IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED YOUR REGISTRATION-DIRECTORY FORM ...

... please email mhsclassof72@gmail.com!

Today, here's why Dawn Thompson Olney is coming to the reunion:

“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” The Adventures of Huck Finn,” “Little Women” — everyone loves a good coming-of-age story. But to me, the best coming-of-age story is the one at Manhattan High School in the early 1970s, where we are in one another's stories. We were together every day of the week for six of the most formative years of our lives. Many of us even stretch back to grade school. Through countless classroom discussions, lunches, field trips, science projects, and extracurricular activities, friendships developed. We figured things out. We grew up together and continue to influence each other to this day in ways we don’t even realize.

When I go to reunions and I visit with former classmates, I am always struck when I realize how familiar they are to me — even if I only see them at reunions. I see mannerisms, their posture, their laugh or voice, their sense of humor, and they are familiar. I know them. And more fun memories come flooding back.

The musical, the smoking lounge, football games, pep rallies, homecoming chili feed and bonfire, debate, choir, The Mentor, sock hops, assemblies … and then there are other memories that are not so great, like the showers in the girl’s locker room, the negative score on my senior English term paper, or boys tossing pennies at girls outside the cafeteria.

It’s all our stories together. I hope you will join me in May to remember and celebrate the time we came of age, and catch up on the lives we are living now.

Dawn and Brad Olney, Class of '72

REGISTRATION-DIRECTORY FORMS HAVE BEEN EMAILED!

Forms were emailed out today to all known addresses — 186 in all! If you have not received one, please email mhsclassof72@gmail.com, and one will be sent to you.

Do take advantage of the early-bird registration rate of $75 (until April 15) for both the Friday mixer at Colbert Hills Golf Clubhouse and the Saturday banquet at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. (You can find details about the events in the Feb. 5 post, "Countdown to the Reunion!"). If you plan to attend only one event, the cost of the Friday mixer is $30, and the cost for Saturday banquet is $60.

Hey, classmates, let's get ready to party!

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS ARRIVE THIS WEEK!

 In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, Lee Harris tells why he's excited about attending the reunion:

Lee and his wife, Barb (MHS Class of '73)

The reunion is definitely on Barb's and my calendar, and I anticipate it's going to be the best reunion our class has ever had! A wide range of activities are planned – some quite novel.

Our class is unique and has been close-knit from the beginning. We’ve held reunions every five years, and they’ve all been well attended.

I always look forward to reconnecting with our classmates to receive updates on their families, travels, and other activities. Fortunately, we are long past the stage of needing to impress one another. We can simply be ourselves and enjoy catching up and reminiscing!

We’re at a point in life where we are beginning to lose more of our classmates – even more reason to reconvene. But more than anything, I want to attend this reunion to say thank you to so many of you who were there in my formative years, sharing hopes and dreams and helping to make many of them come true. 

If you have been attending reunions regularly – please come again. If you haven’t attended for a while (or ever), we'd love to share this special weekend with you!

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS GOING OUT THIS WEEK!

In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, Susan Rohles Grapengater offers why the reunion is such an important moment in the life of our class:

Maybe you're thinking, "Why should I come back to our 50-year reunion?" Well, I want to give you these reasons:

If we have learned anything from the last two years, it's that people need people, and more importantly, we need people loving people. So COME, and let's encourage and love one another!

We, as human beings, are built for community, and our class formed a community when we attended MHS together. Fifty years later, the commonality of the community is still alive and well. So COME back to this community!

When we were in high school, we were just beginning to find the voices that would lead us into our adult lives. Now, 50 years later, we can look back and see where those voices have taken us. COME, and let's celebrate those journeys together!

Susan with husband, Rick, and their grandchildren

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS TO BE EMAILED NEXT WEEK!

 In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, here's why Tad Thompson, Dani Green Spain, and Pat Dunne are looking forward to the reunion:

"As I've bounced around the country, I've come to our reunions whenever possible. What a joy that has been and how fun it’s been to hear of our peers’ life turns!  MHS 1972 has had more than its share of literal and figurative rock stars.  But those of us who weren’t rock stars also led interesting and meaningful lives and have great stories to tell. Our 50-year reunion is sue to be an event you will happily remember forever. Make plans now — before your classmates look any older!" — Tad Thompson (with Debbi Hardin Thompson, '73)

"Since our last reunion I have witnessed so much heartbreak. I’ve lost three siblings and endured working at a regional medical center during COVID. I’m looking forward to better times, catching up with folks who are so dear to me. Keep On Truckin’ has never had more meaning.” — Dani Green Spain

"Who we are in life is heavily influenced by our 'family of origin.' I count the MHS class of '72 as part of this family. I’m looking forward to seeing lifelong friends at the upcoming reunion, and I'm bringing my wife of 42 years, Elia, with me. We must value, remember, and celebrate our roots!” — Pat Dunne

REGISTRATIONS, DIRECTORY FORMS TO BE EMAILED NEXT WEEK!

In anticipation of our big event, several classmates are sharing their excitement. Today, here's why Cathy Hollomon Naylor is looking forward to the reunion:

I am planning to attend our 50-year reunion for several reasons, one of which is to keep my record going! I have not missed ONE (not even ONE) reunion since the very first one in 1977-- our five-year reunion. Now I'd be lying if I said I remember much about it, but I do know that each one has been fun, interesting, and maybe a tiny bit sad. It's always so great to see all (or at least some of) my old friends and to pick right up where we left off. It's amazing how that is so true! It's so cool to be able to talk to old friends who I have maybe not even spoken to since the last reunion (or since graduation even!) and it's like nothing has changed -- except maybe the way we look, just a little! (Haha.) The sad part, of course, is finding out who we have lost ... and there have been many. So, I guess the good news is it's great to reconnect and to feel blessed that we are still here to reminisce and reconnect ... if only for a couple of days.

