MHS 1968 Factoids: Then and Now

The Honor Grads:
Judy Arnold, Hilary Asher, Randi Sue Baker, Alice Marie Beard, Tom Bicknell, Roger Brady, Karen Broomall, Cathy Bupp, Dennis Cackowski, Deborah Callsen, Deborah Claeys, Suzanne Collins, Ronald Cosner, Cheryl Davis, Kerry Deardorff, Terry DeMaegd, Mary Jane Dexter, Linda Forbess, Tom Grau, Suzanne Green, Judy Greenlee, Bill Groth, Jeffrey Hensley, Susan Hess, Mark Hildebrand, Cynthia Houghton, Margaret Huff, Paul S. Hupp, Linda Jasiewicz (deceased), Connie Kelly, Kathy Koleszar, Barbara Kopec, Richard Kunkle, Thomas Lechlitner, Janice Matz (deceased), Lauretta Mecham, Gail Myers, Cosimo Natali, Michael Natali, Shirley Neely, Dan Nicolini, Carol Ann Nix, Mark Oklak, Mary Ann Pechi, Brenda Pfaller, Penny Reynolds, Mary Rhoade, Tom Robinett, Craig Salyer, Nanette Schnaible, Randy Shayler, Keith Smith, Rebecca Smith, Debrah Stretch, Robert Stretch, Beverly Vance (deceased), Stephen Woods, Karen Young, Jane Zimmerman.

Student Council Officers, Senior Year:
Dave Nevel, Kathy Hillaert, Roger Brady, Mary Ann Pechi

Senior Class Officers:
Randy Marks, Joe Jasiewicz, Cosimo Natali, Penny Reynolds

The Plays:
Senior year: Harvey. Leading roles: Dan Nicolini, Connie Kelly, Kathy Hillaert
Junior year: Cheaper by the Dozen. Leading roles: Dan Nicolini, Pat McGee

Homecoming Court:
Senior year: Diana Roberts (queen), Margie Hesch, Lauretta Mecham
Junior year: Margie Hesch, Martha Jo Probst
Sophomore year: Pam Craig
Freshman year: Pam Craig

Roberts

Hesch

Mecham

Probst

Craig

Class Rings:
In May 1967, there were 405 people from the Class of '68 who were eligible to purchase class rings. Of those, 331 purchased a class ring. Cost of the rings: $20.15 for the small rings; $21.42 for the medium-size rings; and $24.38 for the large rings.

'Symphonies in White':
Class of '68's Cathy Schroeder and Carol Ann Nix led the way as the Class of '67 walked into their commencement ceremonies. Cathy and Carol wore white, full-length formal gowns and carried red roses. It was a traditional thing: Two junior girls always led the seniors to graduation. The Class of '68 was lead by Cheryl Tagliaferri and Cindy Theilking, from the Class of '69.

Religion and the Class of '68's Graduation:
There were no calls to keep prayer out of the graduation ceremonies: At baccalaureate, Rev. Clay Frost (1st Methodist) offered the opening prayer; O.L. Grisham (Church of Christ) read the scripture; Rabbi Elliot Rosenstock (Temple Bethel) gave the sermon, and Fr. Miller (St. Joseph) offered the closing prayer. ... Commencement opened with a prayer from Fr. Mascotte (St. Bavo's) and closed with a prayer from Rev. Frank Barcus (1st Evangelical Lutheran).

The Graduation Committee:
Class officers: Randy Marks, Joe Jasiewicz, Cosimo Natali, Penny Reynolds
Student Council president: Dave Nevel
Honor society presidents: Alice Beard (Quill & Scroll), Dan Nicolini (Thespians), Carol Nix (National Honor), Becky Smith (Music Honor)
M-Men president: Randy Shayler

On June 5, 1968, we flaunted tradition and had our Commencement Exercises outside on the football field. We sat in the bleachers until it was time for the walk across the stage. And with that walk across the stage, any "officialness" of the MHS Class of '68 was officially ended.

NOW

The Married Classmates:
Hilary & Tamara (Reed) Asher
Ron & Pat (DeLaurelle) Brooks
Jerry & Mary Ann (Pechi) Cavanah
Greg & Debbie (Young) Deitchley
Gerald & Judy (Emmons) DeWulf
Richard & Pam (Cook) Kunkle
Al & Patty (Adams) Marchant
Rick & Connie (Gilvin) Paridaen
Don & Susie (Collins) Plummer
Steve & Carolyn (Schwartz) Van Ooteghem

The R.N.s:
Debbie Callsen, Debbie Claeys, Cathy Cunningham, Margaret Hutchinson, Linda Jasiewicz (deceased), Betty Myers, Beth Otterstein.

The school teachers (some still active, some retired):
Patty Adams, Jimita Baldoni, Tim Bess, Denny Cackowski, Ron Cosner, Diana Costa, Steve Cunningham, Frances Grisham, Margie Hesch, Susan Hess, Barb Hitchins, Cindy Hoffman, Cindy Houghton, Joe Jasiewicz, Marilou Karst, Brenda Pfaller, Will Pooley, Mary Rhoade, George Roelandts, Randy Shayler, Becky Smith, Phil Stillston, Jerry Thacker, Debbie Young, Glenda Young, Karen Young. (Principals & school superintendents are also included.)

The building trades journeymen:
Byron Aldrich (sheetmetal worker), Gregg Baldoni (sheetmetal worker), Dan Culp (pipefitter), Tom Daffron (electrician), Alan DeMaegd (machinist), Steve Egendoerfer (electrician), Randy Frederick (electrician), Larry Liffick (machinist), Michael Merritt (electrician), Gary Rodich (operating engineer), Steve Saros (plumber), Randy Smith (plumber & pipefitter), Chuck Van Camp (painter).

The musicians:
Mike Campbell, Stan Denney Leslie, Kelly Guin, Dave Hoskins, Bob Lese, Dan Nicolini, Doug Overman, Becky Smith.

The D.D.S., the Ph.D.s, and the Ed.D.s:
Tim Bess, Greg Blimling, Steve Cunningham, Judy Greenlee, Alan Stafford, Bob Stretch, Jerry Thacker.

The lawyers:
Alice Beard, Tom Grau, Bill Groth, Pat McGee, Dan Nicolini, Carol Nix, Susan Peterson.

The engineers:
Bill Daily, Gerald DeWulf, Cosimo Natali, Mike Natali.

The C.P.A.s:
Cheryl Bobson, Mark Hildebrand.

The social workers:
Cathy Bupp, Kerry Deardorff, Sheryl Scott, Sandy Stutzman.

Military veterans:
Over 20 per cent of the men from MHS '68 gave military service, and five women served:
Byron Aldrich, Gregg Baldoni, John Barnes, Mike Bellovich, Judy Blankenhorn (deceased), Neil Brioli, Jim Britton, Ron Brooks, Keith Cooper, Mark Crocker, Ron DeBlock, Terry DeMaegd, Stan Denney (now known as Stan Leslie), Harold "Spider" Draves, Bobby Fisher, John Fisher, Dennis Graham, Carol Gramenz, Jim Hallaert (deceased), David Hamman, Linda Hatfield (deceased), Linda Howe (deceased), Larry Humphrey, John Joyal, Larry Karnes, Tom Lechlitner, Leroy Lekens, Michael Morrison, Deborah Morse, Rick Paridaen, Dennis Pendergrass, Don Plummer, Will Pooley, Timothy Przygocki, Richard Putz, Thom Reith, Gary Rodich, George Roelandts, Terry Schwier, Jim Shown, Keith Smith, Randy Smith, Mike Squibb, Bob Stretch, Bob Van Arsdale, Larry Van Camp, Jim Van Haver, Steve Van Oooteghem, Lester Brent Ward, Ray Wennerstrom, Jack Wilson, Tom Zimmerman.
For information about each veteran's military service, check the Veterans Page.