Marion grads gearing up for reunion
By W.A.Franklin
Marion High Graduate
When Stan “Hawk” Oliver, a Marion High School graduate, founded the first Marion High All-Class Reunion in the summer of 1980 many thought it would only last for one year.
However, it is now 2010 and at 5 p.m., July 3 the 30th Marion High All-Class Reunion will be held at the Marion Country Club dining room.
Oliver wanted the reunion to be continued for as long as possible and before his death, he asked W.A. Franklin, a graduate of the class of 1956 who had been serving as master of ceremonies, to continue to plan and hold the reunion.
Everyone who attended Marion city schools is invited to attend whether they graduated or not. Marion High School was founded in the late 1800s and it became an official four-year school in 1909 with the passage of the state law that created the modern-day format for high schools in Kentucky. The typical size of a Marion High School senior class over the years was between 20 and 35. Many graduates have distinguished themselves as teachers, lawyers, doctors, college professors, business owners, professionals and U.S. servicemen and women.
The last Marion High School Senior Class was in 1957. After that date, the Marion schools and Crittenden County schools consolidated. The consolidated schools did continue to use the Marion High School blue and white colors largely because the high school already possessed both blue and white football uniforms and band uniforms. Crittenden County colors had been green and white.
The new school nickname was Rockets and the Marion High Blue Terrors name became part of history.
Attendance at the reunion was fewer than 70 last year, but it has been as high as 125. No reservations are required. The cost for the meal will be shared equally among those who attend the event.
A few individuals, including Tink Hicklin and Ethel Tucker have attended all of the previous reunions. Both of them are over 90 years old.
People travel hundreds of miles to attend. Denton Hughes, from the class of 1954, drives more than 800 miles each year from Florida. Mark Mahan and one of his sons drive more than 400 miles from Indiana to Marion. Others have come from excess of 1,000 miles for the annual event.
The afternoon begins with two hours of visitation time called, Tall Tales. That runs from 3-5 p.m.
A buffet is served at 5 p.m. Individual classes often hold their own class reunions in conjunction with the All-Class Reunion.
Police see property owners Marion Police Department is holding several items found over the past four years in Marion and Crittenden County. Many of the items were turned in to police by residents who found them. Others were found by police officers.
Marion Policeman Bobby West, who is in charge of the department’s evidence room, which also includes lost and found items, says the rightful owners may come forward and claim their property.
Unclaimed items will be sold at public auction, West said.
“We have several bicycles,” West said. “We want to get these items back to their owners and we are running out of storage space. All these bikes take up a lot of room.”
Lost and Found This is a list of items at the Marion Police Department. Owners can identify the items in detail and get them back. Recovery Date Item(s) Recovered January 2006 Tires
May 2006 All-terrain bike
October 2006 Bicycle
November 2006 CD case with CDs
March 2007 .22 caliber handgun
March 2007 18-speed bike
April 2007 .22 caliber handgun
May 2007 Keyring with keys
June 2007 Silver bicycle
July 2007 Keyring with keys
August 2007 Home stereo
August 2007 Trifold wallet
September 2007 CD case with CDs
September 2007 CD case
June 2008 Cell phone
July 2008 Child’s bike
August 2008 Purse
October 2008 Fishing pole
October 2008 Keyring with keys
October 2008 Stevens Shotgun
December 2008 Hearing aid supplies
December 2008 Earrings, buttons
December 2008 Earrings, necklace, broach
December 2008 Necklace
May 2009 Keyring with keys
August 2009 Mountain bike
December 2009 Electric saw
January 2010 Blue Bible
February 2010 Child’s bike
May 2010 Bike