidation of 15 one-room country schools.

At the Milford High School 100th Anniversary Banquet, Barrie Rassi, master of ceremonies, gave a speech on his family’s generational history in Milford and the importance of passing down stories.

This year’s banquet honored alumni from milestone graduating classes, including Phyllis Miller Sorensen who represented the class of 1950; class of 1955, represented by Jimmy Moore; class of 1960, represented by Margi Brooks; and class of 1965, represented by Don Bucher.

Phyllis Miller Sorensen, the sole attendee from the class of 1950, was recognized, along with several alumni who graduated in 1955. Moore reflected warmly on the close-knit class.

“Everybody liked everybody … I wouldn’t trade it for any other school in the world,” he said.

The earliest alum in attendance was Leatrice Rapp, class of 1941.

Before dinner, attendees sang the Milford High School song, accompanied by pianist Anthony Beer, Wawasee class of 1986.

“For the past several years, we have sung the school prep song a cappella … no piano,” Baumgartner joked.

Dinner, catered by Milford School cafeteria staff, included fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans and 100th anniversary birthday cake. Previously catered by Penguin Point, the meal has been prepared in-house since the restaurant chain’s 2023 closure.

Attendees received commemorative coffee mugs and a reprinted 1968 Milford High School history booklet. Old year books and other materials were on display for alumni to view.

“We planned it out, and I put it in a frame, and here it is: Milford High School diploma for Melba Method Lienhart … dated April 27, 1921,” Baumgartner said, holding up a 104-year-old framed diploma on display.
The program also included a necrology report by Margaret Brooks, honoring alumni who passed away over the last year.

Jimmy Moore, class of 1955 representative, spoke at the Milford High School Banquet about how school was “like a family.”

The keynote address was delivered by Rassi, a Milford native, Indiana University alum and educator, who shared stories from his book “The Road Traveled: Rassi Family History and Personal Memoir.” Rassi traced his family’s immigration from Germany, described growing up in Milford, and spoke for the importance of preserving family stories.

“Without a written record, their descendants may not know from whence they came,” Rassi said. “That’s why I encourage you to leave your story to your family.”

The banquet also marked the end of the alumni association’s organizing committee, which will be donating remaining materials to the Milford Public Library. Any leftover funds will go toward the new Milford school facility, which is scheduled to replace the current aging building.

As the evening came to a close, guests slowly filed out, still catching up with old friends and promising to keep in contact.

Baumgartner said, “We did a good job. We sure did.”