The Harvest Dance was a major event during the 1963-64 school year at Churchill County High School.
A 50th class reunion means remembering events shared with teenage friends and bragging about children and grandchildren, but it’s also an opportunity to re-acquaint with classmates, learn about the diversity of occupations chosen and to share life experiences.
It reveals the way the students as adults contribute to society and to their communities, which some say is one way to evaluate the quality of a high school education.
The Churchill County High School class of 1964 meets this week for its 50th reunion, starting yesterday with early registration at classmate B. Ann Lattin’s organic farm. This morning several members will tour Enel Green Power to learn about a new way of producing energy. More than 100 people will gather today at 5 p.m. at the Fallon Golf Course for cocktails, dinner and an awards presentation.
On Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., they will tour Churchill Vineyards and the Nevada Distillery, a new enterprise in the county, and have a picnic. Afterwards several will join in Fallon’s community wide reunion and open houses.
In 1964, 126 students walked in the May 26 CCHS graduation ceremonies. Commencement speaker was President Charles Armstrong of the University of Nevada, and diplomas were handed out by Principal Louis H. Hirschman.
Fifty years later, 79 classmates responded to the reunion committee, sharing information about their lives. Twenty-six individuals have died from various causes.
Many of the Fallon graduates chose the field of education for a life’s work, teaching at the kindergarten through 12th-grade levels, or working within the school system at occupations as varied as school bus driver, school office manager or superintendent.
One helped produce college class schedules and was involved in a college internship program. A couple taught at the college level; one is a retired vice president at the University of Nevada, Reno, and one still works as an associate athletic director at the university. Another is on the adjunct faculty at Truckee Meadows Community College and Sierra College.
At least two class members served in law enforcement, one headed the county road department, some were carpenters, one is still a precision machinist and some operate heavy equipment.
Several list farming as an occupation, but often in conjunction with other vocations or after retiring from another job. One lady is a grocer and two ladies are associated with taxidermy: one is a taxidermist and the other is co-owner of a taxidermy and trailer sales business. One classmate entered a developing field early, vending machines. One individual started his own farm equipment and welding business, and another was an electrician. Nursing and the floral industry attracted other class members.
Financial work interested some of the students and among its ranks are attorneys, certified public accountants, bookkeepers and banking employees. A few worked for the Federal government, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Veterans Administration. Several served in the military.
While at CCHS, typing and shorthand were among the classes offered. That has not deterred the Class of 1964 from mastering today’s technology.
More than 70 percent of those responding to the questionnaire have email addresses, and 65 percent have a cellphone. Among the classmates, one was a computer programmer and another was a computer software specialist. So, as one of the 50th reunion planning committee observed, you can teach old dogs new tricks if they want to learn. And, in this class, most people wanted to learn.