Grant High School - Memoirs Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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 HAD TO BE THERE Alumni return pride You had to be there when members of the class of '26 returned to Grant for their sixty year reunion. Yes, that's right! Grant's first graduating class assembled one more time. The stunning LeVeda Gearhart arrived in style as she stepped out from her sleek Rolls Royce. Dressed in a fancy gray skirt and jacket, shiny black shoes, and jewelry galore, Gearhart declared, It's marvelous to be back! Classmate Albert Arnst greeted her with pleasure along with a Channel 8 photographer. Arnst organized this reunion attempting to locate his ninety-member class. Eighteen were contacted and excited to hear the news. On September 20, the 1926 alumni posed for pictures, socialized, and found Grant to be much different from before. They seated themselves in Room 113 and chuckled when Arnst asked, Okay students, are you ready for a test? Minutes later, senior James Moss welcomed them and began speaking about the many changes and additions over the past sixty years. Moss continued by taking the former students on a tour of the school. Walter Heitkemper, Grant's first student body president, pointed out some of the dif ferences: There was certainly no auditorium, and the cafeteria was located in a portable. We had a drum corps, but not a complete band. When reaching the library, they seemed in awe of the larger room and number of books. Ed Ansty and Lyle Harrington chatted about ther championship football team. Ansty announced that he played center, while captain Harrington played tackle. Suddenly, Harrington pulled a yellowed newspaper, dated September 30, 1925, out of his briefcase. He had saved every Grant article published pertaining to his high school years. Graduate Ferrin Morelan explained that although there were many clubs and organizations, students could join only two. I was in Buskins (now Thespians); the first play we performed was 'Out of the Kitchen'. As the end of the tour neared, Morelan seemed to speak for everyone when he remarked, I'm just glad I'm here to be back! On the same day of this gathering, more than thirty former Grant runners met with this season’s cross country team. The alumni divided themselves into two separate races: one for those who felt they were in fairly good shape and one for the others. Cross country coach, Mark Cotton, felt the races were not only satisfying for the returning runners, but also a rewarding experience for his young athletes. 14 Introduction

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Interested students attending the exchange student meeting include John Frost. Fernanda Muniz, Peter Stahemann, and Mollie Young. Exchange student, Nicole Friestedt, and seniors Daniel Moore and Cashnita Mathieson listen to the speaker intently, while Alyssa Pace and Ulla Pon-tgratz socialize. Active student, Craig Irwin, plays the trumpet as one of Grant's marching band members. Sophomores Nicole Duckworth. Sarah Swenson, and Alyssa Pace consider spending a year as exchange students. introduction 13

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Coach Mark Cotton records the time of his son. Greg, after running the alumni cross-country meet. Former Grant student Eric Sten and his father, relax following the race. A graduate of 1926 recalls memories while exhibiting her yearbook to a television cameraman, reporter, and former classmate. Sixteen alumni from the class of '26 appear young at heart as they pose on the front steps On reaching the finish line, the top five runners receive awards and recognition: John Dimoff '88. Dan Kavet 76. Brad Johnson 74. Rick Messier '88. and Hal Jackson '65. Introduction 15