Saturday, November 21, 2009

'100 Years of Excellence'

Coeur d'Alene High School students from past and present celebrating with all-class reunion, special events

This is the 1905 Coeur d'Alene High football team. Some of the players are listed, in no particular order, as Earnest Duncan, Eugene Weeks, Kenneth Elder, Gatke (no first name), Jim Thorton, Ziegler (no first name), De Bolt (no first name), Davis (no first name) , Floyd Mann, Saul Thornton and Coach U.H. Elder. (Courtesy of Coeur d'Alene High School ) Information Reunion weekend » The all-class reunion weekend begins July 29 with "Cruise Sherman Parade" and registration and Meet and Greet block party at Sherman Park Square. Tickets for all events will be available. » The festivities July 30 tee off at 8 a.m. with a golf tournament at Links Golf Club. Fees are $50 per player or $20 per team and include green fees, cart, barbecue lunch, T-shirts and prizes. Pre-registration is required. » Game time for soft ball tournaments is 9 a.m. at both Memorial and McEuen Fields. The charge is $50 per team. » Tours of the present high school and Lakes Middle School, the former high school, are scheduled between 1 and 4 p.m. »  The evening's activities will be at the fairgrounds with dinner catered by the Iron Horse Restaurant, followed by a dance, music by the Rhythm Dogs and Fabulous Shadows. The gates will open at 5 p.m. Attendance is limited to those 21 and older and dinner reservations are required in advance. » A 9 a.m. fun run is set for July 31 along Lake Drive and will include both a 5K and 10K course, out and back. » The fee is $10 for breakfast and a T-shirt. Breakfast only, is $6 dollars. » There will also be "Music in the Park" in the afternoon.

Jeri McCroskey
Correspondent
July 16, 2005

From July 29 to 31, graduating classes from Coeur d'Alene High School's past will celebrate with the theme, "100 Years of Excellence." The 100th anniversary event is to be marked by an all-class reunion and a variety of special events.

Planners say that the reunion is also a fund-raising opportunity to assure that all Coeur d'Alene High School students will have the financial support to attend extracurricular events, both at home and away.

Jim Gray, general chairman, says the committee has sent out 8,985 invitations to alumni. Gray edited class lists dating back to 1923.

Brandie Chapman, in charge of marketing, says that the committee has found the oldest living grad, Roberta Reed, class of 1923, who is 101, and now lives in Oregon. "She will not be able to come but her daughter, Margaret Casey, who is also a graduate will attend," Chapman says.

Coeur d'Alene High has come a long way since the time when all teachers had to get permission to leave town and rules for female teachers required that they wear "no less than three petticoats" and keep strict curfews.

Gray, who graduated with the Class of 1973 and who is the high school's assistant principal, says initial planning for the all-class reunion began two years ago when Principal Steve Casey approached him about endowing the account that pays for student trips to sanctioned events.

"I sing with the Rhythm Dawgs – one of the bands that will provide music for Saturday night's dinner and dance," Casey says. "Steve wondered if my group could sponsor a money-raising event to benefit the student activity/travel fund but we needed $25,000 dollars. That was when we decided that by combining an effort to raise money for the activity fund with the larger, 100 year, all-class reunion we could accomplish more for the students."

According to mailings, the primary purpose of all fund-raising activities associated with the reunion, is for Coeur d'Alene High School to complete the raising of the $50,000 required to become vested in YEA, Youth Endowment for Activities, a 501 (c)3 nonprofit foundation of the Idaho High School Activities Association.

Gray emphasizes that all money received will be used to benefit students – to send qualifiers to competition in drama, debate, speech and athletics. No money will be used for staff or any other regular operation expenses. By the same token, it will not be necessary to draw on district funds to pay for students' travel expenses.

Five local businesses stepped forward to meet the initial challenge and become Premier Sponsors, each giving a check for $5,000: US Bank; Century 21, Butler & Associates; Farmers Insurance, Jerry S. Carlson; Del Taco; Kathleen Tillman, Caldwell Banker-Schneidmiller Realty.

Their $25,000 will join a previous accumulation from various sources of $25,000 that will vest the fund.

Other opportunities to further vest the endowment are:

Viking Blue Sponsor, $1,500; Norseman White Sponsor, $500; Decade Alumni Sponsor, $100-$499 and Merchandise Sponsor.

Another opportunity exists for those who would like to add a $100 to the year they graduated, say $100 to '65, equaling $165. This will get your name engraved on the Walk of Fame at Coeur d'Alene High School.

While fund-raising is needed, Gray says that aspect is almost secondary. "Being together, celebrating 100 years of excellence – making a common time, sharing experiences – that's what is important."

He says that he hopes alumni will plan their vacations to include the reunion.