By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
On Saturday afternoon, the Old Overton Gym was filled with people who remember the days when the “old gym” was the only gym. It was the Moapa Valley High School class of 1965 who had gathered for their 50 year class reunion.
Planning for this reunion began last April. Planning committee members spent hours planning and organizing the event. It included a lunch catered by Inside Scoop, a Meet-and-Greet, and a program with a slideshow that included pictures of many of the alumni from days gone by. Memorabilia on display included yearbooks, the class’ graduation announcement, and the class prom program.
Ken Bogart, 1965 class president, came down from Reno on several occasions to meet with the committee and help make plans. When plans for an ‘all-year’ reunion began to surface about six weeks ago, planners of the ‘65 reunion also included the Friday night dinner at the high school in their reunion plans.
Turnout for the reunion was good and all had a great time. The graduating class of ‘65 included 45 people and the reunion committee expected a turnout of about 34 people on Saturday.
Much of the time was spent reminiscing about the old days. Joyce Leonard shared a memory many of the attendees had.
“We started in the old gym, but the new gym was finished in 1964 so we began to have basketball games over there,” Leonard said. “My husband remembers the dedication of the new gym. At the gym opening game we played Bishop Gorman high school in basketball. All that matters is that Moapa Valley won.”
Becky Bishop said of the reunion, “It’s fun. It’s good to see everyone and enjoy spending time together. We share stories of families and our current lives, but as I walk around I keep hearing the phrase ‘remember when…’ over and over so I know a lot of reminiscing about the old stories and the old haunts is going on.”
Some of the old haunts being remembered included the “It Shop,” which sold candy and soda and was set up like an old fashioned soda fountain; Mom’s cafe, which stood where the current flower shop currently is; the El Notrevo theater; the old gas stations; and Cooper’s Market, which stood in the Logandale building recently occupied by the VIP restaurant.
Regardless of what each alumni remembered from fifty years ago, each went away from the reunion this weekend remembering each other and the friendships forged fifty years ago that lasted a lifetime.
