Mena 40-Year Club to Host Reunion in May

SUBMITTED –

When the Mena High School 40-Year Club was organized in 1956, its primary purpose was to plan   gatherings for those who graduated from Mena High School more 40 years prior. Since then, 40-year Club reunions have been held in Mena every two years. Two new classes are welcomed to the club each year. Attendance continues to grow with more than 300 attending the last reunion in 2013. The events planned are informal and focus on reminiscing and renewing friendships.

After many successful gatherings, the Board of Directors established a scholarship fund to assist MHS graduates who plan to attend college. In 1982, the first Scholarship Committee was formed. Members were Elleta Flick, Pauline Morrow, Dick Barham, Dick Carver, and Lee McMillan. Omar Washburn and Louise Waters soon joined the group.  Louise became chairman and served in that capacity for many years. The Scholarship Fund grew with contributions from MHS graduates. In 2005, the Scholarship Committee established two endowments at Rich Mountain Community College. Currently, there are three MHS 40-Year Club endowments at the College, and more than $16,000 has been awarded to Mena High School seniors to further their education.
The 2015 gathering will be held May 22-23 in Mena. A reception for the incoming classes of 1974-1975 will be at 6 pm on Friday, May 22, at the Ouachita Center on the RMCC Campus. RMCC will host a brunch for 60+ year graduates on Saturday, May 23. All classes are invited to the reception at Mena High School Saturday afternoon from 2 – 5 p.m. Events will culminate with a fish fry hosted by the 40-Year Club Board of Directors.

Members of the current Board of Directors are Russell Blackburn, Donna Montgomery, Wingo Johnson, Pat Phillips, Tim Masters, and Linda Rowe.

More information and registration forms can be found at www.mhs40yearclub.org and on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mena-High-School-Forty-Year-Club

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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