STRUTHERS HIGH Reunion to gather all grads of school

The all-alumni reunion may be held every five years, said Tina Morell, class of '78 and one of the organizers.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Some 1,100 graduates, from the class of 1928 through the class of 2001, will celebrate the city's 100th birthday during the first Struthers High School all-alumni reunion.
"We have people coming from as far as California, New Mexico and Las Vegas," said Tina Morell, class of 1978 and one of the reunion organizers.
"We're building a new school and this is the city's centennial so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see the old school one last time before it's torn down, visit the city on its 100th anniversary and rally together as a community," she said. "Struthers is pretty close-knit, so almost everybody who lives here has some connection to the school."
Activities
The idea for an all-alumni reunion came about a couple of years ago, Morell said, and a committee of about 50 have been working to put the first one together. It will unofficially begin with Struthers' Fourth of July celebration, sponsored by the Struthers Business Association.
Official reunion activities begin Friday, with a check-in at Mauthe Park. Elementary school buildings and Struthers Historical Society will be open for tours followed by dinner and dancing at The Embassy.
On Saturday, the Struthers High School marching band and choir will entertain alumni visiting the high school. Classes will gather in separate rooms so alumni can visit with former classmates, teachers and administrators, Morell added.
Brunch will be served in the cafeteria and representatives of the Struthers School Foundation will be available to discuss the organization's goals and purpose, she continued.
Foundation representatives will also have information about the new high school's dedicated brick walk. Patrons may purchased dedicated bricks for the walk for $50 apiece.
A party at Mauthe Park will follow on Saturday evening.
A non-denominational prayer service and tribute to veterans will take place Sunday morning at The Embassy. It will be followed by a continental breakfast and Struthers Day, a celebration of free family entertainment at Mauthe Park. Struthers Day is sponsored by Ohio Water Service and the SBA.
Won't be the last
"The all-alumni reunion does not take the place of class reunions," Morell stressed. "We have three classes having reunions within our reunion." However, she said she expects the all-alumni reunion to become a regular event.
"I know it won't be an annual event, it's too much work," she said, "but it may be held every five years. We're leaving it up to those attending to decide how often we'll have it."
For more information, visit the Struthers all-alumni reunion web site at www.shsreunion.higginsonline.com.
kubik@vindy.com