The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – The 112th Waitsburg High School Alumni Banquet and Reunion took place in the Waitsburg Elementary School multipurpose room on Saturday, May 23, with Darleen (Smith) Dozier, Class of '78 presiding. Dr. Carol Clarke welcomed alumni, guests and seniors of the 2015 graduating class.

Clarke expressed special pride in the importance of service taught to Waitsburg students. She specifically mentioned seniors Hannah Grant who gathered supplies and volunteers to paint the football field bleachers and Emma Philbrook who just finished her term as student representative for Waitsburg's City Council. Clarke also noted the elementary school's participation in the Walk for Water fundraisers the last two years. This year, students purchased Sawyer water filters for families living in the dumps in Guatamala.

Clarke drew attention to the recognition banners that nearly cover the fence in front of the tennis courts. The banners honor Waitsburg High School for being a top performing high school for seven years running and show Preston Hall with high standings in both math and progress.

Dozier introduced the new Karen Huwe Mohney Alumni Exemplary Service Award, created in honor of Mohney's "passion to contribute." The award, with nameplates for recipients to be added annually, will hang in Waitsburg High School, with each recipient being awarded a smaller version to keep. It was unanimously decided that Jeff Broom, Class of '64, for his many years of dedication and service, would be the first recipient of the award.

Wes Leid announced that the Alumni Scholarship Fund, which is just two years old, was able to fund two $1,000 scholarships this year, on interest alone. Leid said the goal is to be able to eventually fund twenty $1,000 scholarships, though he hopes to fund three in 2016. "Once we get it going, it will take care of itself," he said. "Without education our youth have no future."

The earliest class present was the Class of '39 represented by Ivan Keve. Joann (Hamilton) Stoneciper and Dorne Hall were next in line, representing the Class of '41. The youngest attendees were Katie Hutsell, Class of 2011, and Meara Baker, Class of 2014. The graduating class of 2015 was introduced and, in turn, introduced their families.

Dena Wood

Class of '65: Doris (Jensen) Luellen, Claudia (Moberly) Allen, Everett White, Billie Jean Tower, Katie (Mantz) Leid

Attendees offered a moment of silence in honor of the following Waitsburg High School graduates that passed during the last year: Lawrence "Barney" Fullerton ('31), Franklin "Pete" Kinder ('39), Virginia (Rinehart) Neace ('39), Bernard Donnelly ('44), William E. Brown ('48), Marry Ann Shaffer ('50), Arvilla (Katsel) Cyr ('51), Elena "Daisy" Brown ('51), Gary White ('61), Margaret (Nettles) Picton ('65), and Karen (Huwe) Mohney ('80).

The dinner wrapped up with the association's annual meeting. Current WHS Alumni officers are: Darleen (Smith) Dozier ('78), President; Elizabeth (Wood) Cole ('77), Vice-President; Meara Baker ('14), Recording Secretary; Patty Mantz ('63), Correspondence Secretary; Katie (Mantz) Leid ('65), Treasurer; Mary (Liebermann) Phillips ('57), Past President. Advisory board members include: Marge (Gagnon) Benson ('66), Jeff Broom ('64), Jim Leid '69 and Wes Leid ('63).