“Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.” — WHS Class Motto from the “Class with Class” of 1958.
Wilmington High School’s Class of 1958 celebrated its 60th class reunion July 27-28 at McCoy’s Catering in Wilmington. Class members came from across the United States to gather for the weekend, from Texas, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa, Indian, Georgia, Arizona and California.
Connie McNeil was the classmate who traveled the furthest, flying in from California.
There were 39 in attendance at the informal gathering on Friday, and 60 at the formal banquet on Saturday night.
The event room was decorated in the school’s orange and black colors and had memorabilia including Hurricane cheerleading megaphones and WHS flags.
Tables decorations included orange martini glasses footed with vintage 45 vinyl records and filled with a single white rose as centerpieces, as well as fans with 1958 trivia printed on them, such as the fact that the hula hoop was invented that year.
Other tables were covered with photographs, musical programs and other remembrances from their time in the Wilmington City Schools.
Jim Bashore emceed the formal event on Saturday, keeping the lively group entertained with high school tales as he asked classmates to stand and introduce themselves and let everyone know what they have been doing. Door prizes were won by Gary Lippert, Marilyn Fulton Pannell and Frankie Bashore Baker.
The original class, starting out with 100 members, graduated 97 in 1958 and now numbers at 69.
Those who attended Wilmington schools but moved on to graduate from another school were invited to attend as well. Garry Lippert, Linda Shrack Smith and Jeanie Anson were all former relocated classmates who joined in the celebration and were able to reunite with old friends.
Serving on the reunion committee are Frankie Baker, Jim Bashore, Janet Dunn Jones, Elizabeth White, Mary White, Carole Lee Kenny, Charlotte Fahrer, Beverly Hayes and Janie Hamm.
The class meets formally every five years and those residing in the area meet informally on Tuesdays. Another large gathering is scheduled for three years from now.
The reunion committee meets the last Tuesday of the month every month and classmates and their spouses are invited to attend so they can continue to plan ahead for future events.
They keep in contact via email, Facebook, phone and postal mail and any former classmates who wish to get in contact can do so via the WHS class directory.
