A letter to the HHS class of 2019, with notes to the HHS class of 1968
Lead Summary
By
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By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
If I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about my popularity this year or measure myself too hard against the other things teenagers often value, class of 2019.
From my experience, I can tell you by the time you reach your 50th class reunion in 2069, none of this will matter.
The Hillsboro High School class of 1968, of which I am a member, just had our 50th anniversary this past weekend, with a tailgating party Friday night, a social and dinner Saturday evening and a couple of other events scattered throughout the weekend.
It was a great time of fellowship and remembrance. We played games, such as asking, “Who takes the most pills daily?” Answer: A grateful liver transplant recipient who takes 70 pills a day. (Show off!)
A crowd of about 75 – including spouses and significant others – gathered to remember what we don’t remember. It seems like we all get along now, cliques have evaporated, and I watched in amazement as those who used to pass silently in the halls now seek each other out and inquire with genuine concern about what has been going on in their lives.
I had some discussions with people Saturday night that were longer than the entire time we had ever talked in our four years of high school. We are battle-scarred 68-year-olds and enjoy celebrating that we made it this far, no matter who were our best friends back in the day.
Mr. Alexander and his wife attended. The 1967-68 school year was his first at Hillsboro High School. As he stood up, I wondered to myself if he would tell a story about a certain group of three students, a cigar and detention.
Yes! He volunteered it and nailed the details exactly as I remembered them. I was impressed. I am certain he had many classes after ours which had miscreants doing other things worthy of honorable mention. Graciously, he confined his comments to our class.
I was asked to reminisce a bit more about Mr. Kinney, whom I had written about in The Highland County Press in the past. I fumbled through a few remembrances, but the most amazing words about Mr. Kinney were those shared with me after the dinner was over by other classmates.
He, like many teachers, touched many lives.
Mrs. Armstrong (Donna) lost her husband last week. As an old neighbor of hers, I went to visit her Saturday morning. She told me she would like to have come, but under the circumstances could not make it.
Donna, please know that you were discussed among – and fondly remembered by – many students. And our condolences were expressed at your loss.
Other activities of note included a bet concerning a certain election that was paid off Friday night and duly recorded for posterity. If you want to see this, check the HHS Class of ’68 Facebook page.
I thought I was at the wrong school Friday night when the Hillsboro Indians won their fifth game in a row. I think back in the 1960s we celebrated when they won their fifth game – in total in our four years at HHS.
Of course, all of this takes lots of work. I asked our class secretary, Joyce Haley Holt, who always works hard on our reunions, to supply the names of the others on the Reunion Committee so we could properly acknowledge all of them here.
They are: Sharon Long Yochum, Mike Yochum, Jim Rooney, Connie Yarger Hanna, Joyce Walker Baker, Marilyn Wharton, Janice Bayless Smith and Nancy Gotherman Avedisian. On behalf of the entire class, and especially those of us who live out of town, thank you for your efforts. They are very much appreciated.
Of course, sadly, at these events, we have a time of remembrance for those who are no longer with us, who now number nearly 30.
For your benefit, HHS class of 2019, I would estimate these early deaths split nearly equally into two groups: Those passing from cancer and those who died of heart attacks.
It is wise to think about your lifestyle habits starting now. The good news on the health front is that there is a fantastic number of us who are cancer survivors.
I am sure I speak for all of us when I tell you 50 years passes in an amazing, blinding flash. It is a blur of history, and we can’t quite grasp how we got here so quickly. At a snap of the fingers, class of 2019, you will be at 2069. Use your limited time wisely.
What might be our final words of advice to the class of 2019? There was a famous old nationally syndicated disc jockey, Casey Kasem, who always closed his show with this wise admonishment: “Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.”
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.
HCP columnist
If I were you, I wouldn’t worry too much about my popularity this year or measure myself too hard against the other things teenagers often value, class of 2019.
From my experience, I can tell you by the time you reach your 50th class reunion in 2069, none of this will matter.
The Hillsboro High School class of 1968, of which I am a member, just had our 50th anniversary this past weekend, with a tailgating party Friday night, a social and dinner Saturday evening and a couple of other events scattered throughout the weekend.
It was a great time of fellowship and remembrance. We played games, such as asking, “Who takes the most pills daily?” Answer: A grateful liver transplant recipient who takes 70 pills a day. (Show off!)
A crowd of about 75 – including spouses and significant others – gathered to remember what we don’t remember. It seems like we all get along now, cliques have evaporated, and I watched in amazement as those who used to pass silently in the halls now seek each other out and inquire with genuine concern about what has been going on in their lives.
I had some discussions with people Saturday night that were longer than the entire time we had ever talked in our four years of high school. We are battle-scarred 68-year-olds and enjoy celebrating that we made it this far, no matter who were our best friends back in the day.
Mr. Alexander and his wife attended. The 1967-68 school year was his first at Hillsboro High School. As he stood up, I wondered to myself if he would tell a story about a certain group of three students, a cigar and detention.
Yes! He volunteered it and nailed the details exactly as I remembered them. I was impressed. I am certain he had many classes after ours which had miscreants doing other things worthy of honorable mention. Graciously, he confined his comments to our class.
I was asked to reminisce a bit more about Mr. Kinney, whom I had written about in The Highland County Press in the past. I fumbled through a few remembrances, but the most amazing words about Mr. Kinney were those shared with me after the dinner was over by other classmates.
He, like many teachers, touched many lives.
Mrs. Armstrong (Donna) lost her husband last week. As an old neighbor of hers, I went to visit her Saturday morning. She told me she would like to have come, but under the circumstances could not make it.
Donna, please know that you were discussed among – and fondly remembered by – many students. And our condolences were expressed at your loss.
Other activities of note included a bet concerning a certain election that was paid off Friday night and duly recorded for posterity. If you want to see this, check the HHS Class of ’68 Facebook page.
I thought I was at the wrong school Friday night when the Hillsboro Indians won their fifth game in a row. I think back in the 1960s we celebrated when they won their fifth game – in total in our four years at HHS.
Of course, all of this takes lots of work. I asked our class secretary, Joyce Haley Holt, who always works hard on our reunions, to supply the names of the others on the Reunion Committee so we could properly acknowledge all of them here.
They are: Sharon Long Yochum, Mike Yochum, Jim Rooney, Connie Yarger Hanna, Joyce Walker Baker, Marilyn Wharton, Janice Bayless Smith and Nancy Gotherman Avedisian. On behalf of the entire class, and especially those of us who live out of town, thank you for your efforts. They are very much appreciated.
Of course, sadly, at these events, we have a time of remembrance for those who are no longer with us, who now number nearly 30.
For your benefit, HHS class of 2019, I would estimate these early deaths split nearly equally into two groups: Those passing from cancer and those who died of heart attacks.
It is wise to think about your lifestyle habits starting now. The good news on the health front is that there is a fantastic number of us who are cancer survivors.
I am sure I speak for all of us when I tell you 50 years passes in an amazing, blinding flash. It is a blur of history, and we can’t quite grasp how we got here so quickly. At a snap of the fingers, class of 2019, you will be at 2069. Use your limited time wisely.
What might be our final words of advice to the class of 2019? There was a famous old nationally syndicated disc jockey, Casey Kasem, who always closed his show with this wise admonishment: “Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.”
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.