Class of 1973 to hold 50th reunion

SHS Class of 1973 will be holding their 50th class reunion on Aug. 18-19 at the library meeting room. It will kick off with a meet and greet at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 18. 

Saturday will continue with a tour of Old Stoney, a picnic luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the library meeting room and participation in Old Stoney’s 100th anniversary activities. We would welcome anyone in the community who wants to stop by Friday evening or Saturday afternoon to say hi and talk for a while.

1973 was a year of ups and downs. The Vietnam War ended with the signing of the Paris Peace Accord and the military draft was abolished. Watergate took down President Richard Nixon and there was the standoff at Wounded Knee.

Secretariat won the Triple Crown, Miami defeated Washington in Super Bowl VII, and baseball great Willie Mays announced his retirement. The World Trade Center held its ribbon-cutting, FedEx began operations and Roe v Wade came before the Supreme Court.

Godfather won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Singer/songwriter Jim Croce was killed in a plane crash. The highest-grossing movies of the year were The Exorcist, The Sting, American Graffiti, Papillon, The Way We Were, Magnum Force, Disney’s Robin Hood, Walking Tall, Serpico and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Here in Sundance, the graduating class of 1973 was a large one, with 52 members, including two foreign exchange students. Happenings of the year included a 6-6 tie in our homecoming football game with Midwest.

Allen Bailey was named All-State and All-Conference defensive end, plus All-Conference in basketball. The wrestling team racked up another State Championship, their fifth, with Steve Necklason an individual state champ.

In track, Mike Beaudoin, Clayr Alexander and Allen Bailey set new school records. Cheerleaders were Joan Cressman, Mary Pridgeon, and Janet Clark.

Royalty included Clayr Alexander and Janet Clark at Homecoming, Kevin Moline and Mary Pridgeon at Prom and Kevin Moline and Janet Clark at Snoball. Two plays were performed during the year – “Pride and Prejudice” and “Headin’ for the Hills.”

The marching band traveled to Casper for the Central States Fair, Douglas for the State Fair, and Laramie for UW Band Days. FFA carnival, Junior-Senior Banquet, band concerts, and a myriad of other activities filled a jam-packed year.

Graduation finally arrived with Marilyn Schelldorf as Valedictorian and Bonnie Kipp as Salutatorian. Then our time together was over and we scattered. 

Our high school annual included these words from a famous song of the day – “Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end. We’d sing and dance forever and a day, we’d lead the life we choose. We’d fight and never lose, for we were young and sure to have our way.” We carried those words out into the world 50 years ago – and we carry them back with us this week.

Please come by to say hello! If you need more information please call Jill Mackey at 307-290-3111.