Top Row: (L to R) Thomas Wimberly, Pat Barbaro, Bob Wilson, Bob Poole, Louis Fluck, Jerry Staudacher, Tom Harper, Kenneth Fuller, Arthur Boatright, Bob Wyatt, John Mitchell, and Steve May.
     Third Row: (L to R): Roma Norris Sample, Ray Fuller, Donna Anderson Cain, Shirley Shoot Harper, Eva Jean Drew, Winona Wandling Katnik, Elaine Dodds Hancock, Norma Baker Fosse, Phyllis Owen Gray, Pat Chester Helm, Sandra Minton Barra, Betsy Williams Lewis, Brenda Collins Blume, Flora Clarida Reilly, Delores Wohlwend Voight, Delores Davenport Lovelace, Lois Draper Zdankiewicz, and Jack Anderson.
     Second Row: (L to R): Wilma Hampton Lawson, Lois Arnold Rissi, Evelyn Walker Perry, Sharon Dettmer Simmons, Shirley Darter Eason, Judy Ferguson Manning, Frances Merritt Bracy, Betty Emerson Blades, Sue Moore Bernhard, Frankie Hart Boatright, Judy Odum Mezo, Sadie Young Reynolds, and Carole Holland Ashton.
     Bottom (First) Row (L to R): Don Wilson, Randall Drury, Don Helm, Jim Phemister, Warren Douglas, Dick Clarida, Larry Feurer, and Jerry Bell. 

     Editor's note: This class picture above was taken Saturday, October 11, 1997 in the Holidome of the Holiday Inn in Marion, IL before it lost its franchise and closed in 1999. The Holiday Inn opened its doors for the first time June 1, 1969. It had a 30-year run.
Welcome, Class of 1957!
     It has been 15 years since our last reunion in 1982. At that time, Marion had just experienced a devastating tornado one month before that destroyed a wide swath of homes and lives throught the town from west to east. Our country was in the midst of a bad recession and Ronald Reagan was our president. The Soviet Union was our adversary and the Berlin Wall divided West and East. IBM had just marketed their first Personal Computer with little knowledge that the little PC was to be their downfall as the king of the computer companies. Microsoft was a little company in Washington State that had very big ideas about how computers should interact with humans.
     We were all a lot younger and still had lots of dreams since we were in the prime of our lives. We are now celebrating our 40th year since our graduation in 1957. Our lives have changed considerably since we walked down the gymnasium floor on Monday, May 27, 1957 and our principal, Bill Bundy, and Unit 2 Superintendent, Robert E. McKinney, handed us our diplomas. Many of us		 went to college, many of us followed into jobs involving trades. Some of us were lucky in love and some weren't. Some of our classmates have departed this world but most are still here, healthy and strong as ever.
     We are now looking at the most satisfying phase of our lives, retirement, when we can enjoy the fruits of our work and our children's children. It is a time for reflection and a time to share our experiences with the youth of our high school who will soon be experiencing the joys and sorrows of living just as we did 40 years ago.
     The steering committee sincerely hope everyone attending this reunion finds some kind of fulfillment and hope for the future. We have tried to make this reunion as interesting as possible. We could not afford to charter a jet and take everyone to the Bahamas since no one in our class has yet won the lottery. But sharing our memories with our classmates should take care of us for another 5-10 years. Have fun!
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 10, 1997
5:00 to 8:00pm CDT, Registration. Registration tent will be located at the Marion High School practice field located at the end of South Carbon Street. Follow the signs. You will receive a list of classmates attending the reunion and where they can be reached locally; a mailing list of the entire class; and a name tag which you should wear while attending all organized functions.

5:00 to 8:00pm CDT, Tailgate Party at the Marion High School practice field located at the west side of the playing field. We hope to have a tent set-up with chairs for everone. Hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and all the rest of the trimmings will be on the menu. Soft drinks will be provided. This is the time to get together to renew acquaintances before the game starts.

8:00 to 9:30pm CDT, Homecoming Game between the Centralia Orphans and the Marion Wilcats varsity teams. We will be sitting in a special designated section of the home team stands on the South Side of Edwards Field. Homecoming events include a half-time program in which the queen candidates are introduced and the Marion High School marching band will present their program. Our class presence will be recognized by the MC. It you are in the romantic mood and want to go to the homecoming dance, we can make the necessary arrangements for you and your loved one to attend.

10:00 to ???? pm CDT, Renew Friendships Get-Together at the Holiday Inn Holidome. This is not an organized event but it will allow you to renew old acquaintances in the warm and fuzzy atmosphere of a friendly drink and familiar surroundings. Meet at the west end of the Holdome. Drinks on your own.

Saturday, October 11, 1997

6:30 to 7:30pm CDT, Registration and Hospitality Hour at the Holiday Inn Holidome. Another un-organized event. Drinks on your own.

7:30 to ???? pm CDT, Buffet Dinner and Reunion Program at the Holiday Inn. Menu includes top round of beef AuJus, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes & gravy, whole kernel corn, and baby carrots, salad bar, rolls and butter, choice of drink (coffee, tea, soft drink, or milk). Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available in the Holidome (cash bar).

Reunion Program will be hosted by Warren Douglas and other steering committee members. Gag prizes will be given for 1) coming the farthest; 2) most grand-children; 3) most children; 4) married the longest to the same person; 5) changed least; 6) and changed most. If you have any suggestions or want to make a speech to the class, let us know and we can put you on the program. We will also have a short business meeting to determine if we want to have a fiftieth class reunion in the year 2007. Music by Elvia Presley, Boby Darien, Buddy Holly, the Drifters, other famous rock and roll stars of our high school years.

Class Reunion Pictures will be taken at this program. We will also have a video made (VHS format). The Class picture can be ordered for $10:00 each and the video will cost $17.00 each. Orders can be made at the event.

Sunday, October 12, 1997

All Day. On your own. If you want to visit family or old friends or just drive around the area and see the changes in Marion during the last 40 years, this is your time. We will have open houses at selected steering committee members homes for classmates that do not have any family or friends in the area to visit. Call 618-993-3134 or 618-997-4793 to make reservations for the open house.