Welch High School 70’s
reunion was held in Welch on June 10-11, 2005.
On Friday night, June 10, we
celebrated with a tailgate party held at Linkous Park.We mingled with old friends and remembered
our Welch High School days.We enjoyed
music, swimming and a picnic in the park.
A golf outing was held Saturday morning, June 11, at Fincastle Country
Club in Bluefield, VA. All who participated had a wonderful tim
at this outing organized by Jeff Goodson and Hoppy Horne.
A dinner and dance were held on Saturday, June 11, at Mount View
High
School.A memorial service for deceased
classmates was presented before the dinner.It was directed by Mike Brown and Diane Hall.Mike created a beautiful candle display as a
memorial to our deceased classmates.There was a welcome, scripture reading and prayer by Rev.
Michael Brown,
Class of 1970.Pastor Diane Hall, Class
of 1971, made a few remarks and sang “On Eagles’ Wings.”Recognition was made of the teachers who
have passed away since our last reunion.A special tribute to the memory of Principal Bob N. Jack was
given.The auditorium at Mount View High
School has
been named in his honor.His daughter,
Cathy Jack, Class of 1978, lit the candle in memory of the teachers and
Mr.
Jack.All present sang “Amazing Grace,”
led by Diane Hall.An explanation of the
memorial table was presented by Morgan Gibson, Class of 1970.Sherry Cline Belcher, Class of 1978, read the
name of deceased classmates, asrepresentatives from each class lit a candle in memory of their
classmates.These were Lucy Propst,
1968; Connie Williams, 1969; Markella Gianato, 1970; James Hall, 1971;
Wanda
Brown, 1972; Kathy Gibson, 1973; Susan Hardy, 1974; Carol Collins,
1975; Rhonda
Kroll, 1976; Joan Tolnay, 1977; Ginnie Sure Byrd, 1978; and Joe Tolnay,
1979,After a moment of silence, Michael
Brown and Diane Hall sang “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”The closing prayer was given by Glen Jean
Tee, Class of 1970.
After the memorial service,
Cathy Jack welcomed the classmates for the 2005 reunion dinner.
Diane Hall offered the grace. Sherry Cline Belcher presented
recognition of
all the classes present from 1968-1978 of Welch High School and from 1979-1982 of
Mount
View High School. WHS Class of 1974 had
the most members in attendance.
Altogether over 200 classmates attended the reunion. The reunion
committee led the school song
with everyone singing. All Welch High
School cheerleaders who were present led the group in the pep song,
with the
presentation of the barrel. Do you remember
those “roll out the barrel” days? Glen
Jean Lacy Tee presented awards for WHS earliest graduating year, the
family
with the most siblings present, the first to respond with a reunion
reservation, and the WHS graduate who traveled the farthest, from
France, for
the reunion. After dinner, catered by
Raymonds, we danced the night away to
the music of Video Reflections by Bill Hornick.
Our photographer, Chuck
Barker, was present during all the festivities and did a wonderful job
taking
pictures of our weekend activities.He
took group and single pictures, and class group pictures.As you look at the memory book, it will bring
back memories of the events and the relationships rekindled during the
weekend.
We hope to see you at future WHS 70s
reunions. Please keep the committee informed of your address
changes. You can email them to slbelcher@citlink.net or
byrds@citlink.net. Thank you to all who attended our 2005
reunion. See you in 2010.
Class representatives are as
follows:
Class of 1968
– Judy Crawford Nystrom (304)
436-6662
Class of 1978 – Joan West
Tolany 304-436-8060
Ginnie Sue Kornish Byrd byrds@citlink.net
Sherry
Cline Belcher welchhighschool70@yahoo.com
1011 Stewart St., Welch, WV 24801 phone: 304-436-3623
