Elgin high celebrates anniversary of western reunion in California

The "25th Anniversary of the Elgin High School Western Reunion" will be held the first weekend in October where it all began during May 1984 in Fresno, Calif. They had 238 attend that first gathering. It was such a success that they decided to hold another in 1986. Since then they had them every two years until 1992, when they decided to hold it annually. Originally it was a one-night affair but has since stretched out to three activities over a three-day weekend.

It began with alumni from the classes from the 1940s living from Denver to the West Coast. Then word circulated around the country through the years and they started getting grads from many far-off places back East including many from Elgin, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, North and South Carolina and Oklahoma, joining all of those who live in the Western States.

They have even had alumni from Canada and Alaska and alumni of St. Edward Catholic High School and the Elgin Academy. Coach John Krafft was the guest speaker in 1984, Principal Larry Nemmers in 1990, and Coach and Principal Chet Alexander in 1992. In 1988, the gathering was opened up to all EHS alumni and had alumni from as far back as 1928 up to 1974 in later years.

Last October, they had an alum still attending from the Class of 1931 and they expect her back this year. Alumni who have lost their spouses have attended with a son or a daughter on occasion.

This gathering will be the last Elgin High School Western Reunion, so if you'd like to join in the fun and enjoy a relaxed, laid-back gathering, mark your calendars now. Planned activities will begin on Friday, Oct. 2 and end about noon Oct. 4 at the "Sunday Morning Farewell Breakfast." The "Memorabilia Room" will be set up on Thursday through the weekend with lots of Elgin and Elgin High material including Maroons dating back to 1913 to the 1970s. You might even find your parents in those old Maroons. If you plan to attend, come a couple days early if you can as many alumni will be arriving early in the week.

For details, contact Wally Niedert at Grad-of-EHS@juno.com or (801) 485-1355.