Alumni from West Liberty High School came to town last weekend for the All School Reunion.
Activities started Friday evening with a car show and barbecue dinner. Originally the location for this event was to be at the Muscatine County Fairgrounds but was switched to the high school parking lot.
“We had to switch it last minute because of the rain,” All School Reunion committee chairperson Melody Henderson said.
Concessions were sold in the commons of the high school during social time.
Saturday, at 9 a.m. a tractorcade took place. Bob Cline organized this for alumni to participate in. Twenty-five tractors rode in the tractorcade, he said.
At 9:30 a.m., the West Liberty High School Band performed in Ron De Voo Park in downtown West Liberty.
“I wish there would have been more people there,” Henderson said. “The band did an exceptional job. There were between 40 to 50 people around.”
Saturday afternoon Pam Schnittjer talked about the history of downtown West Liberty at the New Strand Theatre.
“She did a wonderful job,” Henderson added. “We had good turnout there.”
Businesses, such as Brick Street Gallery, the West Liberty Public Library, the Liberty Press, etc., were open Friday and Saturday for alumni to browse or purchase items from.
Saturday evening a banquet catered by Jeff’s Market was held for alumni in the gym of West Liberty High School. Henderson said there were 270 people in attendance.
The oldest person attendance that evening was Bob Lehman, who was celebrating his 80th class reunion.
Other classes celebrating significant reunions were the 1978 – 45 years, 1973 – 50 years, 1968 – 55 years, class of 1963 – 60 years, 1958 – with 65 years, 1953 – 70 years and the class of 1943 with 80 years.
There were people there from the class of 1946, which was celebrating its 77th reunion, Henderson said. The class of 1949 was celebrating its 74th reunion and the class of 1950 celebrating its 73rd class reunion. They were all recognized with clapping from the crowd.
There were alumni that traveled from California and Virginia who were recognized for traveling the furthest distance, the class of 1965 was announced as having the most in attendance, the family with the most members in attendance was the Morrison’s and past teachers and past homecoming king and queens were recognized. Finally, former cheerleaders led the crowd in reciting the West Liberty High School fight song.
Other speakers that evening included: West Liberty High School Superintendent Shaun Kruger, who spoke about the achievements the district did and updated everyone on the progress of construction; West Liberty School District Activity Director Adam Loria, who talked about the success of the activities the district had in the past year; West Liberty High School graduate Jim Brooke, who talked about the memories he had growing up in West Liberty and how things have changed and West Liberty High School graduate Durk Sterner, who spoke with those in attendance about their memories of West Liberty High School.
The evening ended with the announcement of grant recipients from the West Liberty Endowment Fund established with the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. Bill Koellner announced Iowa Jobs for American Graduates (iJAG) in the amount of $1,933; Latinos Unidos in the amount of $1,933 and West Liberty Child Care Center in the amount of $1,933 bringing the total for this year’s grants to $5,800.
Henderson closed out the evening reminding everyone that the Fair Parade and Picnic in the Park would be held Sunday, July 16.