CLASS OF 1945 CELEBRATES 50 YEARS SINCE GRADUATION

Ruth Colyer Dockins, left, and Bernice Howard Ham of the class of 1944 talked about old times.

Judy Jaco, left, Virgina Kies, and Esther Roberts talk during the evening.

Harlas Siebert blew on the harmonica to the delight of the crowd during the reunion.

The Jackson High School Class of 1945 held their 50th class reunion Sept. 23-24. The class roster had 90 names on it, and only six have passed on since then.

The class began high school in September 1941 and graduated May 18, 1945. This class is called the "Warrior Class" because they were in high school the year Pearl Harbor was bombed. They had seven classmates drafted their senior year.

"It was a time of a lot of uncertainty," said Judy Jaco, a member of the class and co-chair of the reunion with Harold Landgraf. "Schools, churches and families came together. There was a closeness -- a unity -- in this class.

"We shared many joys and sorrows."

The weekends events started on Saturday, Sept. 23 when 53 of the classmates had breakfast at the Fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church. Harold Landgraf, his wife Betty and Judy Jaco hosted the breakfast.

At the breakfast, the children and grandchildren of the class of 1945 served the meal. The decorations were red and black, Jackson High School's colors.

Special guests Esther Wagner and Vera Wagner, who were teachers at Jackson High School, attended. The class presented them with the Golden Apple Award which was a piece of jewelry shaped like an apple.

The class spent the afternoon touring the high school.

On Saturday evening, the class went to Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Eighty-four people were present with 50 graduates attending. The rest were spouces of graduates and guests.

At the head table a special floral arrangement was set up in honor of Ella Dee Goza and Harold Wills, who have passed on.

Jim Litzelfelner, a 1945 classmember, was emcee.

The evening started with a reading of a letter of congratulations from President Bill Clinton.

"That was a real thrill," said Jaco.

Then Ralph Headrick conducted a memorial service for the six deceased members of the class. Then correspondance was read from graduates who were unable to attend.

Some traveled from as far as California, Nevada, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas to attend the reunion.