Oldtimers centennial reunion Saturday

The Rio Blanco County Pioneers Association co-presidents Connie Theos and Mary Ann Wilber extend their personal invitation and warmest welcome to pioneers who will attend the 100th anniversary Centennial celebration of the Old Timer’s Reunion on Saturday, June 2, at the Freeman Fairfield Community Center. Festivities begin at 3 p.m.
Since the first reunion was held in 1912 and has continued each year since then, a litany of prestigious Rio Blanco County citizens have served as presidents of the association and will be honored in a special media presentation prepared by Tonya Morris. Legendary music educators and musicians Bob and Suzie Eggebraten and their daughter Anna Todd, who all teach in the Meeker school system will entertain pioneers with a special litany of popular music from the early years to the present during the superb buffet dinner catered by Kris and Henry Arcolesse of Ma Famiglia’s Restaurant. Group and individual photographs will be offered by Dale Hallebach for pioneers and a montage of photos will be available on DVD and website after the occasion as special centennial memorabilia.
A special feature of this year’s gathering is the Capturing Our Culture Oral History interviews of individuals, families, groups, such as cowboys, teachers, members of class reunions, family reunions, regional groups, area residents and many others will be documented by video cameras and transcribed to DVDs as a basis for possible future publication by the Rio Blanco County Historical Society in cooperation with the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council and the Rio Blanco County Pioneers Association.
Other attractions include recognition of class reunions of all MHS and RHS classmates and a dance after the dinner with live music of many types from the past 100 years by the Blue River Band. Refreshments and a cash bar provided by the Meeker Lions Club will be available for guests and the traditional midnight supper will close the festivities.
The website has gathered interest from many pioneers, including 97-year-old former Meeker resident Glen C. Miller now living in Oregon. A friend of Glen’s called Mary Ann Wilber and said that he had seen the new RBCPA website and wanted to share that he had grown up on a ranch near Meeker and rode horseback to a country school. He later moved to Grand Junction, worked in the timber industry, then joined the military just prior to the start of World War II. He served in the Pacific Theatre in Phillipines and was wounded by shrapnel, for which he received a Purple Heart. Glen later returned to the United States living and working in many different areas, but said his all time favorite is still the White River Valley and Meeker where he grew up and has many fond memories. Glen provided a DVD of an interview he gave for an oral history project in 2007 and his story will be added to the RBCHS Capturing Our Culture archive of pioneer stories. Glen plans to send his medals and uniforms to the White River Museum along with the stories of his colorful pioneer life. Please join Glen in sharing your story with friends, classmates, and folks you may have never met at this great occasion on June 2.
Proclamations and commendations have been received from a variety of government dignitaries including, the Honorable John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado, U. S. Senator Michael Bennet, Representative Scott Tipton, Meeker Mayor Mandi Etheridge, and Kai Turner of the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners to name just a few. Colorado State Senator Jean White will attend the dinner to personally present a special proclamation in honor of the centennial reunion from the Senate.
Co-presidents Theos and Wilber are expecting a large turnout of pioneers from many areas to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime Centennial experience and want to encourage any guests who have not yet registered to please do so as soon as possible by making a reservation so preparations can be made for seating and dinner service. New and younger pioneers are especially invited and encouraged to attend. Anyone who has ever attended the event will tell you how much they enjoyed seeing friends, and making new friends while sharing stories and catching up on years past.
To make a reservation, please visit the RBCPA website at www.rbcpioneers.org and download a registration form. You may complete the form and fax it to 970 878-4832. You may also phone in a reservation by contacting secretary Vicki Crawford by phone at 970-878 -5000 or e-mail vcraw4rd@ gmail.com.
You may pay at the door when you arrive. Be sure to specify if you are with a class reunion or want to participate in the oral history interviews. [Please note that the online registration system has been closed due to the imminence of the event]. Connie and Mary Ann and many new pioneer friends look forward to seeing you on Saturday!