The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – Many alumni from various Dayton High School graduating classes made their way back to Dayton for Alumni Weekend. The annual celebration gives old classmates a chance to meet up and reminisce with high school friends.

The weekend started with the alumni parade, which featured floats made by classes celebrating milestone reunions, such as 10th, 20th, or 25th. The parade saw a wide range of classes entered, ranging from classes of the 1950s all the way up to the Class of 2006. The parade lasted a little over 20 minutes.

Following the parade was the annual alumni meeting. At the meeting, the winners of the various scholarships given by the alumni association and their donors or beneficiaries were introduced in front of the crowded Depot courtyard. They each gave a brief speech about their future educational and career plans with which the association's scholarships were helping.

Scholarship winners present included previous graduates Guy Spallinger and Ian Smay, as well as graduates from this year's Class of 2016, represented by Amber Johnson, Kensy Buroker, Travis Swan, Madison Mings, and Angie Dedloff.

Also taking place at the meeting were the awards for best parade floats. Third place went to the Class of 1986, followed by the Class of 1971 in second. The Class of 1956 was the overall winner for the float awards.

Ian Smay

Bill Eslick, who now lives in Texas, (left) was presented the award for alumnus traveling the farthest for this year's Alumni Weekend. Zella Powers presented the award, while commissioner Merle Jackson looked on.

The oldest present alumni award went to Bill Floyd, who is currently 101 years old. Bill Eslick, from Texas, was given the farthest traveler award, and Lawrence and Betty Turner won the honors for alumni couple married the longest, with the criteria being that they both had to be Dayton alumni.

Following the meeting was an open house at Dayton High School, which gave the former graduates a chance to revisit their alma mater, in which they spent much of their youth. Along with the open house was the dedication of the new sign in the front lawn of the high school.

Saturday night saw many classes hold reunion parties around town.

Sunday afternoon brought alumni weekend to an end with a picnic in the park for all alumni. The picnic started at noon, and saw many attendees for an afternoon full of memories and old friends reconnecting.

This year marked the 40th annual alumni weekend. Congratulations to all Bulldogs past and present.