Thanks for the memories

We finally celebrated the class of 1970’s graduation from RHS this last weekend which could be called the class of 1970 is turning 70. The two year hiatus because of Covid didn’t stop class members from having a good time reminiscing about their retirement and other things that keeps them young and alive.

We’ve lost eight members of our class out of 60 graduates. 27 class members returned between Friday night and Saturday. There are a few that live a long way away and have yet to attend a get together since we graduated. Some made other plans for this weekend maybe not knowing if there would truly be another alumni banquet and reunion. We welcome any member of our class that shows up and I think everyone had a great time visiting even those that may have thought no one would remember them. Sure, we age and guys have facial hair and some are balding but once we knew who we were talking to the conversation took off like we had been visiting about the weather a week ago.

There were a few football and basketball stories that were told and one of our linemen told me about the blocking scheme change in a close game at Reardan our senior year. We went from averaging 2-3 yards per play to about 10 by switching assignments at halftime to get better blocking angles. You must remember as a running back our job was to get to the hole and don’t be late. If there was no place to run we had to find one. Once the blocking scheme changed we found the spot ‘big enough to drive a truck through.’

It was great playing with intelligent linemen because they would communicate what they were going to do both offensively and defensively. It made the running back’s job easier as well as the linebackers. Our linemen were smart and very team oriented with the will to win. They were also in shape to play an entire game as in every second of the game.

When basketball season started many of these same linemen were part of the best pep band that I ever heard when I was playing basketball, and I heard a lot of pep bands. Most people would never understand how talented these guys were in school, sports, music and drama. They were friends and if something needed to be done they were there to get it done.

Our class and the class of 1971 met together last weekend and I’m glad we did because our classes shared a lot on the football field, basketball court, track and the baseball diamond. I can tell you another thing if there would have been a golf team we would have had a good one.

This year’s class of 1972, the 50 year class were sophomores when we were seniors but they too were a part of the success we had that school year. It was great seeing them as well since many of them haven’t been back to the reunion in a while.

There were a few guys in that class that I haven’t seen in some time and they got taller and I didn’t. I can say they didn’t look much different other that getting taller. Okay, I’m jealous!

Just about every class has a former classmate that shows up to renew old friendships. We had two this year and it was really great to see them. One of them travelled from the Oregon coast. He told me he doesn’t drive that much so filling up his gas tank was a little bit of a shock.

I think back on three guys that moved before our freshman year. All three of these guys were starters on their football and basketball teams. We battled against two of them over the course of a high school career and we had great respect for them. One never know how different things would be if they remained in Ritzville. But you can’t change what has already happened but you can always wonder.

It was a great weekend seeing so many people from so many classes and the smiles and greetings from so many former Broncos that I had looked up to when I was just a young kid.

Since our class gets together every five years you could say that the good news is now we only have to wait three.