N-O Alumni Gather For Annual Alumni Banquet

5/26/2018

About 100 people showed up to celebrate Neligh-Oakdale High School's annual alumni banquet on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the Neligh American Legion.

The evening kicked off with a speech from recent N-O graduate Rachel Higgins.

After dinner and dessert, a representative from each class was asked to recall memories or stories for their class. After hearing from the classes' spokesmen, Rhonda Meyer of the Class of 1980 spoke about the N-O Education Foundation.

Following, Roger Barry, head coach of the 1961 state champion football team, presented a trophy and signed football that will be displayed in the school. Barry was awarded a plaque in return, and his wife, Sheryl, was given a tote. Sid Charf said he found the trophy broken in a janitor's room and put it back together. As for the football, a local resident found it in a garage, according to Charf.

The alumni scholarship went out to recent N-O graduate Courtni Heckert, who was unable to attend.

Two alumni awards were presented for who was the oldest and who traveled the farthest out of present alumni. Melvin Allen of the Class of 1943 was awarded the oldest attending. Wesley Musser of the Class of 1963 won the farthest distance traveled at about 1,700 miles, as he traveled from Maryland.

Above is the Class of 1968. Front left: Barb Black White, Gene Evans, Beth Stingley McKibbin, Ruth Ann Rogers, Judy Pedersen Cole, Cheri Slough Cornett and Nanci Thomsen. Middle left: Maureen Steffl Policky, Jan Brungart Wilson, Vicki Helmer Cotton, Belinda Power Praeuner, Nancy Bitney, Tom Schenkel, Tom Martin, Denny Hughes, Richard Sanne and Stan Spomer. Back left: Jim Petersen, Don Slone, Deb Furstenau Bullington, Randy Praeuner, Dean Ennen, Bob Martin, Dave Shrader and Jim DeCamp.

Class of 1948, front left: Alice Genteler, Jean Baker, Roger Baker and Betty Schwager. Back left: Feller Baker, Adolph Suhr and Clark Jones.

Class of 1958, front left: Barbara Wehenkel, Karen Kahland, Barbara Morrison Gaither, Donna Johnson, Lois Gnuse and Betty Walz. Back left: John Corkle, Larry Pellatz, Raymond Olson, Ron Snodgrass, Rod Charf, Lois Burger, Judy Rickel Lilly and Jean Wilmoth.

Class of 1973, left: Jayne Hughes Funk, Rhonda Furstenau Jedlicka and Elaine Reinke Wallace.

Class of 1978, left: Luann Pellatz Doerr and Greg Anderson.

Class of 1983: Kristol House Schwenn.

Class of 1988: Dean Frey.

Class of 1998, front left: Stacy Weber Johnson, Kara Furstenau Johnson, Kelli Frey Unseld, Alicia Smith Gunther and Mariah Murray-Zumo. Back left: Joshua Johnson, Kevin Zuhlke, Anthony Bratten, Casey Allen and Kenny Reinke.