On Saturday, June 14, during the school’s most recent and last reunion banquet, Milford High class of 1965 representative Don Bucher gave a speech. Bucher was honored into the Indiana Water Ski Hall of Fame not long ago.
MILFORD The Milford High School graduates Association celebrated a century of community, remembrance, and school pride with its 100th and final supper on Saturday, June 14, at 5 p.m., attended by over 190 graduates and visitors.
Ron Baumgartner, a 1962 graduate and president of the Alumni Association, said, “We have a heck of a good turnout; we’ve tripled last year’s numbers.”
The Milford School building served as the venue for the yearly celebration, which drew alumni from all over the nation, including Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia. Dinner, class awards, music, and a keynote speech by 1960 classmate and Milford resident Barrie Rassi were all part of the event.
First dedicated in 1914, Milford High School closed in 1968 to make way for Wawasee High School. Fifteen one-room country schools were merged to form the institution.
The master of ceremonies, Barrie Rassi, spoke about his family’s generational heritage in Milford and the value of preserving memories during the Milford High School 100th Anniversary Banquet.
Alumni from historic graduation classes were honored at this year’s luncheon, including Phyllis Miller Sorensen, who represented the class of 1950; Jimmy Moore, who represented the class of 1955; Margi Brooks, who represented the class of 1960; and Don Bucher, who represented the class of 1965.
Phyllis Miller Sorensen, the only member of the class of 1950, was honored, as were a number of graduates from the class of 1955. Moore thought fondly of the tight-knit group.
“I wouldn’t trade it for any other school in the world,” he remarked, adding that everyone liked one other.
Leatrice Rapp, a 1941 graduate, was the first alumnus present.
Anthony Beer, a pianist from the 1986 Wawasee class, accompanied the attendees as they sang the Milford High School anthem before to supper.
We have been singing the school prep song a cappella without piano for a number of years, Baumgartner joked.
The cafeteria staff at Milford School prepared a meal that featured fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a cake for the school’s 100th anniversary. The lunch was once catered by Penguin Point, but since the restaurant chain’s demise in 2023, it has been made internally.
In addition to a reproduced 1968 Milford High School history booklet, attendees were given commemorative coffee mugs. Alumni were able to access old year books and other items.
I put it in a frame after we planned it out, and here is it: “Melba Method Lienhart’s diploma from Milford High School, dated April 27, 1921,” Baumgartner stated, pointing to a framed diploma that was 104 years old.Margaret Brooks’ necrology report, which honored alumni who had died in the previous year, was also featured in the program.
At the Milford High School Banquet, Jimmy Moore, a representative of the class of 1955, talked about how school was like family.
Rassi, a native of Milford, an educator, and a graduate of Indiana University, gave the keynote presentation and related anecdotes from his book The Road Traveled: Rassi Family History and Personal Memoir. Rassi talked about growing up in Milford, tracked his family’s immigration from Germany, and advocated for the preservation of family history.
According to Rassi, their descendants might not be aware of their origins if there is no written record. For this reason, I advise you to tell your family your experience.
The alumni association’s planning committee also concluded with the banquet; the leftover papers will be donated to the Milford Public Library. Any money left over will be used to create a new school building in Milford, which will replace the current, dilapidated structure.
Guests gradually left as the evening drew to a close, still catching up with old acquaintances and making plans to stay in touch.
According to Baumgartner, we performed well. Yes, we did.