I have always felt that we -- the Class of '72 -- were the best class ever! What other high school class do you know of that has continued having reunions every five years? (Well, except for one, I think .. but we picked up with the next one.) We are awesome!! 

So, thank you to everyone who has hung in there with us and continue to do their best to attend our class reunions. They are a blast, and I'm looking forward to seeing y'all in May!!!

Keep on Truckin'!

COUNTDOWN TO THE REUNION!

Flint Hills Discovery Center 

We hope you've already marked your calendars! The MHS Class of 1972 50-year reunion will be held in Manhattan (of course) on Memorial Day weekend, May 27-28.

Members of the reunion committee —Ellen Durkee, Joanne Gallaher, Lee Harris, Marcia Higginson, Nancy Kruh, Terry (Edmunds) Olson, Dawn (Thompson) Olney, and Greg Thompson — are all working to make this an unforgettable celebration.

Classmates can look forward to a weekend of activities centered around two social events:

On Friday, we will gather for an opening-night mixer from 5 to 9 p.m. in the clubhouse of the scenic Colbert Hills Golf Course in northwest Manhattan. In both the dining area and the patio (complete with fire pit), we'll be enjoying drinks, hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, and the stunning Flint Hills landscape for this come-and-go get-together.

Colbert Hills Golf Course clubhouse

On Saturday, we will come back together for a banquet from 6 to 10 p.m. in the dramatic space of the Flint Hills Discovery Center downtown. We're excited to be able to bring you this unique location that features two full floors of party space amid the center's stunning exhibits, as well as an outdoor rooftop terrace. The buffet dinner at 7 p.m. will feature beef, chicken, and vegetarian options.

Discovery Center interior

Additionally, the reunion committee is planning free activities during the day, including a guided tour of the Konza Prairie preserve (by our own nature expert Terry Olson) and a pontoon excursion on Tuttle Creek Reservoir (with captain Tad Thompson). For the most adventuresome, thanks to the generosity of a classmate, Kansas State University’s Aviation College is offering us free 20-minute air tours of the region. The college is providing the aircraft and alums who are qualified pilots to conduct the tours in small groups over Manhattan's neighborhoods and downtown, the university campus, Tuttle Creek Reservoir and more, all amid the beautiful Flint Hills terrain.

KSU aerial view

For those interested in touring the high school, you'll have to stay tuned. We are still hoping to schedule one, but it's complicated by the fact that MHS will be a construction zone. The school is expanding – again!

A schedule of daytime events, as well as sign-up, will be in your registration. Since space is limited for these activities, they'll be offered on a first-come, first-served basis — so plan to get your registration in early!

Speaking of registration: Forms will be sent out via email and snail mail (to those whose email addresses aren’t on file) in March. Early-bird rates will be $25 for the Friday mixer, $50 for the Saturday banquet, and $75 for both events. Full rates of $30 (Friday), $60 (Saturday), and $90 (Friday and Saturday) kick in after April 15. You will be able to pay via Venmo, Zelle, or by personal check.

News about accommodations: A block of 30 rooms has been reserved for us for Friday and Saturday nights, at a daily rate of $119, at the Hilton Garden Inn at 410 S. Third Street. It's in the southeast corner of downtown within easy walking distance to the Flint Hills Discovery Center. To reserve a room, call 785-532-9116 and request the Class of '72 rate. Or click on this link.

Hilton Garden Inn

A few words about COVID-19: The planning committee's goal is an enjoyable – and safe – event, and we are hopeful that the virus' current surge will have receded by the end of May. We will continue to monitor conditions, and as we move closer to the event, we will specifically address concerns with health-safety protocols, as needed. Already, the committee has made sure that open, outdoor areas are available at both Colbert Hills and the Discovery Center, so you can attend both events without being confined to an enclosed space.

The committee is asking all who plan to attend the event to keep themselves safe and also to be mindful of other classmates’ health concerns in this contagious environment. At present, the CDC recommends the most effective way to protect yourself and others in group settings is be fully vaccinated (including booster), to test negative immediately before any group gathering, and to wear a mask (an N95 or KN95 are best).

No doubt we live in a far different time than previous reunions, but some things of course, will be the same. As usual, reunion planners are committed to keeping the cost of the event affordable to all classmates. And as always, we’ll be getting together to catch up, reminisce, and reconnect with this precious community, now 50 years strong.

Right now, here are five things you can do to make sure this will be an event worthy of our amazing class:

1. Plan to come and let us know you'll be there! Email mhsclassof72@gmail.com so we can add your name to the list in the blog's righthand column.

2. Keep up to date with all reunion news. It will be posted on both the class' private Facebook page, 72forever, and on this public site. To be sure you receive all updates, you can subscribe to this blog. If you're on FB and haven't received an invitation to the private page, email mhsclassof72@gmail.com or write to Nancy Kruh on FB Messenger.

3. Contact the people you’d like to see at the reunion, encourage them to come, and invite them to visit this website.

4. Help us stay in contact with you! If you're here as a result of snail-mail correspondence, it means we don't have a current email address for you. Please send your email address to mhsclassof72@gmail.com — and save us a stamp.

5. Help us find missing classmates. (See the list in the blog's righthand column.)

It won't be a reunion without YOU!