What made us friends in the long ago? I think I know. The
best in You Found the best in Me, It formed our friendship,
That was meant to be.
Author unknown
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The
Billings Senior High School
Class of1955 Reunion - History
“Cruise Down Memory Lane with the
Class of ‘55" was the theme of our 40th class reunion
It was held on July 7-9 1995. Our Friday evening get-together was
held at the Laurel Rod and Gun Club at Riverside Park. For those in
attendance, it was a very hot evening and there was no air
conditioning but lots of people and lots of mosquitoes. Who can
forget the mosquitoes that night? Tiny’s Tavern catered our dinner
and with everyone talking and swatting the bugs, we survived the
night. Dennis Lyle from Q2 video-taped the party which serves as a
nice keepsake of our Friday gathering. The Saturday night
banquet was held at the Radison Northern Hotel. A local disc
jockey played tunes from the 50's and many baskets and works of art
were auctioned off. The money raised was set aside for future
class parties (like our 50th reunion next September). On
Sunday, July 9, there was a brunch at the Holiday Inn.. It was
great getting reacquainted with classmates from Senior High.
“Back in the 50's Tonight”
was a good theme for the 30th class reunion.
Festivities began on Friday, July 19, 1985 with a kegger at the
Riverside Dance Hall in Laurel. It was attended by over 200
people. Many attendees were “decked out’ in bunny skirts,
bobby sox, saddle shoes, low slung Levi’s, T-shirts with sleeves
rolled up and brown leather jackets. Everyone enjoyed the pig
roast. Saturday we went on a bus tour of the city and
Senior High School. The banquet and dance on Saturday evening
was held at the Ramada Inn. Jitterbugging was fun along with
waltzes, a polka or two and a bunny hop thrown in for good measure.
We enjoyed the display of many pictures and news clippings from our
high school days. It was fun to reminisce and renew old
friendships once again. The Sunday brunch at the Ramada Inn
with 150 classmates in attendance ended our 30th
class reunion activities. The whole weekend was an experience that
emphasized the “right stuff” of which this class is made–fun loving,
caring and sharing. It was a nostalgic trip that left one
feeling refreshed, renewed and eager for the next opportunity to get
together. (Alan Anderson, Senior Class President)
Our
20th Reunion in 1975 brought us together to share “The
Good Times.” The festivities started Friday night at the Rod
and Gun Club on top of the rims. Kegs of beer, chips, pretzels
and popcorn were served. Our banquet was held at the Ramada
Inn on Saturday night. Alan Anderson, class President, was the
emcee and entertained us with tales of the Sophomore initiation (the
last year it was allowed). Trophies were given to the person married
the longest, the shortest married, most children, most grandchildren
and the one who came the farthest for the reunion. Our guest teacher
was Stan Richards. Collyn Hunter Slavens and June Bowman
Johnson (“55 cheerleaders) led us in the song “Beer, Beer for old
Billings High.” (Janet Halone)
The
Class of 1955
graduation ceremony was held at the Shrine Auditorium with
approximately 367 students. What a great time to be a
teenager. On weekends the guys would drive around the downtown
“burning the point.” We went to movies at the Fox, Babcock or
Lyric Theaters and drank cokes at Fonk’s. Remember those
drive-ins that served Flying Saucers and Big Boy hamburgers and
Green Rivers?.. Who can forget the first Root Beer
stand on 6th Avenue and North 30 street? Don’t forget the
Drive-In Theaters. Our small town of Billings did not go past the
hill on Grand Avenue and Rimrock road was the highway to Molt.
The music was great, the dances were fun. The Billings Senior
Broncs were exciting to watch whether it was on the football field
or on the gym floor playing basketball. We remember our youth
as a wonderful time; lucky to have been there–with 300 plus
classmates.
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