MILT THOMAS

On Saturday, May 9, nearly 700 people gathered at the Indian River County Fairgrounds for a first time event — a ‘reunion’ of former Vero Beach High School graduates who have lived at least 50 years since the day they received their diplomas. That means the ‘youngsters’ representing Class of 1965 mixed their fellow graduates from the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The record was held by Mrs. Gladys Phillips, age 101, who graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1932!

The event was organized by chairman Buddy Provost (Class of 1963) and a 24-person committee representing different graduating years as well as many volunteers. Attendees traveled from many states, but a large number came from Indian River County and the surrounding area. Indian River County did not exist before 1925, so when Gladys Phillips entered junior high school, Vero Beach was part of St. Lucie County. Alma Lee Loy  (Class of 1947) was a member of the organizing committee and was the only attendee with a bridge named after her!

According to Provost, “We came up with this idea after having a joint reunion last year of the classes before and after mine in 1963. The efforts of our committee members finding and contacting former classmates, organizing the event, preparing a delicious barbecue with homemade desserts setting up and cleaning up cannot be emphasized too much. We’ve already scheduled a repeat event for next year on April 9, 2016. We hope to keep the cost at $15 a person.”