Syracuse Alumni Gather for 106th Annual Banquet
The Syracuse Alumni Association gathered for its 106th annual banquet on Saturday evening at the Syracuse Community Center. Approximately 130 reservations were made for the event but organizers said that several people came who were not expected, thus adding to the total number of Yellow Jacket alumni and their spouses in attendance.
The final class graduated from Syracuse High School in 1968, prior to its consolidation with Milford High School and North Webster High School to create Wawasee High School. Alumni from the classes of 1945, 1955 and 1965 were honored for their respective graduation anniversaries.
The oldest alum in attendance was Priscilla Rhode, class of 1938, making this reunion a celebration of 77 years. Also in attendance were Rosemary Bushong Bilicki, class of 1965, and her father, George Bushong, class of 1940. This reunion celebrated Bilicki’s 50th anniversary and Bushong’s 75th.
Following a welcome by Ron Robinson and the Syracuse school song, led by Marie Eby Tom, the invocation was delivered by Bob Baugher. The evening’s program was presented by Mark Potuck, a humorous motivational speaker from Elkhart.
The alumni committee for the 2015 reunion included Judy Jarrett, Ann Garceau, Joe Hibschman, Bob Baugher, Rog Niles, Cliff Wogoman, Dennis Buhrt, Jack Zimmerman and Sandy Flanagan.
The Syracuse High School class of 1965 included (front row from left): Donna (Ritter) Beard, Nancy (Plank) Coy, Linda (Smith) Cripe, Jan (Perry) Appenzeller, Linda (Pilcher) Wortinger, Patti (Mullins) Behrens and Ann (Kowalllik) Cavender. Second row: Rosemary (Bushong) Bilicki, Beth Ann (Miller) Williams, Bill Cripe, Sandy Richmond, Lorraine (McGill) Carson, Linda (Broekers) O’Connor, Jerry Byrd and Fred Green. Third row: Larry Lea, Terry W., Ron Robinson, George Lung and Rod Smith.
The Syracuse High School class of 1955 included (front row from left): Barbara (Thornburg) Griffith, Marlene (Wilkinson) Pollock, Charlotte (Haffner) Hatheway, Dixie (Dorsey) Simmons and Kay (Adams) Trenshaw. Second row: Jane (Kroh) Clashman, Charles Haffner, Joe Shewmon, Lee Oyler and Norma (Mock) George.
The oldest alumni in attendance at Saturday night’s Syracuse High School Alumni Banquet were (from left): Sarah Jane Beatty (class of 1944), George Bushong (class of 1940), Jean (Ketering) Koher (class of 1943) and Priscilla Rhode (class of 1938).
The Syracuse High School class of 1945 included (from left): Joan (Ketering) Stoelting, Robert Laughlin and Doris (Frevert) Amstutz.
Syracuse High School class of 1948 alum Willodean Yoder attended the annual banquet with her husband, Enos.
Donna (Darr) Workman and Patrick Flanigan share a moment with other attendees at the annual Syracuse High School alumni banquet.
The oldest alumni in attendance at the 106th annual Syracuse High School reunion was Priscilla Rhode, class of 1938.
Father and daughter attended milestone anniversaries of their graduations from Syracuse High School during the annual alumni banquet. Rosemary (Bushong) Bilicki was celebrating her 50th reunion while father George Bushong was commemorating his 75th.
Attendees of the 106th annual Syracuse High School alumni banquet sing the school song.
