Members of MHS Class ’77 enjoy special reunion
Members of the Monticello High School Class of 1977 are describing their 40th class reunion over the Fourth of July weekend as “epic.”
The reunion was a four-day affair, consisting of a “meet and greet” on Friday, June 30 at the Hillside Sports Bar & Grill, a float of the Maquoketa River the next day, a golf outing and banquet on Sunday, July 2 at the Monticello Golf Club, and on Monday, July 3, a tour of the Monticello Middle School, which housed grades 7-12 when the class graduated in 1977.
The 115 people who attended the banquet (60 classmates with 35 spouses and guests, and 13 former faculty members with seven spouses and guests) were greeted by the reunion organizers and other classmates in 1970s attire, including Homecoming Queen Micaela (Randolph) Monk in a gown and tiara, although she admitted it wasn’t the original crown that she gave to her granddaughter.
Class member Doug Tuetken of Delhi complimented the organizers (Dave Haag of Monticello, Nancy Corbin of Sandefjord, Norway, and Susie (Linn) Pillard of Central City) for the program that followed the banquet meal.
In addition to awards given for such things as farthest traveled, most grandchildren, longest beard, and oldest and youngest class members in attendance, the program included a memorial for the eight classmates who have died, and speeches by Luis Campos, the class’ foreign exchange student from Mexico who now lives in Salt Lake City, and Steve Williams, former district superintendent. Names were also drawn for about 50 door prizes, including a couple dozen donated by Monticello merchants. CDs of music from when the class was growing up were also distributed.
“I do appreciate the work Nancy, Dave and Susie put into it,” Tuetken said.
Ruth Webber of Grand Mound said the weekend was “pretty memorable” and it was great seeing so many former classmates. She said she got a kick out of the fact the first two questions almost everyone asked her were, “How many grandkids do you have and are you retired yet?”
Jim McVay of Chandler, Ariz., who traveled the farthest for the reunion, said, “The whole thing was a lot of fun,” noting that each night got progressively later with the dancing and music (provided by DJ Tyler Johnson) after the banquet, wrapping up at 2 a.m.
Haag said he was pleased with how everything turned out and was impressed with the number of classmates who showed up.
“Everything we did was fun, just all of it,” Haag said of the variety of activities throughout the weekend.
Corbin, who has been back in Monticello the past few years serving as caregiver of her parents, Bill and Jane Corbin, said reconnecting with “high school classmates, friends that I haven’t seen in years, the kids we grew up with, now 40 years later” made the effort put into organizing the reunion worthwhile.
“Sharing Sunday night with our teachers and faculty truly completed our evening dinner event,” she added.
Pillard, a retied teacher herself, also pointed to the presence of former teachers as something that made the reunion memorable.
“It was a lot of work, but it was fun work,” Pillard said of organizing the events. “It was great to see everyone having a good time.”
Several classmates commented on not wanting another five years to pass for another get-together. Corbin suggested periodic lunches and breakfasts so the fun and fellowship can continue.
Visit the Class of 1977 reunion website for more photos: https://tinyurl.com/y8twguhr.
Terry Coyle works the night copy desk for the Portage Daily Register, Beaver Dam Daily Citizen and Baraboo News Republic in Wisconsin.