Thoughts and Observations of Our 40th Reunion

As the THS Class of 1965 website owner and Yahoo Group owner I have taken a few liberties and wish to express my thoughts and observations from the "Weekend to Remember," October 14, 15 and 16, 2005.
As a member of the Reunion Committee and being very anal, I was extremely pleased to watch the weekend unfold. It went perfectly, according to plan. Everything I had envisioned worked perfectly. My only regret that I was too busy to really sit and talk to each and everyone of you. As I begin to receive the pictures that I am posting to the website, I see people that I really wanted to talk to, but time would not permit. Perhaps next time, but as the preparations for this reunion were unfolding, your Reunion Committee had already committed to the production of a 45th.
Many of you have stepped forward asking not what the Class of 1965 can do for you, but what you can do for the Class of 1965. The answer is simple. Take the time to find some of the people whose names appear on the Classmates That We Cannot Find Page. As you can see, I am continuing to maintain, with vigor, this website, but also the master database of our classmates.
Additionally, I would like to thank the Reunion Committee for they unselfish dedication to this event. Ileen LaBrie Sasiadek, Kathy Solar Tapelt, Wanda Pruitt Gentry and Linda Russell Parris are a joy to work with (I have always had a "thing" for older women). Thanks to Bob and Vicki Saxon for all their work on the plaques, badges and the like. Thanks to Jay Adkins for the wonderful tour of our hallowed halls.
Lastly, but most importantly, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for coming to the Reunion and making it an unequivocal success. You all have my email address, please keep in touch. - Arnie Lewin

After 43 years, my dreams and fantasies have been answered. Sharon Leigh has finally asked me to dance. - Arnie Lewin

A reunion is worse than a pool party: it's to long to hold your stomach in. Had a great time. Didn't know that Sharon Leigh cheated on me by dancing with you. Your Harem was terrific and deserves all the accolades you bestowed. Congrats on being inducted into the Lettermans Club. See you in five. - Charlie Roe

I have attended 4 of our reunions now--the 20th, 25th, 30th, and 40th---and I have never enjoyed myself nearly as much as I did at this one! Everything was planned out very well, the food was scrumptious, the decorations beautiful, the DJ was great, prizes were super, and the Emcee witty and adorable! What more could anyone ask?!..... Thank you Arnie, Kathy, Ileen, Wanda, Linda, Vicki, Bob, Carol, and Peggy for making our 40th Reunion a HUGE Success!!
It was truly wonderful seeing and reconnecting with everyone! - Bev Salgado

Thanks again to everyone for all the hard work at the reunion. It was a blast! Why do my feet hurt? I am sorry I didn’t get to spend more time talking to everyone. Can’t wait to see the pictures. - Vicki Fain Varela

I had a great time and very glad I went. It was great see everyone and we are all aging very gracefully! Thank you and your harem for all the hard work you expended on our behalf. Thanks again. - Mike Gustafson

I just wanted to say that all of you classmates are what made the 40th reunion so great! Every one of you looked terrific and it was so nice to see you all and I will be looking forward to seeing everybody at the 45th. I am glad they don't come too often because it took me two days to recover from this one! - Linda Russell Parris

I thought the reunion turned out wonderful. It was great seeing everyone and reconnecting. It was well organized and the venue seemed just right. The band on Friday night was great, even though many didn't make it outside on the patio to hear them. Jay Adkins really did a wonderful job giving us a thorough tour of our old hallowed halls and the new THMS on Saturday afternoon. (Thank you Jay!) The dinner Saturday night was very good, and I really appreciated the effort Arnie and The Committee made to accomodate my vegetarian diet. I especially enjoyed the dancing after dinner on Saturday night with all of you 'old rockers'. Rockin out with you all again was like having a flashback to our highschool years! What fun!! With loving appreciation, - Shari Gibson

I had high expectations for the reunion but the whole weekend far urpassed my highest hopes. How wonderful to reconnect with so many friends and acquaintances from the past. We all have a shared past that myseriously links us together and continues to draw us to reunions. And I enjoyed how some would remember some things, others would remember other things and collectively we are able to piece together our history. My thanks to all who had a part in the reunion, Arnie, Ileen, Linda, Kathy, Wanda, Valerie, Bob S. and Jay (for the great tour of THS). Super job!!!! - Toni Barthels Schwarting

I found the 40th very entertaining. There were many classmates there that time has worked its magic on and I had no idea who they were. In this chapter of the story I observed that the perception of plumage was not as big an issue as in the past. Time has taken its revenge on me as well as the small pictures and
print on the lapel button was very difficult to read in the low light. In all, the food was great and overall format was good. - Roy Hester

What a great reunion! Five days later I am still feeling the warmth and satisfaction of reconnecting with so many people from the past. I will be looking forward to seeing everyone in 2010! - Wanda Pruitt Gentry

