The Tampico School reunion was held April 15 at Pewter Hall in Brownstown.

A total of 82 classmates, friends and relatives were present to remember the good old days at school and basketball games.

Master of ceremonies Stephen Cunningham welcomed everyone to the reunion dinner and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. The common table prayer, “Come Lord Jesus,” was offered before the meal was served at 6 p.m.

Former Tampico Bobcats yell leaders, basketball players and everyone joined in singing the school song “Cheer Cheer for old THS.” All veterans in attendance were thanked for their service to our country.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of deceased loved ones since the last reunion, including Marlene Moenning Schuerman, Leroy Miller, Donna Wehmiller Downing, Linda Robbins, Phyllis Jean Gambrel Thompson, Donald Hoevener and Madeline Hackman Rothert.

Petunia centerpieces were given as door prizes. The evening was spent looking at scrapbooks, photo books, school pictures and old books from Tampico and Waskom schools. Thanks to Jon Robison for bringing the two large basketball team pictures that hung in the high school assembly hall.

Thanks for the many generous donations to the sign fund. The beautiful large sign made of metal and steel commemorating Tampico High School and the Bobcats was erected on the property where the school once stood.

Plans for the 2024 reunion are in the works and will be announced later. The committee members are Jon and Peggy Robison, Janette Elliott and Donna Maxie.

Special recognition was given to the 60-year Class of 1963 (the last graduating class from Tampico High School) and the 70-year Class of 1953. All other students, friends and family present were introduced.

Attending the reunion were:

Class of 1951: Kelso Wessel and his wife, Judy

Class of 1952: Maribell Shirley Hickerson

Class of 1953: Carolyn Wolka and Leland Nierman

Class of 1954: Lloyd Dean Otte and his wife, Mary, Delbert Tormoehlen and his wife, Alberta, and Doris Stahl Frey

Class of 1955: Bill Wessel, Elberta Wessel Darlage and Woodard Bowling

Class of 1956: Janet Smith Kelsch and Harriett VonDielingen Hickerson

Class of 1957: Joyce Hamblin Cravens and Velma Tape Nierman

Class of 1960: Jean Shirley Stark, Alice Goecker Hutcheson, Sharon Melloncamp Baldwin and Phyllis Hamblin Turner and her husband, Dewey

Class of 1960: Clarence Stuckwisch, Richard Hackman and Max Gambrel and his wife, Judy

Class of 1962: Tabitha Hall Ashcraft, Nina Melloncamp Hackman, Barton Maxie, Sarah Goecker Benter and her husband, Curtis, and Richard Peters and his wife, Carolyn

Class of 1963: Patty Hignite Daugherty, Brenda Sturgeon Wright, Donald Wessel, Harlann Peters and his wife, Betty, Melvin Bishop and his wife, Marjorie, Donna Stuckwisch Maxie, Doris Frost Otte, Kenneth Reynolds, Ronald Wischmeier and Norris Kovener and his wife, Sandra; Jackie Hoevener came to honor her late husband, Donald Hoevener, who was a member of the last class to graduate from Tampico High School on May 15, 1963. Other deceased classmates are Larry Waskom, Dale Barkman and Richard Tormoehlen. Also, four classmates, Lee Cunningham, Donna Duncan Hill, Richard Gambrel and Curtis Stahl, were unable to attend.

Also attending were Audra Wessel Deaton (‘66) and her husband, Michael, Charlotte Hall Keith (‘64) and her husband, Willis, Duane Melloncamp (‘66), Greg and Lisa Wischmeier, Janette Elliott, Sandy Toppe Hackman (‘69) and her husband, David, Jon and Peggy Robison, Brad and Cindi Lucas, Bill and Marlis Kidd, Erich Blevins (‘64) and his wife, Kathy, Wilbur Lee Hoevener (‘66), Jane Smith Allen (‘66), Beverly Long Robinson, Carolyn Maxie Jones (‘64), Joan Parker Bode, Joan Frazier Hoevener and Stephen and Ron Cunningham.