by Carl BR Johnson
June 11, 2013
Photo by Carl BR Johnson — The graduating class of 1953. Bottom row: Mary Anderson, Kay Hertnell, Marjorie Hall, Murriel Johannsson, Shirley Clarke, Lorraine Lawrence, Arlan Dokken, Top row: Della Downey, Marie Webb, Jean Rickerby, Martha Tower, Wayne Tower, Ray Turner, Bob Young and Rudy Braun.
High school graduates have a lot to live up to, if the stories from the Class of ’53 are anything to go by.
The reunion was celebrated by 15 grads exactly 60 years after their own graduation.
“We just need to keep doing these reunions so that maybe the younger generations will also want to carry on the tradition,” said Lorraine Lawrence, who coordinated the get-together.
Della Downey, one of the senior grads present, remarked that eight of the 56 grads ended up marrying each other.
“We didn’t get to have bush parties back then,” said Downey.
Downey said they had a singing club comprised of five girls that they called, “the Stardusters.”
“We used to braid up our hair and sing at various events around Dawson,” she said.
Despite his wheelchair status, Arlan Dokken appeared to be the life of the party as he directed those in attendance to share a story or two.
When his own turn came, he recalled a boy that he and his friends played a prank on that involved underwear and shoe polish. He said the boy’s mother found out and they were all grounded.
“But it was worth it,” said Dokken.
She said the women of his generation were much more “reserved” because when he approached a girl his age then for a hug, she would pull away.
“Nowadays the girls jump on the boys,” said Dokken to a room full of laughter.
Wayne Tower said the biggest change he has noticed from 1953 to present day was the advancement of farm machinery to the high-tech wonders being sold today.
“In ’53, I dropped a load of cash on 27-horsepower tractor. And now, I’m helping my son with his 360 horsepower auto-steering, air-conditioned, Cadillac-type tractor,” said Tower, adding that
he could have used a cell phone in his day in order to communicate with his fellow farmers.
Shirley Wilson was the only teacher that attended the gathering – she taught Physical Education to the 56 grads back then.
“I can’t believe there are so many of us still here,” said Wilson.
There were originally 56 in that graduating class in 1953. Forty are still alive today, and 15 grads and their spouses attended the reunion at the Chapel Hill Estates in Dawson Creek, according to Lawrence.
However, as the night drew to a close, Dokken was still in the party spirit. He asked, “When do we start planning the 70th reunion?”
For more pictures, visit our photo gallery online.
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