"Whew! Well, THAT was fun! I sure hope you all had a great time. I did! There are a number of you with whom I had hoped to visit and never got the chance, and I regret that, but even just to see everybody, and to see everybody smiling, talking, laughing, and having a good time absolutely made my day! Linda Campbell was very generous to single me out for thanks in front of our assembly. I cannot say it enough that this reunion would not have happened without the foundation and framework provided by Gary Hedberg and his website work. Linda was good to recognize his incredible contribution! But mine? Perhaps I gave more hours to this event than anyone else, but I had them to give. And, truly, it was a pleasure to spend them on all of you. My memories of all of you are good ones! BUT I HAD HELP WITH THIS WORK, YOU KNOW! I wish I had had the presence of mind to publicly thank all of our contributors reunion evening, but I did not! Just so you know, Diane Knowles put together our huge initial mailing and got it out to all of you from her home in Texas. Diane also made tons of fun alumni buttons for us to wear at the football game on Friday! Mary Lang and Linda Campbell were in from the start. They arranged for the parties at our two facilities, the 94th AeroSquadron for the icebreaker and the Village Grill and Tavern for our reunion dinner, as well as our overnight accommodations at the Wyndham Hotel. Alixe Lischett generously donated the beer and wine for the hospitality suite, where many continued the party until 5:30 a.m. following the reunion! Alixe also created the clever denim-look name badges with the little "70" tag that most of us wore.  Diane Greven contacted radio and TV stations, as well as local papers to broadcast word of our reunion. All the way from California, Mark Neubauer coordinated a relaxing golf outing on Saturday for our sporting classmates. So many helped with the countless phone calls that needed to be made. And made again! Alixe Lischett, Diane Knowles, Mark Neubauer, Mary Lang, Linda Campbell, Skip Tubbs, Terri Zaehler, and Teri White were in on that effort with me! Bev Koeppen helped us out on reunion evening as a greeter along with Teri White. So many others helped, too, whether it was offering encouragement, advice, or tracking down a piece of information needed to locate someone. So, as I was thanked reunion evening, I, in turn, offer a huge thank you to all these people I've mentioned and to the ones I've surely forgotten! The tremendously fun weekend we just enjoyed would not have taken place without the many minds and hands and voices that worked together to fashion it! See you in five, everyone! And by the way, I plan to spend the next five years hunting down the classmates we never found. YOU plan to keep in touch with me or the website so we know where you are come 2005! Okay? Thanks!"

I just want to thank everyone who worked so hard to put the reunion together. It was great. Seeing old friends (even the ones I did not remember, which was most of them) was wonderful. I am sure that I was like so many others who were apprehensive about attending. I know that I am glad I went and everyone felt the same. The format for the whole weekend was great and really a good way for people to meet each other.

My only story was of seeing Mark Lasley after all these years. He and I lived in the same apartment building in the city when we were babies. When I moved to the Wheeling schools in fifth grade I knew him. ALL the girls had a crush on him as I remember. I brought a picture of him and me in a playpen to school (mostly to embarrass him). I don't think he ever spoke to me again until Saturday night at the reunion. 

The pictures are so good , I forwarded them to my mother. She loved seeing them as did I.
Thanks again for all your hard work. It was appreciated. --Jeffrie JOY Young Jacobs

Gary Hedberg


Class of 1969

I had a wonderful time at the reunion renewing old friendships, making new ones,  and taking pictures.  Like Rhonda,  I want to thank all the committee members for all their work and dedication that made this reunion a very special occasion.  The homecoming game, with the drum major and Willie the Wildcat being flown in by chopper. The brilliant fireworks display at half time. What a wonderful start to the weekend.  Then all the 'oldster' guys ogling the 20-something Russian girls dancing on the dance floor. The observations that John Rosi hasn't changed a bit. The excited scream of Wendy Acker when she signed in at the reunion as she recognized old friends.  John aka Mike Shea no longer being the high voiced scrawny kid everyone picked on in high school.  Art Leimetter going from long haired hippy to Arnold.  Eric Christiansen and Butch Edwards putting the squeeze on the doorway.  Having the management at the Wyndham threaten to close us down for excessive noise 2 or 3 times. Teri White getting a little over exposed in the Murphy bed. Social butterfly, Linda Campbell being in almost every picture taken.  Weeks before the reunion, Steve Piehl (aka Jean Luc Picard) convincing Rhonda and I, alumni that Wayne Goldthwaite was Bobcat Goldthwaite!  Mary Lang's confession that she invented Post-It Notes (a la "Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion") These all made for a great time and wonderful memories.  Thanks Everyone!!!