Submitted by Jean Crownhart Zeithaml, Class of 1974
ELMWOOD, WI – The Elmwood High School Class of 1974 held its 50-year Class Reunion on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the home of classmate Jerry Thompson who lives just east of Elmwood. A taco bar meal was provided by Gordo’s Tacos and Burritos Food Truck. The event started with an excellent tour of the Elmwood School, which brought back lots of memories from fifty years ago. Many thanks to our expert guide, Superintendent Glenn Webb.
Our senior year of high school was memorable, to say the least. There were the Watergate Hearings and resignations of first the U.S. Vice-President and then the President. Due to the Oil Embargo, by an act of Congress, we returned to daylight savings time in January and school started one hour late each day. Wisconsin was one of the first states to lower the maximum speed limit on highways to 55 miles per hour and gas stations remained closed on Sundays to cooperate with national energy conservation efforts. A quote from our senior yearbook stated, “With the scarcity of gasoline came gas prices of over 50 cents per gallon.”
There were 45 members in our graduating class and 38 remain. Twenty-seven classmates attended the reunion along with several spouses/guests. Deceased members of our class were fondly remembered: Chuck “Chuckie” Lechner, Frank Maves, Dave Fischer, Virgil Perry, Dennis Churchill, Bob Field, Jeanne Mountin, Cindy Huebner Bartels, and Arnie Bauer.
The Class of 1974 has faithfully held a reunion every five years since graduating 50 years ago. We plan to start getting together more frequently on a casual basis.
