Looking Back: GVHS Alumni Banquet

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

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Last Saturday evening, the Grain Valley High School Alumni Association held their (almost) annual Alumni Banquet. World War II and the recent pandemic have prevented us from meeting every year since the founding in 1909. But over the past 115 years, Grain Valley alumni have missed fewer than five years coming together to celebrate a true rite of passage, high school graduation.

In some instances, we can count among our classmates teachers at every level of education, doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs of every type. There were moms and dads, and lots of grandparents at our gathering. We had representatives from several states, including New Mexico, Wyoming, Alaska, Texas, and yes, Costas (Class of 1966) was here from Australia! But mostly, we can count among our classmates a group of lifelong friends and genuinely good people.

And although we don’t see each other often, sharing our high school years gives us a bond that last forever.  This year, the oldest alumnus in attendance was John Robert Washburn, Class of 1953. Others from the 50s included Janice Thompson Butler, Donald Uptegrove, Donna Mann, Donald Perry and Clyde and Don Nebgen. (I apologize for anyone I left out).

But what I really wanted to talk about this week was the banquet location.  With very few exceptions, the banquet has always been at the high school, unless you considered the cafeteria from 1954 through 1995 to be at the elementary school. Some years, it was held upstairs in the library in the 1925 school. And some years, the banquet was held in the gymnasium, but in recent years it has been in the high school commons.

This year, due to construction of the new gymnasium at the high school, the event was held at North Middle School. Memories were shared, dinner was enjoyed, and scholarships were awarded to three soon to be alumni: Megan Davies, granddaughter of Ron Davies (Class of 1962); Carson Sallee, grandson of Beverly (Wolfe) and Carl Sallee (Class of 1966), and  Evan Dennard, son of Mary (Tapense) Dennard (Class of 2005).

And speaking of location, Nancy (Class of 1964) and Terri Norris (Class of 1967) were in town for the event and they brought me the abstract for the land which was owned by their family during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Next week, I will give you the history of that land, now home to North Middle School, the Early Childhood Center and perhaps someday, Grain Valley North!

Visit the Historical Society and see old yearbooksand the artifacts from Grain Valley High School. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society