Attendees at the 50th reunion of the Meeker High School Class of 1974 included (from left) Pauline Wilber, Jeannie Stewart Gianinetti, Pam Peters Johnson, Dan Spaid, Christi Holland Slade, Gordon Merriam, Cindy Samuel Coleman, Scott Coleman, Steve Allen, Sherri Carstens Halandras, Beth Ryan Merriam, Frank Nieslanik, Tom Welle, Dan Jens, Corey Brubaker, Zina Eilasen, Scott Kracht, Debbie Adams Raley, Russell Overton, Vicki Hallmark Hughes, Rob Raley, Renae Theos Nielsen, Darold Nay, Patty Edwards, Steve Wix and Kim Cook.
By STEVE WIX
MEEKER | The Meeker High School Class of 1974 held its 50-year class reunion over the July 4th weekend here in Meeker.
It was wonderful to get together with the kids we grew up with, some that we haven’t seen since high school graduation. We also invited old classmates who didn’t graduate with us, who moved away before senior year, but were still our classmates and good old friends. The ones that we could find anyway.
Friday morning, July 5, some of us went on the Milk Creek Battlefield tour and also visited the restored Little Beaver (Coal Creek) schoolhouse. This was a great tour, put on by the Rio Blanco County Historical Society, and guided by Kevyn Mack who did a very good job educating us about the history of the two sites.
Then on Friday at noon we all met at Steve Allen’s beautiful shady yard for a large meal of roasted pig, provided by Todd Morris, and lots of salads, sides and desserts brought by the classmates. What a great time that was, catching up and reminiscing.
The morning of July 6 many of us attended a tour of the remodeled and rebuilt Meeker High School, guided by high school principal Amy Chinn. That’s a great tour!
There were 26 classmates at the picnic, many with spouses or friends. In the picture are just the classmates, from the left are Pauline Wilber, Jeannie Stewart Gianinetti, Pam Peters Johnson, Dan Spaid, Christi Holland Slade, Gordon Merriam, Cindy Samuel Coleman, Scott Coleman, Steve Allen, Sherri Carstens Halandras, Beth Ryan Merriam, Frank Nieslanik, Tom Welle, Dan Jens, Corey Brubaker, Zina Eilasen, Scott Kracht, Debbie Adams Raley, Russell Overton, Vicki Hallmark Hughes, Rob Raley, Renae Theos Nielsen, Darold Nay, Patty Edwards, Steve Wix and Kim Cook. We also invited Mike and Tena Theos, Kelly and Pam Sullivan, and Mark Englert, good old friends from nearby schools or different years, and they showed up!
According to our yearbook, the Roundup, there were 56 graduates in 1974. Of those 12 have passed on.
We invited many more classmates who were unable to attend including David King, D’aun Mangus, Rita Brown Driver, Tim Allen, Janice Carnahan Peters, Ron Bicknell, Jay Crawford, David Buckles, Paul Valentine, Chris Oldland Uphoff, Joyce Mason McPherson, Lannie Massey, Debbie Eaton, Dan Coats, Lester Cox, Tom Bement, Phil Ransom, Gala Vanderpool Ivie, Scott Nielsen, Ronda Douglas, Zona Downing, Pauline Hill Ball, Christie Payton Long, Gail Gulliford Frantz, Rebecca Eaton, Charri Ball McArther, and Susan Altenbern. For some of those we couldn’t find contact information.
Our classmates who are no longer living include: Vickie Caldwell, Debbie Clapper Riegel, Vince Gianinetti, Rory Garcia, Evan Parker, Steven Pearce, Daniel Devereaux, Randy Richardson, Janet Prockup Dole, Sally Ann Norell, Donnie Claire and Glen Carden. You are missed.
By STEVE WIX
