September 27, 2023
On September 18, 2023 fifteen members of our Wa-Hi Class of 1959 met in the boardroom of the Walla Walla Public Schools to discuss our upcoming 65th class reunion. Above are the dates we have decided to come together once again and celebrate life and our long friendships with classmates. We have chosen mid week like our last reunion as hotels/motels are less expensive than on weekends, less traffic, and we presume we all are retired from our working jobs.
Our agenda will be very similar to our last reunion with a casual evening on Tuesday at the Big House, formerly the Brew Pub; Wednesday we will have a cocktail hour at the Walla Walla Country Club with dinner, visiting, etc. to follow. We have added one more day - Thursday - to gather at the VFW Building on Rose street from 10 - 2 for a few more hours of visiting and a nice catered luncheon. We will be sending out a letter to everyone when we finalize more details, costs, etc., along with information of hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.
As time gets closer, if there is interest in other activities such as golf, wine touring, touring Wa-Hi which has recently been updated, or any other ideas you might have, we are open for suggestions.
Presently we have a committee working on updating our master address, telephone, e-mail, etc. list, along with updating - sadly - our deceased class members list. Please be helpful if you are called by our ladies, as we really try to reach as many of our classmates as we can.
We plan to send a letter by e-mail to everyone as soon as possible, and mail to those who do not have e-mail addresses.
Take care,
The Reunion Committee
July 23, 2019
1959 Wa-Hi 60th Class Reunion – Sept. 10 & 11, 2019
This is a reminder for those of who have not already done so, to please send us a check for your reservation to attend our upcoming 60th class reunion. Many of you have responded already and we thank you for that. Also, many of you have contacted us and asked questions, etc. but we don’t have your confirmed reservation. Remember, the cost is $45.00 per person or $90.00 per couple. This is for the Wednesday night buffet dinner and dance at the Walla Walla Country Club. There is no charge in advance for the Tuesday evening gathering at the Big House Pub & Restaurant.
Dick and Mary Ann Gray have invited everyone to their home, 1225 Lancer Drive, at 4:30 PM Wednesday prior to our event at the Country Club. If you need directions, please call Dick or Mary Ann at 509-525-0337.
Planned Itinerary
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 5:30 – 10:00
Place: The Big House Pub & Restaurant, 11 S. Palouse
(Corner of E. Main/Boyer & Palouse)
Food and Drink: No host – they have a large menu of both food and beverages.
Attire: Casual – there is an outdoor area we plan to use if the weather is cooperative. The restaurant is quite large in size inside, so seating should not be a problem
This is a very informal & fun gathering.
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 – Casual – Ladies, No-host luncheon
Place: El Sombrero Restaurant – North Second Street
Time: 11:30 AM - ?
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 – Golf outing being arranged by Bud Kinzer and Dick Gray– Please contact Bud at 509-301-0600 or Dick at 509-525-0337 for times, etc.
Place: Walla Walla Country Club, 1390 Country Club Road
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 – 4:30PM – 5:45PM
Place: Dick & Mary Ann Gray’s Home – 1225 Lancer Drive - informal gathering prior to the evening event.
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 6:00 PM – No host cocktails
7:00 PM – BBQ Dinner & Music
Place: Walla Walla Country Club, 1390 Country Club Road
Food & Drink: Buffet BBQ Dinner & drinks (no host bar)
There will be a bar set up for cocktails, wine, or soft drinks for
purchase. If you choose to bring wine with you, there is a $13.00
corking fee per bottle.
Music by the Gems (Jim Reid from our Wa-Hi Class of ‘59 is a member of this group!)
Charge: $45.00 per person or $90.00 per couple
Attire: Business casual (Khaki pants, nice jeans, golf acceptable shorts, collared shirts)
We are planning to have a group picture taken at 6:55 PM (just before dinner begins), so please be there in plenty of time so you are not missed in the photo. You can sign up at the door, and there will be a small charge (cash, please) for a print of this photo to be mailed to you.
As most of us remember, Jim Reid, one of our classmates, is a member of a band that continues to perform together, and we are able to hire them to play for us at the Wednesday evening affair. These fellows have been friends and fellow musicians for the last 60 years and have returned from time to time to Walla Walla and entertained at the Elks Lodge, as well as other locations. Their group is called The Gems and they play the 50’s songs and rock and roll music we all love so much. We all enjoyed their music at our 55th reunion!
There are many activities that could be planned in addition to the Tuesday evening gathering and the Wednesday night dinner. In our earlier letters we suggested individuals are welcome to plan a wine tour or other tour of Walla Walla, etc. during the reunion.
We are trying to make this gathering a fun and easy time to get together and just catch up with good friends. We are sad to say that many more of our good friends and classmates have passed away, and it reminds us how important it is to enjoy one another while we are able.
We ask that you pay in advance for the Wednesday event so we have a firm number for reservations. We have to guarantee our numbers to the Country Club by Monday, September 2, 2019 . If there are special circumstances, please call one of us and we will work out something that will suit everyone. We have classmates who have offered to donate extra money to pay for anyone who is unable to attend for that reason, so please let us know if that would help you to be able to join us. Send your money to Wa-Hi Class of ’59 – 752 Blalock Drive – Walla Walla, WA 99362. Again, the cost is $45.00 per person or $90.00 per couple, which includes a little extra to help pay for the band, cost of room rental, paper, ink, & postage. We will talk more at the Wednesday night party about whether we want to keep the website – www.bluedevils59.com - up for another five years.
Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions. We are always happy to hear from you and would love other ideas and suggestions on how to make this a fun gathering.
We will try to keep any additional information on the website, so please check there for updates on any changes or additions. We will also try to keep current with the number of reservations we have received. Again, the website is www.bluedevils59.com.
Contacts:
Pat Herring Lucarelli
752 Blalock Drive
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-2821 or
(509) 520-7310
Email: jplucarelli@charter.net
Dick Gray
1225 Lancer Drive
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-0337
Email:
rgray1899@charter.net
Bud Kinzer
218 Cougar Creek Dr.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 301-0600
Email:
bbkinzer620@gmail.com
PLEASE SEND YOUR RESERVATIONS & MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!