Alumni reunited at annual event

More than 100 people attended Saturday’s Mendon Alumni Association annual meeting and dinner.

Ella Labram, an association member who helped organize the evening event, said attendance was consistent with past years. As always, she said, there were plenty of hugs, lots of socializing and a good meal.

“We really don’t have entertainment because people seem to always enjoy visiting after the meal, so that’s what we do after we eat,” the class of 1948 alumna said.

A few guests were specially recognized. First, the class of 1960 was honored, as tradition dictates the class observing its 50-year anniversary from graduation is feted.

Also singled out was Marjorie Everson, the oldest member present. Everson is a member of the class of 1932. Organizers of the event were able to clarify, however, that Everson is not the oldest living Mendon High School graduate. Since a story profiling Everson appeared in last week’s Journal, it’s been noted that 100-year-old Margaret Koenig Tobey, a member of the class of 1928, resides in a Three Rivers nursing home.

Everson, who had attended only one other Mendon Alumni Association dinner, was joined by her son Don Everson (1962), granddaughter Chris Yancey (1983) and great-granddaughters Jordan Yancey (2008) and Taylor Yancey (2010).

The classmates also recognized Rob Kuhlman, Mendon Community Schools’ incoming superintendent. Kuhlman, who will officially become superintendent July 1, said he likes the tradition of the all-class reunion and looked forward to meeting alumni of the district he will be overseeing.

Labram, meanwhile, said there is some work that goes into planning the event but the association’s committee always enjoys decorating and planning the meal.

“I've been a part of it for about 15 years and there are others who have been doing it longer, so the fact we keep coming back says how much we enjoy planning this,” she said.

This was the first year the old Mendon High School – now referred to as the Mendon Heritage Schoolhouse – was not open for tours. The termite-infested interior makes it unsafe for people to enter. Labram said the Mendon Heritage Schoolhouse Committee meets monthly and is trying to notify donors that it is looking for direction in terms of what to do with the more than $300,000 in donations it raised to help save the old schoolhouse. The restoration bid was scrapped earlier this year.

The meeting portion of the Mendon Alumni Association has been a tradition now in its 132nd year. The dinner component of it was added later.