Glenbard East celebrating 50th anniversary
Fifty years ago, a tornado tore through Lombard just as its newest high school was set to open.
Glenbard East High School's opening was postponed 15 days for repairs to the corner wall of the tower that stands over the auditorium stage.
That stormy beginning is history now as the Glenbard East community - current and former students, teachers and parents - comes together to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary.
The yearlong celebration kicks off with homecoming on Friday, Oct. 2.
"This is going to be a great year for acknowledging what Glenbard East has provided the community and envisioning the next 50 years," said Betty Rider, an East graduate and daughter of the first principal, William Rider.
"It's got such a great tradition, a real rich history," she said.
The school opened with 525 students - just freshmen and sophomores - and 28 staff members. Today, there are roughly 2,700 students and 180 staff members.
Lombard residents suggested "Lilacs" as a mascot and purple and white for the school colors, but that didn't fly. Instead, East eventually chose red, black and white for its school colors and Rams as the mascot.
Rams is also an acronym for "Right Attitude Means Success," the school's motto.
Rider and her two siblings "grew up Glenbard." She remembers playing in the gym while her dad was working, and how springtime meant baby-sitters, "pot pies and fish sticks" because there were so many evening events her parents wanted to attend.
"Dad was immensely proud of the school, the teachers that worked there, the students," she said.
And so Rider has been making the trip from Columbus, Ohio, to help plan the anniversary celebration.
The theme is "Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future."
Homecoming
The Rams take on the Glenbard North Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Friday. A large alumni tent will be set up on the northeast corner of the stadium. Old friends can reconnect amid enlarged photographs representing each decade in Glenbard's history; displays of yearbooks and memorabilia, and refreshments. Old yearbooks will be sold for $5 inside the tennis court area just north of the alumni tent.
All past members of the Glenbard East Marching Rams are invited to be part of the 50th Anniversary Alumni Band, which will perform a joint pregame show with the current Marching Rams. Band alumni will gather in Biester Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. for a short rehearsal.
Former Ram athletes and coaches will be honored at the end of halftime with a Parade of Athletes. Athletic alumni and coaches are asked to report to the southeast corner of the track at the end of the second quarter of the varsity game.
The school will be open on Saturday morning, Oct. 3. To arrange a tour, contact Principal Josh Chambers at (630) 627-9250.
Trophy cases outside the main gym are filled with pictures and memorabilia, including concert programs, letter jackets, trophies and T-shirts from Glenbard East's five decades.
Throughout the year
Plans are still being made for many anniversary events, but here's a look at what's scheduled so far:
• Alumni night at the theater. A reunion reception for theater alumni will be Feb. 5 after a performance of the school musical "Broadway, Our Way!" Tickets are $6. Contact Mark Kaetzer at (630) 424-6640 or mark_kaetzer@glenbard.org.
• Distinguished alumni induction ceremony April 22.
• Black-tie event for faculty, former faculty and friends on April 24 at the Glendale Lakes Golf Club.
The committee's planning to wrap up the anniversary year with the school's participation in Lombard's Lilac Parade.
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