TO:            ADVERTISER TRIBUNE

FROM:      Janet K. Beisner (419-447-4980)

DATE:       August 13, 2007

SUBJECT: Columbian High Class of 1957 Fifty-Year Reunion

          The Magic Number was 57 when 57 classmates of the Columbian Class of 1957 gathered for a weekend of events planned for their 50-year class reunion.  The goal of the committee was to get 50 classmates to attend the weekend of events that was held in Tiffin on August 10, 11, and 12.  The committee was delighted when 57 classmates registered to attend the Saturday buffet dinner held at Camden Falls. Ninety-one people attended the event held Saturday evening at Camden Falls.

            Thirty-six members and seventeen guests of the class met Friday evening, August 10, at the home of classmate Robert Meyer and his wife Janet to renew old acquaintances and enjoy snacks.   On Saturday morning, nine golfers met to play golf at Sycamore Hills Golf Course, while several couples met to tour the Tiffin Middle School.  Twenty-four classmates and eleven guests enjoyed lunch and conversation at Shellshuckers at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

            Fifty-seven classmates and thirty-four guests enjoyed a buffet dinner at Camden Falls Restaurant on Saturday evening.  A brief memorial service was given by Sarj Bloom of Jacksonville, FL, for twenty-one deceased class members.  Bernard Marx of Shelby, Ohio, gave the invocation.

            Dean Shappell and David Speas, the co-chairpersons, welcomed the class and conducted a brief business meeting to set the date and elect a steering committee for the 55-year reunion to be held the second Saturday in 2012:  August 11, 2012.  Co-Chairpersons will be David Speas of Springfield, Ohio, and John Stoner, of Tiffin, OH.  Others who will be assisting will be Janet and Howard Beisner; Robert Bauer; Peggy Hunker Thallman and Connie Collier Bell; Bill Anspach; Dick Steven; and Sandie Greene Spohler.  Good will Ambassador will be Dean Shappell.  Web Page designer will be Sarj Bloom of Jacksonville, FL.

            Special favors—Gold Framed 8 X 10 pictures of the original Columbian High School Building with the Senior Picture of each individual superimposed on the building were given to those present at the 50^th Reunion.  These were made and presented by David Speas.  Richard Roberts brought “Class of 1957” notepads from Klamath Falls, OR.  Each person present also received a Tiffin Glass Museum cobalt blue kiss with Tiffin inscribed on the bottom and a real Buckeye with 50^th inscribed on it and, of course, a small bag of Ballreichs Potato chips..

            A counted cross stitch map of Tiffin was raffled off.  The winner was Elizabeth Mathias of Stevensville, MD.  Tunes of the 50's were played throughout the evening.

            Door prizes and favors were donated by classmates and came from all over the country.  Special prizes were awarded to Herb Crum (the first classmate to pay), David Aller (highest check number), Jean Mahoney Bowers (drove the farthest –1,800 miles), Dick Roberts (youngest grandchild), and Marilyn Hammond Fogle {most (10) great grandchildren}. Special awards were given to Barbara Killen Dixson and Mary Ann Nepper Zimmer who were attending their first reunion.  Special awards were also awarded to the seven classmates who have attended each of the nine class reunions: Bill Anspach, Howard Beisner, Janet Shuman Beisner, Sandie Greene Spohler, Patty Lynn Schreiner, Dean Shappell, and Dick Steven.

            Howard W. Beisner presented prizes to those who won awards at the golf outing attended by nine classmates and guests on Saturday morning at Sycamore Hills Golf Course:  Ed Mathias, Mary Eschbach, and Dean Shappell.

            A group picture was taken by Jim Wertz.  Small group pictures were taken of classmates who attended different elementary schools.   Fifty classmates and guests met at T J Willies for Sunday morning brunch before departing home to their various destinations.  Classmates welcomed one additional classmate:  Ellen Drake Lang who joined them for the Sunday Brunch.

