CCHS reunion: Where were you in ’63?

It’s trivia time as this year’s Churchill County High School Class of 1963 will be honored at the annual Community Wide Reunion on Aug. 19 at Oats Park.

The celebration of the Class of 63 includes special recognition from Mayor Ken Tedford sprinkled with fond memories and some tall-tale stories from a time when the world was slowly losing its innocence and being replaced by an ever-changing world.

Although special recognition will be afforded to the Class of ‘63, graduates from 1983 are meeting to celebrate their 40th year since graduation from Churchill County High School, and the Class of 2003 will reminisce their Greenwave days. The Class of 1993 met in July at The Grid for their 30th reunion that included graduates and many of their friends and teachers from that time.

Other confirmed classes are the 1950s, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1984.

The 1962-63 students experienced a school year experiencing worldwide tension within the first few months the first football game. The October Cuban Missile Crisis involved the United States detecting Soviet missile bases in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy demanded the Soviets remove the missiles which resulted in an intriguing, but dangerous cat-and-mouse game. removal. The Soviets agreed to remove their missile bases if the U.S. did the same in Turkey.

Historians said afterward the standoff between the two superpowers was the closest the United States and the Soviets came to war.

Another event in 1962 would affect the graduating senior boys in subsequent years. The United States established a semi-permanent military presence in Vietnam. Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth.

If only they knew, but consumers were introduced to the first Walmart in Bentonville, Ark.

The three top movies released during the 1962-63 school year were “The Longest Day,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “In Search of Castaways.”

The overall top movies in 1963 came out before graduation. “Cleopatra” was followed by “How the West Was Won” and “Son of Flubber.”

What were the top five songs in May 1963? Leslie Gore’s “It's My Party” shot to No. 1, followed  by “El Watusi,” “If You Wanna Be Happy,” “Surfin' U.S.A.” and “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home).”

Reunion organizers said the special weekend is for both Greenwave students and teachers, parents and friends who live in the Lahontan Valley. The two-day reunion weekend begins Aug. 18 with an opening night free concert at the historic Fallon Theatre. Music will be provided by Acoustic Alignment and Steven Christie and friends.

The Oats Park Art Center’s Lariat Courtyard will have breakfast to begin Saturday’s activities. In front of the arts center will be a show ‘n’ shine car show with antique tractors. During the day, tours and activities will be conducted in the city and in the county at Frey Ranch. 

Classes will begin arriving at Oats Park later that afternoon. Food vendors will also sell food and beer and wine, while the classes may bring their own food.

Blair Crimmins & The Hookers appear at 7 p.m. in a free performance on the Centennial Stage. Crimmins began his current music career in Atlanta with a determination to bring Ragtime and 1920s style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences.