An upcoming 65th reunion of the Columbus High School Class of 1959 has organizers thrilled about turnout that has surpassed expectations.
Class members will gather on Friday, Sept. 20 and Saturday, Sept. 21 for events connected to the reunion. Local class members Joyce Heckman and Marvin Barkes are organizing events that will include a meet-and-greet reception from 2 to 5 p.m. that Friday at Hotel Indigo, a tour of Columbus North High School on Saturday morning and a banquet Saturday at the Columbus Moose Lodge.
Class members are in their early 80s and have been having regular reunions every five years, Heckman said. Some will come with spouses, companions or caregivers, she said.
“Right now, we have around 90 people,” she said, “probably 55 to 60 of them are class members.”
“We’re just thrilled that many people are coming,” Heckman said. When organizers initially were planning events, she said, “We had planned for a minimum of 40 people at Hotel Indigo and 60 people at the Moose, and actually we’re going to have 65 to 70 people at Indigo, and at the Moose, probably 85, maybe even 90 people.
And they’ll be coming from as far away as New Zealand, which is home to class president and former Bull Dogs quarterback Steven Bridges. Heckman noted that three of four class officers are expected to attend.
“I do think people in the community are just interested in the fact that a lot of us old people think it’s important enough to come,” she said.
Anyone seeking more information can contact Joyce Heckman at 812-343-3572.
