2005 Reunion
May 27, 28 and 29
Registration - $30
In conjunction with Lucky Ducky Race and Quacky for Quilts quilt show
Registration for the 2005 reunion got underway early Friday afternoon at the High School where clusters of people gathered outside or around the class composites in the hallway as they greeted classmates and renewed friendships as they arrived to register for the weekend. The Class of 1960 served up lots of ice cream covered in favorite toppings at the Clark County Fairboard's ice cream social to kick off the weekend activities. Old and young mingled in the cafeteria and outside on the patio while some classes found a quieter spot to have a mini reunion. Everyone enjoyed becoming reacquainted with classmates and reuniting with family. The party continued as the action moved to the City Park for the dance featuring Shootin' Blanks where many enjoyed dancing while others found them and excellent background to continue their conversations. The Alumni Association began a new oral history project during the weekend where individuals or classes were able to tape their school year memories for documentation in a history of Ashland Schools.
Saturday began early with the Firemen's breakfast and several sporting events. Golfers, runners and basketball players all enjoyed the cool morning air, while kite flyers found the lack of an early breeze a hindrance to kite flying. Children's games, concessions, the Quacky for Quilts show, Knights of Columbus Bingo and the retirement reception for Jane Shreve Rankin kept everyone busy before the Lucky Ducky race. The race gathered a huge crowd with many hanging around to see if they were a winner before heading to pre-banquet get togethers. Over 400 persons enjoyed the reunion meal prepared by Webb's Food & Crew of Deerfield, KS before the annual meeting of the Ashland All Schools Association.
Association President John Humphreys presided over the evening's activities. Reunion registrar, Debbie Trahern reported 453 persons registered for the reunion and Kim Hazen, treasurer, presented a check for $1130 to Superintendent Jerry Cullen for donations collected during registration. Karen Maris presented the awards as Diana Redger read the recipients. Special recognition was given to graduates in the classes form 1925 to 1939 and all the classes of the 1950's and 1960's. The class of 1950 relinquished the spirit stick to the class of 1960 and a new prize, the spirit pom poms, were claimed by the class of 1945 that had the largest percentage of persons attending based on the original number of graduating minus those deceased. Sally Shattuck reported on the oral history interviews and Garth Gardiner newly elected president, introduce the newest members of the of the Ashland High School Hall of Fame. Anna Spare, a 2005 graduate, played "The Halls of Ivy" which was sung by every graduating class from 1954 to 1970 and several former cheerleaders and pep club members helped Garth lead the group in the "Fight Song" to end the annual meeting. The crowd moved to the park to dance to "Shadow Riders" and for more conversation. Class reunions were held throughout the weekend with several on Sunday. The Firemen hosted breakfast, the Jerry Young family hosted a Fried Chicken Dinner and the City Library hosted a reception to introduce their new statue in memory of Nick Cossman. Reunion activities concluded with the Memorial Service at Highland Cemetery where Don Howell and Marie Smyth read the list of classmates who had passed away since the 2000 reunion. Others participating in the service were Charlene Hughes, Donna Derheim, Bob Davis, Gary Allison, Mark Spare and Andy McNickle. Several one time cameras purchased by the committee were available at the banquet for participants to use during the evening.
John Humphreys (Class of 1970) was the MC for the Banquet.
Oldest male graduate attending: Walter Broadie (1930)
Oldest female graduate attending: Lila Meyers (1925)
Grad coming longest distance: Jason Albers (1989), Germany
Spirit Stick winners: Class of 1960
Pom Pom Spirit winners: Class of 1945
Honored graduates of 1926 to 1939 receiving a flower from the Reunion committee were:
Lila Myers (1926), Mabel Pearce and Ruth McMillion (1927), Mary Fry (1930), Walter Broadie and Margaret Knight (1931), Joanna Daily (1933), Catherine Klinger (1936), Jim Beydler, Gladys Pike, Curtis Rhoades and Ruth York (1939), Nan Closson (1938) and Ralph Baker, Ruth Pike and Carrie Humphreys (1939).
High School Hall of Fame
KC Preisner
2004 Quiz Bowl Team of Cameron Cunningham, Anna Spare, Terry Jenkins, Jerry Jenkins and sponsor Jane Rankin
Anna Spare
Class of 2005
Reunion Memorabilia
Lapel Pins, Postal stamp cancellation
The All School Reunion Committee
