A Trip Down Memory Lane: Bandera alumni reunite
Class of 1970 alumni Joe “Butch” Munch and Billie Ann (Farr) Burrell pose with the yearbook photo of the pair as Mister and Miss during the 2021 Bandera All Class Reunion Meet and Greet last Friday at the Mansfield Park Pavilion. BULLETIN PHOTO/Chuck
The 2021 Bandera All Class Reunion Weekend 2021 brought an estimated 50 former Bandera High School graduates and family members together to share old memories and make new ones.
The June 11-13 celebration included former students from the Class of 1952 to the Class of 1985 and almost every year in between.
The Friday night Meet and Greet at the Mansfield Park Pavilion kicked off the event andwas attended by about 20 people, mostly BHS grads.
The atmosphere was nostalgic and sentimental, but mostly funfilled as the mostly senior group looked back in time to their teen years.
Class of 1970 members Joe “Butch” Munch and Billie Ann (Farr) Burrell got a lot of laughs and smiles when they held up the 1970 yearbook photo of the two as Mister and Miss BHS.
Self-described class clown Charlie Martinez was also present at Friday’s Meet and Greet.
“Because I am short, I got to be the Bulldog Mascot, the 1977 grad said. “It was fun, but one year was enough.”
After the Meet and Greet ended, a number of the reunion folks walked the short distance to the Ridin’ the River Cowboy Fellowship rodeo, while others said they were going to 11th Street Cowboy Bar.
On Saturday morning, attendees, especially those from out of town, were encouraged to enjoy the many hospitality offerings in the Bandera area.
Saturday night’s Annual Social Gathering at Pioneer RV Event Center drew about 40 people, where “I haven’t seen you in years” comments were heard repeatedly.
Victors to the Social Gathering were asked to contribute to two local charities: the Bandera Boys and Girls club and the Silver Sage senior center.
Later in the evening, door prizes donated by schoolmates and local business were given out.
Former Bandera City Council member Glenn Clark talked with Bulletin.
“I graduated in 1965, and the school had about 37 in our class. It was really different from now. I liked seeing old friends at this event,” he said.
One of the strangest things in this reunion happened to 1962 grad Larry Stein, who ended up on a list of dead grads then taken off the list and back again until it was right.
Stein said one friend jokingly called him up to ask if he was dead.
On Sunday morning at 10 a.m., a prayer and memorial service was held at the city park, where attendees prayed and remembered friends, faculty and schoolmates who have passed on.
“The effort to put this event on each year is worth it when you see the many smiles of the people who attend,” said David Lee Jureckzi, one of the group members making the event happen.