The Seymour Senior High School Class of 1970’s 50-year reunion was pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that gave class members even more time to give back to their alma mater.
In October 2019, class President Dan Deputy and some classmates met to discuss the reunion, and it was brought up about college alumni associations having fundraisers to benefit students.
Classmate Gary Myers said high schools don’t have that option, but he suggested setting up a fund with the Community Foundation of Jackson County, which would give class members a chance to make safe tax-deductible donations.
Two days after the reunion meeting, they met with foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Dan Davis to sign the contract.
Next, Deputy reached out to Seymour High School Principal Greg Prange to see what the class’ contribution could benefit. Prange said the welding program at the Seymour Ag-Science and Research Farm at the Freeman Field Industrial Park could use a plasma cutter, so that became the class’ focus.
“We really think this vocational aspect is really a positive thing to where they can get a certification in welding, and then with that certification, they can go immediately and be employed and be of benefit to an employer,” Myers said.
Before the class’ 50+1 reunion July 31 at The Pines Evergreen Room south of Seymour, nearly $15,000 had been raised.
Now, the class is turning to local industries and others to contribute to the fund, specifically those who could hire students learning the trades and earning certifications in high school.
“What we’re hoping is one of their executives will read this article and say, ‘Hey, OK, I can make a contribution to the Community Foundation through the Class of 1970 Fund, so my contribution is tax-deductible and it will go to the ag-science department to benefit the welding and plasma cutting and get these kids certified to where I can employ them and keep them local and benefit my company, as well,'” Myers said.
The class plans to present a check to Prange at halftime of the SHS football homecoming game Sept. 17 at Bulleit Stadium.
Anyone can contribute to the class fund until that time by stopping by the Community Foundation at 107 Community Drive, Seymour; mailing a check payable to Community Foundation of Jackson County and putting Class of 1970 Fund in the memo line; or visiting cfjacksoncounty.org and clicking on “Donate Now.”
“All of the proper documentation is there for them,” Myers said. “The Community Foundation is just the perfect vehicle for this.”
So far, about a third of the Class of 1970 has donated to the fund, and one former teacher donated. The class had 307 graduates, but more than 70 have died, Deputy said.
“Our classmates came through. Of those who gave, the average is over $600 each,” Deputy said.
The levels of giving are Donor Club (any amount), 1970 Club (cumulative giving of $197), Owl Club (cumulative giving of $500) and Go Big Purple ($1,000 or more).
“What we’re trying to get is everybody to give something so that we can all feel good about it,” Myers said. “We just want you to give something so we can say everybody in our class participated. If it’s $10, $20, you’re contributing to the idea, the concept that you’re doing something for your high school and you’re doing something for kids. That’s the main thing.”
Deputy said this is the first time for the class to do a fundraiser for its alma mater, and they wish they would have started years ago.
That’s where a challenge comes in to encourage younger classes to set up funds for their reunions, including 10, 20 and 25 years.
“It’s continuous, it’s an open account, (the Community Foundation is) managing it and you accumulate funds for the 25th and the 50th or whatever. If each class does it twice, it would be easy to get to large amounts of money,” Deputy said. “We really, really encourage the younger classes to do what we did early on and you will be in for a surprise.”
After the donation is made in September, the Class of 1970 will determine if it wants to keep its fund open or not.
“If this was our 10th or 25th, we’d keep it open, but this is our 50th, and there are some ongoing expenses for the Community Foundation to manage this fund, so that will eat into the fund,” Myers said. “Then how much momentum are you going to get from people that give again?”
That’s why Deputy wants other classes to consider opening funds early on and keep them going for years to come.
“We’re trying to shame those other guys to beat us. I’ll drop the mic on them,” Deputy said, smiling.
“Certainly, we’re encouraging because we started kind of late,” Myers said. “If this was a class that was having their 10th reunion or 20th, get on it now because you can do something for your 25th, your silver, and then you can do something bigger at your 50th anniversary.”
As for the Class of 1970’s recent reunion, it consisted of an informal get-together at Seymour Moose Lodge 418 on July 30 and a golf outing at Shadowood Golf Course during the day and dinner from The Pines and music from Tastes Like Chicken at night July 31.
Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson read a proclamation dedicating the weekend to the Class of 1970, and Prange spoke to attendees about how their donation will help SHS.
Around 100 members of the class attended along with their guests.
The class includes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriter Hall of Fame member John Mellencamp, Indiana All-Stars Rick Mousa and Stan Schroer and Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame member and Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award winner Bud Shippee.
Mousa, Schroer and Deputy were among the members of the Owls basketball team that went 25-1 their senior year.
“I’m very proud of our class,” Myers said. “We have a lot of people that have contributed to society, not only just Seymour but wherever they moved to.”