Planning underway for 50th Reunion

Hey there, fellow Bruins! This is Butch Bernhardt and 2026 will mark 50 years since we all departed BHHS and became responsible, tax-paying adults. The fact that we’ve survived — and maybe even thrived — the past five decades is worthy of party. And that’s what we’re starting to plan for the summer of 2026 in Brookings.

Typically, many classes hold their reunions during the Azalea Festival on Memorial Day at the end of May. However, after talking with a few of you, the consensus is to hold a reunion later in the summer. There are more hotel rooms available then for those traveling to Brookings. Right now we’re looking for the weekend of July 25-26 to hold this fun event. Over the next few months, we’ll be getting the details and arrangements together for an epic party weekend.

I created this blog as a way to reach out to everyone. You can leave comments on any of these blog posts, which everyone will be able to see. Also, I created an email address, [email protected], so anyone can reach out to me as we get this going.

Top of the To Do list is to start tracking down fellow classmates and get their email addresses. Instead of posting in the comments, send me your email address — and any other classmate’s — to [email protected] so I can build a list and reach out directly to all as we nail down details.

There is a Facebook group named Class Reunion 1970 to 1979 and I’ll be posting this blog address and share reunion details. I’m not big on FB, so that’s why I went with this blog. But it will be useful. Nellie Gardner Fox and Teri Wold have done a great job with the FB page and the annual get together at Azalea Park each year in May.

Check out the post with all of our classmate names and whether I have their email or not. Review it from time to time to see who I’ve found and forward me any email address for those who I don’t have.

I think that’s it for now. Don’t know about you, but I’m excited for the opportunity to see as many of you as possible this summer at the reunion. Lot of water has gone under the bridge but we’re still on this side of the dirt.

So more to come. Get ready for an epic celebration!