Much Appreciation for the TOR 74 Crew!

As a group of us begin work on the 50th reunion of the Mt. Rainier High School Class of 1974, I am finding the TOR 74 yearbook to be a treasure trove of helpful information. I write this blog post to express my deep appreciation now for the work I ignored back then.

The TOR 74 crew, headed by Editor Terry Howard, did an amazing job. My copy of the yearbook disappeared long ago due to water damage from a flood. Kerry Brown sent me his copy to use as I work on building on this website. You can see the TOR 74 team in the photo of the yearbook’s last page:

• Editor: Terry Howard
• Assistant Editor: Glenn Fithian
• Finances, Sales: Kathy Post
• Academics: Margareta Schmidt, Nancy Moore
• Teachers: Glenn Fithian
• Sophomores: Kristin Jacobsen, Ed Palmer
• Juniors: Janise Halvorson, Lee Bowman
• Seniors: Kathy Post, Linda Good
• Photographers: Bertz Hintz, Kurt Kraft
• Typing: Margareta Schmidt, Janice Graham
• Bouncer: Clair Troftgruben
• Advisor: Frau Paulsen
• Special Thanks to: George Somoff, Taylor Publishing Co., Kennel[l]-Ellis Studio

(I note in passing that after 80 years in business, the Kennell-Ellis Studio closed in 2004, and although they made original negatives available for a time, their website has since been shut down.)

In 1974, I did not appreciate the work this team did on the yearbook. A few years later while attending Highline Community College, I was privileged to work on the college newspaper and that gave me a deeper understanding of how much work the TOR 74 crew put into our yearbook. Putting the 1974 yearbook together was clearly a heavy lift and these folks deserve our thanks and appreciation. They certainly have mine.

The yearbook photographs are the catalysts for so many memories and so many emotions. It is particularly gut-wrenching to work on the Classmates We’ve Lost page. Placing the photos causes me to pause and remember each individual. Searching for an obituary or a grave site that might give classmates some sense of closure is a discordant mix of joy when I find some information and then a heavy heart as I read it.

In 50 years, we have lost ten percent of our group of 515 classmates. Fifty-two people, many with significant others, children, and even grandchildren, have gone before us. As I read their obits and memorials, I am struck by the many things our classmates have done and how many lives they touched. It makes me wish I had known them better.

The 50th reunion is that chance to get to know our remaining classmates better. Fifty years since our senior year in high school is a marker moment by anyone’s definition. This reunion is special simply because of the half-century mark we are swiftly approaching.

I hope we can interest more of our classmates to come together at the reunion. From talking with ASB President Rob Fletcher and Senior Class President Kerry Brown, it is clear they both want a relaxed, friendly environment where our classmates can gather, swap stories, renew old bonds, and create some new ones. I’m looking forward to that.

None of this would be possible without the work accomplished by the TOR 74 yearbook crew. The yearbook is a foundation stone that is helping us build a great reunion event. I am very thankful for the yearbook and extend my deep gratitude to every person who participated in making it a reality.