SHS alumni enjoy annual banquet

There’s a bond that can never be severed. It is nurtured during the 12 or 13 years spent together from kindergarten or first grade until graduation day. Those who attended the 141^st Salem High School alumni banquet share it and thrive on it.

The bond is not limited to classmates, it is shared among all ages, 99 to 18. Carolyn Haag was the oldest alumnus in attendance, graduating with the class of 1935. Other seasoned graduates included Clendell Williams, class of 1942 and Gerald Mays from the class of 1943. The upcoming graduating class of 2018 was represented with 12 students, along with class sponsor, Mr. Carter.

Alumni have many different reasons for coming to the annual banquet. The honored classes are always well represented but others come for varied reasons. Sandy Colglazier Woodward, class of 1970, is following in her dad’s footsteps. “He came every year to see everybody from school and others he knew from the community who attended Salem schools,” she said. She was also preparing for her upcoming 50-year reunion.

Three of the Hardin siblings try to attend every year. Sisters, Linda Hardin and Donna Hardin Walker both have April birthdays and since the banquet is held every year in April, their brother Mike buys them tickets as their birthday present and they attend together. 

A few came just to be a part of the official, unofficial “rowdy table.” Friends Stephanie Sease Sabens and Kristy Newby Buscher said the rowdy table started with an annual gathering of classmates but has grown into a table of friends, with many classes represented. 

Both honor speakers from the 25 and 50-year class alluded to this bond. It’s not tied to a building but to the people who walked with you on a daily basis, not just classmates but teachers and staff, as well.

In his role of President of the Alumni Association for 2018, Jason Wade also served as the emcee for the evening. He let everyone know early on that his date for the evening was his mom, Nona and that by having her with him he hoped he could stay out of trouble unlike during his earlier tenure at SHS.

Just like Jason, many graduates also share their alma mater with their parents. This year’s 25-year class had two classmates with students in the 2018 class, Cheryl Taylor Brishaber and son, Evan along with Kerri Howell Foutch and son, Cameron. Cameron’s grandmother, Sharon Elrod Howell was in the 50-year class but was unable to attend the banquet.

Before the program began, however, banquet coordinator Shirley Clark Nale had a little surprise cooked up for Jason. Rumor has it that 35 years ago when Jason was in kindergarten, in Mrs. Kramer’s class, he didn’t get to participate in a class tradition and he has been heard complaining about it ever since. 

Mrs. Kramer had a big drum in her room and all the children were able to bang the drum on their birthday but Jason shared his birthday with a little girl in his class. She spoke up first about it being her birthday and she got to beat the drum. He never got to beat the drum until April 27, 2018 when the big drum appeared at the alumni banquet and Jason finally got his turn to beat the drum conveniently sitting in front of the podium.

See Lana's full story in an upcoming issue of The Salem Leader or The Salem Democrat.