            David Speas, Springfield, OH, and Dean Shappell of Leesburg FL were chairman of the steering committee.  John Stoner was the Tiffin Arrangements chairman.  They were assisted by Howard and Janet (Shuman) Beisner, Bill and Becky Anspach,  Sandie Greene Spohler, Carol Arbogast Engle, Bob and Janet Meyer, Herb and Paula Crum, Vivian Baugher Blankenship, and Peggy Hunker Thallman.  Various other classmates assisted in many ways.

            Barbara Killen Dixson and MaryAnn Nepper Zender assisted Carol Arbogast Engle in cutting and serving the special 50^th Class Reunion Cakes decorated for the occasion.  Guests wore special 57 Chevy nametags prepared by Carol Arbogast Engle, Linda Wiener Reiter, and John Stoner.

A special 50^th Anniversary Edition Memory Book was presented to each classmate with addresses of all members of the class so members can keep in touch.

            Attending from Tiffin were William and Becky Anspach, Carol Arbogast Engle, Robert Bauer and Barbara, Vivian Baugher Blankenship, Janet Shuman Beisner, Howard W. Beisner, Connie Collier Bell and John, Herb Crum and Paula, Jim Fey and Anita Barrick, Claude Hohman and Mary, Peggy Hunker Thallman, Alice Jordan Helkey, Rudy Karle and Bessie, Kathy Larick Lautenschlegar and Paul, Ethel Lee Jordan and Deana Bly, Patty Lynn Schreiner and Joe, Marilou Peer Hill, John and Joan Stoner, Ken Work and Nancy, Russ Work, and Janet, and Denise Lentz Ziegler.

            Attending from other towns in Ohio were:  Barbara Bernard Reffert and Daniel, New Washington; Don Brock and Helen, Cuyahoga Falls; Sandra Greene Spohler and Donald, Archbold; Lucy Lather, Dublin; Bernard Marx and Sandra, Shelby; Loretta Reiter Bargaheiser and Margaret Hazellet, Marion; Norma Shumaker Hiner and Hank, Ashland; Delores Sours Evans, Helena; David Speas, Springfield; Dick Steven and Ruth, Marion; Larry Wahrer and Linda, Jackson Center; Linda Wiener Reiter and Edward, Bowling Green; and John Wilcoxson, Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

            Attending from out of state were:  David and Susan Aller, Royal Oak, MI; Brenda Alvord Randolph, Clearwater, FL; Judy Biller Stritzinger, Prescott Valley, AZ; Sarj Bloom, Jacksonville, FL; Ed Creeger and Marge, Houston, TX; Jack Ditslear, Roseville, CA; Ercil Eschbach and Mary, Canyon Country, CA; Clarice Fetters Kimmel and Don Kimmel, Ladera Ranch CA; David Hertzer, Kensington, CA; Shirley Hunt Auble and Ronald, Oak Ridge, TN; Ron Kaiser, Steward, IL; Barb Killen Dixson, San Diego, CA; Dale Lather, Wauchula, FL; Jean Mahoney Bowers and Walter, Brandon, FL; Ed Mathias and Elizabeth, Stevensville, MD; Peggy McCoy Brickner, Baldwin, MI; MaryAnn Nepper Zender and Bryce, Lakeland, FL; Richard Roberts and Betty; Klamath Falls, OR; Betty Royer Ball, Woodruff, SC; Eleanore Schmidt Crosby, Alexandra, VA;  Dean Shappell, Leesburg, FL; Bob Wertz and Marlene, Peachtree City, GA; Patty Vogelsong Bauer, Peachtree City, GA.

            Members will be contacted concerning an Off-Year Reunion two years from now.  The off-year planning committee consists of Eleanore Schmidt Crosby, Ron Kaiser, and Clarice Fetters Kimmel.  Suggestions of places to go include a cruise, Dollywood, or any other meeting place where  the classmates might like to gather.  Send ideas to them by the end of this year so the planning can begin.  Classmates are to check their booklets for e-mail addresses or telephone numbers.