To the editor:
On September 7th I will attend my 60th class reunion at the Meadowview Golf Course. I have attended all twelve of the five-year reunions since I graduated in 1965. This year will be especially fun since the reunion will include the class of 1966. I have thoroughly enjoyed each opportunity to connect with classmates over the years. While many graduates cherish these gatherings, I also realize that some classmates have never attended a reunion. I have heard everything from “I have no interest in revisiting the past” to “my high school days were the best days of my life.”
As you may assume, the reflections shared at reunions vary substantially. For athletes, our memories often mirror a better performance than what actually occurred. The bond among teammates in many instances has lasted for decades.
The ‘girls’ in the classes of 1965 and 1966 had no opportunity to compete in sports. They were not even permitted to wear slacks to school until 1969. It was not until the passage of Title 9 in 1972 that girls had the opportunity to participate in competitive sports. This was particularly unfortunate given the obvious athleticism of the girls who were not allowed to compete. Fortunately, times have changed. I recall attending the O-W homecoming game a few years ago where a girl was a starting lineman (whoops...linewoman), was on the homecoming court and played in the band at half-time. It is sad when we reflect on all the young female talent that went unrealized for so many decades.
We have all witnessed many successes, failures and accomplishments since we grew up in the 50’s. The changes in our world politically, socially, environmentally and economically are far beyond what I ever imagined as a naïve 10-year-old.
When I first envisioned this ‘class reunion’ letter to the editor, I planned to review the major political, social, arts and sports events over the past five decades. In hindsight that was foolish. As I reviewed the decades, it soon became evident that the events I planned to share were far beyond what I could realistically summarize. Take a slightly shorter journey with me as I ponder a few of the events we experienced from roughly 1955 through 1975.
The civil rights movement made great strides in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I recall Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man on the bus. In addition, the Supreme Court struck down school segregation. Emmett Till, age 14, was kidnapped, tortured and killed in 1955. His death galvanized the growth of the civil rights movement.
We listened to Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Chubby Checker, and we danced the twist. We watched the Ed Sullivan show, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, Marilyn Monroe and Alfred Hitchcock.
We played with Hula Hoops and Barbie dolls, wore Poodle skirts, cherished cat’s eyes, and steely marbles, and slid down Tennis Shoe hill on cardboard boxes. Remember Pump, Pump, Pull-Away and Red Rover? Those black and white saddle shoes made a fashion statement.
The 60’s introduced us to the Beatles (Hey Jude), James Brown, the Mamas and Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and Patsy Cline (Crazy). Did you know Willie Nelson wrote Crazy? The number one song in 1965 was Wolly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs and in 1966 it was Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys.
The first Ford Mustang sold in April of 1964 in Park Ridge, Illinois. It was a blue convertible costing $3,447.50 purchased by Gail Wise. The Wise family still owns that Mustang. What do you suppose it’s worth today?
The Milwaukee Braves defeated the New York Yankees in 1957, with Lew Burdette throwing a shutout in game seven. The first Super Bowl was won by the Green Bay Packers in 1967 (Packers 35; Kansas City Chiefs 10). What was the cost of the ticket for that game? Average price was $12.00. You would be fortunate to buy one beer for $12.00 at an NFL game today.
Since I have had horses in my life since the age of 10, I would be remiss if I did not mention the fastest triple crown winner, the great Secretariat (1973).
Most of us will remember where we were in 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated. I can clearly recall Mrs. Hazelton sharing the tragic news to our English class in the old high school which was just down main street from my home above the dime store (Ray’s Variety). The assassinations of Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X shaped the social and political climate for years.
The Vietnam War dramatically escalated between 1965 and 1970. The mandatory draft and intense division throughout the country was in many ways, unprecedented. Sadly, some of our classmates served and died as the war progressed into the 1970’s. Fortunately, those surviving the war were eventually honored for their bravery and service.
The Woodstock festival in 1969 became symbolic of the counterculture in opposition to the war. Remember Janis Joplin, and Jimi Henderix? Both died of drug overdoses at the age of 27. In August of 1970 the Sterling Hall in Madison was bombed by protesters hoping to end the manufacturing of napalm by Dow Chemical. Protests became an important symbol of who we were and how our perceptions of the world evolved.
The music of the day reflected the turmoil of the day. The Animals’ We Gotta Get Out of this Place (1965); Pete Seeger’s, Bring em Home; and Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie gave voice to those seeking an end to the war (1967).
The war ended in 1970. 58,220 U.S. service members died and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and Cambodians perished. As the war drew to a conclusion we had become a nation riddled with ambiguity and uncertainty. It was a war that challenged our country and was difficult to move beyond. As I shared earlier in this narrative, this ‘letter” was not intended to review all we have experienced through the decades following our graduations in 1965 and 1966. Hopefully, our lives have been filled with accomplishments, successes and love. For many of us, children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren have resulted in joy beyond our expectations.
And when many of us revisit our high school experiences on September 7th, we can be thankful for a life which provided us with experiences and opportunities to thrive, succeed and prosper into our late seventies. Hopefully the years between 1955 and 1965/66 enables us to more clearly understand the profound message relayed in the early 60’s through music by so many talented artists.
For example:
Who Put the Bomp in the Bomp Bah Bomp Bah Bomp?
Who Put the Ram in the Rama Lama Ding Dong?
Who was that man? I’d like to shake his hand.
He made my baby fall in love with me.
If there is no answer to the “who,” let’s just cherish the moments, enjoy the laughter surrounding our reunion and hope we can get together again in five years at the age of 82 or 83.

Bill Conzemius
Owen-Withee Class of 1965