Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
WHS Class of 1974 surrounded by old friends on a night of reconnecting and reminiscing.
Penny Hall Skeels, Al Vento and Anita Bell Harris reunite as Penny and Al reminisce about working together at Nelson's Apparel during high school.
John Herrick and Jann Hill were thrilled to see each other after 40 years.
Francisca Hernandez Rodriguez, Patti Scholtz Young and Teresa Osuna check out old yearbook photos.
The Wasco Union High School Class of 1974 gathered on Saturday to celebrate their milestone 50th reunion. Classmates traveled from as far as Florida, Texas, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Arizona to reconnect with old friends, relive memories from the past and catch up on the last five decades of each other's lives.
For Jann Hill, it was a special opportunity to see John Herrick. "We were close friends in high school, and he was in my wedding. The last time I saw him was 40 years ago. He went up north, and I stayed in California, and we lost touch."
Anita Bell Harris expressed her excitement about reuniting with old high school girlfriends, saying, "We shared a lot of memories and good times together, and we've been apart for a long time – 50 years since high school, as many of them moved far away. Fifty years is a big milestone. It doesn't feel like it could be 50 years."
"Some people haven't aged at all," Carol Rankin Terry said. "Some people, it takes them giving me their names, and then I recognize them. It's nice to see so many people that look so healthy and great. I saw my friend Carol, whom I've known since 4th grade, and Janet, with whom I went to kindergarten. It's just incredible happiness and very joyful to be here."
Dirk Craig made the trip from Seaside, Calif. "It's good to see how everybody is doing and get back in touch. I left Wasco after I graduated. It's different to be back. It's a lot bigger, and it's growing. Tonight, I got to see a friend I went to grade school with, and there's a few I studied with through elementary and high school."
Before the reunion reception, there was a Wasco Historical Society Museum tour, and Craig visited for the first time with his wife, Jessica. "It was interesting. I watched a video with Wasco history, and our yearbook was there."
Denise Hamlin, who spearheaded the event, said, "I'm just so happy we got the turnout we did. We have 56 graduates."
Les Laughlin praised her efforts. "Denise put in a lot of hard work and is a good organizer. It's really neat."
Penny Hall Skeels also played a role in planning. "I'm smiling. At our first pre-planning meeting, we had over twenty people. We met once a month for a year, and we're going to continue."
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