“Today Decides Tomorrow.” That was the class motto of the New Richland High School class of 1954 at its commencement exercises June 2, 1954 in in the high school gymnasium.
I was one of the 49 graduates that day as we played our lives forward into tomorrows. In the tomorrows we became farmers, truckers, clerks, accountants, medical professionals, bankers, salespeople, teachers, business leaders, even a preacher and at the same time moms and dads.
On Saturday, Sept 7, 2019 the class of 1954 held a reunion at Torey’s Restaurant in Owatonna. This was the time to stop the tomorrows for a day and check on the 1954 graduates. Committee chair LaJune (Strand) Hagen and the rest of her committee did an excellent job putting the day together prior to tomorrow.
Of the 49 graduates, 21 are deceased. Twelve attended while 16 were unable to attend due to health and other reasons. Of the 28 living, 10 have an out-of-state address with only one having a New Richland address. Who said the olden days people didn’t leave home?
The reunion began at 4:30 p.m. with ordering off the menu for the meal at 6 p.m. There was a constant chatter until the meal was over and more chatter after the program and prior to leaving. Most of the conversations began with “Remember when?”
The result of the survey conducted by the class of 1954 was announced. “The class of 1954 was one of the two best classes to graduate from New Richland-Hartland High School. The other class was not announced as that class was second in the survey.
The committee for the next reunion is Eloise (Miller) Johnson and Merlyn Proechel as co-chairs with any classmate they volunteer to help. The things to be decided are: when, where, what time of day and the meal.
All of the 12 attending graduates had one thing in common: “I’ve never missed a tomorrow — yet!”
At the end of the evening, it was back to “Today Decides Tomorrow.”
Thanks to my fellow octogenarian classmates of the New Richland class of 1954 for the memories through today. In case you don’t know, Octo Generian is an offspring of Otto Generian.
P.S. The food was good, the conversations even better. No conversation recording was allowed as a great-grandchild or a great-great-grandchild might get the “wrong” impression of their grandparents.
P.P.S. No decision was made in regards to an award to the last few 1954 graduates still standing when they are no longer octogenarians.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.