The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - A group of Dayton High School graduates came up with the idea to have an annual 'All Class Reunion.'

In 1977, the event went from an idea to a reality. The 35th annual Dayton High School reunion is gearing up this weekend with events scheduled for July 16 and 17.

Registration for alumni will be at several locations on Main Street on Saturday morning. Registration tables can be found on the corners of Second and Main beginning at 9 a.m. until the parade ends and at the Depot grounds. Returning alumni are encouraged to visit the registration tables, "so we can keep track of who is coming to this event," alumni committee secretary Mary Laughery said.

Saturday morning will kick off with the annual parade beginning at 10 a.m. The parade will begin staging at Dayton High School and go through 4th and Main Street. The parade's first place winners of class floats are required to be present at the annual meeting to accept the Marcia Harting Memorial Trophy.

Parade entries are set to include Mule Mania this year and in total 10 entries have already registered. Laughery said by the weekend a few more are likely to enter. In addition to the trophy, monetary awards are given for the top three winners.

First in line will be Parade Marshals Barbara (Leighty) Hanger and Leota (Boggs) Laughery also commonly known as "the call girls." Hanger, class of 1942 and Laughery class of 1945 have been calling alumni association members for years, and have been a part of the association since 1976.

The two got their nickname "The Call Girls" by calling members each month to remind them of the monthly meetings, times and locations. The two will be chauffeured by Warren Talbott in his Thunderbird convertible leading this year's parade.

Immediately following the parade, Saturday, the annual Dayton High School Alumni Association meeting will be held at the Dayton Depot Courtyard. Refreshments will be provided to at- tendees on the depot grounds.

DHS will be open for tours, Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p. m. The Columbia County Courthouse will also be open for tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To culminate the weekend events, a DHS Alumni and community potluck-style picnic will be held Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the City Park. Tables and table service will be provided. However, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and their own beverages.

During the weekend events a raffle will be hosted by the committee with a $300 grand prize. The alumni association invites all to attend the weekend festivities. For more information, guests are encouraged to call Dayton Alumni Association Secretary Mary Laughery at 382-4051 or Treasurer Zella Powers at 382-2225.