I just wanted to congratulate you and your working gang on a great job. The reunion was outstanding, well organized and fun. Nerds Rule. - Jeff Younggren

Really had an awesome time, mentally strolling down memory lane with old classmates and friends. I must say however, watching Charlie Anderson on the dance floor was really worth the price of admission. Looking forward to 2010. - Jim Corrie

Leading up to our 40-year Reunion, I found myself a little nervous about whether I'd recognize people who were high school friends. As it turned out, old friends easily became renewed friends and it was like no time had passed at all. Well ... maybe a little. Unlike Arnie, Sharon Leigh did not ask me to dance but she did smile at me ... and that did the trick! I was amazed at the things people have accomplished (or in Arnie's case, not accomplished), but the really best part of it all was just seeing all those Badgers again. To the Committee: Please tell me how I can help with the 45th! - Al Chesser

I offer my thank you to everyone who has been a part of this process (Our forty year reunion). I really enjoyed myself! A special thank you to those I have known a long time as well as those I barely knew, who went out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable. - Shannon Ballard

I really enjoyed the reunion. It was great seeing people I haven't seen for ages. Elsa and I will probably move up to Tucson next year and I hope to renew old friendships. - Jesus Obregon

Judy and I just returned from our vacation. We started by attending the GREATEST reunion possible. Of course it was organized by the GREATEST group. You really surprised me with the plaque. I will display it in my office. I want you to know how pleased I am with your dilligence in tracking me down and keeping me informed. I don't know many people who would devote themselves like you did. Thank you! It was fun being with our former classmates and seeing all of their successes. I am looking forward to our 45th reunion. I hope those who could not attend the 40th will also be able to come and share their fond memories with the rest of us. Best Regards - Walt Coffman

What a wonderful weekend --- it was so much more than I expected thanks to an incredibly dedicated and hard working reunion committee. All of your efforts really paid off to make the reunion so memorable! Everyone looked great and it was definitely a trip down memory lane. Looking forward to seeing all of you at the 45th !- Jackie Krigstein Andazola

Arnie, Ileen, Kathy, Linda, Wanda and all of you who worked very hard, sacrificed your free time for months so that last weekend all of us could reunite and celebrate a wonderful shared past-----Thank You So Much!! It was a wonderful time. I am still very proud to be a Badger! with friendship - Molly McKasson

I had a great time and very glad I went. It was great see everyone and we are all aging very gracefully! Thank you and your harem for all the hard work you expended on our behalf. Thanks again. - Mike Gustafson

It was much more than expected. I was really expecting a few drinks, socializing with classmates for about an hour or two. All that was there, the extras such as trivia, gifts, and most of all the energy that continued through the whole event kept me there till the end. It was a HOOT!! Thanks, you made a memory. - Harv Nevins

Once again let me congratulate you and thank you for putting on such a great event. I was a bit overwhelmed at how good everyone looked - both inside and out! I really enjoyed myself and will not forget the memorable evening. - Taylor Scanlon

Great time, great job by you and all your helpers.There were so many people I didn't get to speak with,just not enough time.Thanks again.I don"t think any of us can understand how much work went into making everything go so well.Thanks again. - Dan Stewart

Thank you again for the really great job you and the harem committee did on our 40th . It was , I believe the best reunion we have had yet . I think mainly because of the good organization , plus the people that came were all reved up to really share of themselves - not only about the past ,but about our future. Thanks again , amigo for a job well done. - Frank Ross

Arnie, Thank you for hosting the best reunion ever! Even if it was my first. This was a great weekend for me and my husband. Even though he is younger, he made friends and was happy to have been a part of it. We are really looking forward to the next one in five years. We will keep looking out for new things on your website. Thank you again and God Bless - Cecelia Rosas

What a great reunion!! Thanks again to all the committee who worked so hard to get us all together-- or at least in communication. It was so much fun to see everyone again, have a chance to catch up on families and interests and just laugh. We missed all those who couldn't come. It was fabulous! - Sharon Leigh Dickson

I share Sharon's sentiments, the reunion was a great success. For Robert Saxon, I regret not having a chance to talk to you, but I did meet your lovely wife and quickly realized you work as a team. Thanks for playing such a big part in the reunion's success. It was difficult talk to everyone and hope to have another opportunity at the 45th. There were several at the reunion who said they were not on the THS Yahoo website or couldn't figure out how to get on it. I am sending them notes to remind them to contact Arnie if they have problems. Thanks again to all those who put in so much time for the special weekend. - Patti Garcia Hulings

What a great reunion! Thanks again for all your hard work. Relax and rest now - Margaret Higuera Gallegos

Had so looked forward to the reunion and it was everything and more than anticipated. What fun to catch up with those Badgers able to come. Such a myriad of different paths our lives have taken. Will be a definite attendee at the 45th! - Cleta McGee Blackledge