YHS1974

Young High School Class of 1974
30th Reunion

See photos and a list of attendees at end of page

The Young High School Class of '74 enjoyed a wonderful 30th reunion September 4-5, 2004. Attendees included over 40 classmates, 5 teachers, 1 principal and several spouses and family members (this was the best attendance in recent years). The dinner Saturday night was pay-as-you-go at the Chop’s Grill on Chapman Highway. The 80-seat dining room was filled to capacity (next reunion we expect to need a larger location!) We had the best entertainment: each other! We intended to have some background music, but never got around to it. The sound of happy voices was our music. (There WAS a ball game showing on a big-screen TV, but no sound, for people who needed something sports-related to talk about.) The picnic Sunday was bring-your-own-food at Duff Field. There were 14 classmates (including 3 who didn't attend Saturday) plus some family members. So the entire weekend was very affordable, informal and great for catching up on the news of long-time-ago friends and acquaintances.

Click on image to enlarge

Read some comments from various classmates who attended:

	Was a great success.
	The evening really turned out well, and I think that everyone enjoyed themselves.
	Everything went smoothly and successfully. I had a wonderful time seeing and speaking with everyone and was amazed at how many people I could still recognize! However, the name tags with photos was brilliant; no need to tax the aging brain cells trying to bring up distant memories. Keep me in mind for the next reunion.
	It was a fun weekend seeing everyone. Interesting for sure… how people had or hadn't changed. There weren't really a lot of surprises.
	I had a blast seeing everyone at the reunion.
	I had a GREAT time. The thing I thought the most about was the few people that this was their first time attending our reunion and not believing how much of a good time they were having and questioning their selves on why they had not came sooner!!
	I was so glad I got to attend the reunion. I'm still amazed at those I didn't recognize. It was simply wonderful to see everyone that made it! I was still surprised that some didn't make it. My husband found out that he is related to one of our classmates. He never knew that in all these years. Wild, isn't it? I couldn't believe one of our classmates came right up and shook my hand. He hardly ever spoke to me in school.
	We had so much fun seeing the "grown-up" class of '74! Isn't it interesting to know the various paths our lives have led us? (Faculty)
	Thank you again for inviting me to your reunion. I told my wife that your group had the kind of reunion that my class should have - no silly entertainment. The purpose of the reunion is to re-establish old friendships. (Faculty)

There were a few first-time-reunion-attendees; some of them are determined to bring some of those other never-attended classmates to the next reunion!

There were a number of people who had indicated they would attend the reunion, but then they didn't. If you are one of those, we were really disappointed that you didn’t make it, and hope that it works out for you to attend the next reunion.

We still need to locate a few people. If you are not on Donna Morgan Barger’s contact list (or you find someone who isn’t), we’d really like to get you there, so that you won’t miss your next opportunity to participate in the same kind of reunion we experienced this year. Please email her at dbarger@jdnb.com or call 512-797-2950. If you can at least provide a phone number or email address, she should be able to reach you for more details.

Quite a few people said they would like to get together again as soon as next year. One person suggested a 50th birthday party for all of us in 2006. (That might also catch one classmate who lives in Hawaii and one who lives in California; they return to Knoxville every couple of years.) One classmate offered to host the next reunion on his farm, with hayride, nature trail, lots of outdoor space. What a wonderful offer! We’ll definitely be talking more with him. Also, in 2008, Carol Moore plans another "all YHS" reunion. Carol's email address is clmoore@geoe.com if you would like to be notified. So, we have several opportunities to get people together again over the next few years.

If you are a ‘74’er, we hope to see YOU at the next reunion!

Click on image to enlarge: