The Hayden High School Alumni Association’s 82nd homecoming was held June 25 at the Hayden Historical Museum pavilion.

President Pat Sullivan requested all veterans in the audience to stand and be recognized. He then asked the rest of the audience to stand and join him as he led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Aubrey Bessenger, former minister of Hayden Baptist Church, then offered the invocation to begin the program.

Sullivan welcomed everyone to the reunion and then introduced the alumni secretary-treasurer, Rodger Ruddick, who reported the oldest Hayden High School graduate was Helen Taylor Schleibaum, who graduated in 1941.

A “Thinking of You” greeting card was sent around the room for everyone to sign. The card will be delivered to Schleibaum at Covered Bridge Health Campus in Seymour, where she lives.

Dr. Lawrence Elsner recently was inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame. As a 1923 Hayden High School graduate, he began his general practice in Seymour and the surrounding communities until his death in 1957.

Ruddick then said the alumni scholarship fund is supported by donations collected during the homecoming every year. He said along with the regular collection during last year’s meeting, Charlie Sandhage left an envelope with 10 $100 bills. Later in the year, Sandhage sent a $5,000 check to give the scholarship a major boost.

The scholarship was named in honor of Spencer Township’s last resident to lose his life while serving his country. Michael Euler was killed in Vietnam in 1966, and the alumni scholarship was established in 1986 in his memory.

Since that time, the award has been presented to an outstanding Jennings County High School senior who attended Hayden Elementary School. The scholarship winner for 2023, Abigail McDonald, was unable to attend the reunion, but she sent a note of appreciation for the $1,000 award.

McDonald will be attending Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-physical therapy. She is the daughter of Tim and Mamie McDonald. McDonald also received an athletic scholarship to play soccer and softball for the IUPUC Crimson Pride.

To recognize individuals for their personal achievement and community service, the board of directors of the Hayden Historical Museum established the Hayden Hall of Fame section in the museum in 1990. While the board members nominate the candidates, members of the grade school history club, Hayden Little Hoosier Historians, read the biographies for each one and vote for one living and one deceased person every year.

The Hayden Hall of Fame inductees for 2023 are Bart Ellison and Dr. Lawrence Elsner.

Sullivan read the biography for Ellison, and then he came forward to receive the award. Ellison spoke briefly and was appreciative of the honor. Many of the Ellison family members were present for the ceremony. Ellison was well known during the time he was a radio personality in the area.

Ruddick then read the biography for the late Elsner. He was a 1923 Hayden High School graduate and began his general practice at Seymour in 1938. He served Seymour and surrounding communities until he died in 1957. Elsner has a daughter who lives in Los Angeles, California, and she was unable to attend the program but sent a letter of appreciation for honoring her father.

A moment of silence was observed to remember the deceased members of the anniversary classes as well as the other Hayden community members and alumni who had died since the 2022 homecoming.

They included Mark Haines, Cel Ritchie Luce, Joyce Lahne Phillips, Louwanda Kay Cobbs Lewis, Mary Lahne Sterling, Max Tuttle, Raymond Rascoe, Larry Luedeman, Mark McClellan, Bob Carr, Christine Wilson Cox, Janet Ross, Charles Sandhage, Teresa Marshall, Robert Branham, Margaret Schafer Staubin, Bob Kent, Irene Maschino Simmons, Amanda Hale Vogel, Cory Jenkins, Marilyn Short Goodpaster, Dorothy Gilpin Mails and Verda Marshall Ruddick.

When it was time to recognize the anniversary classes, representing the Class of 1953 were Barbara Robert Morey and Fredonna Boner Habenicht. There was only one member present from the Class of 1958, Perry Capes.

Students who would have graduated from Hayden if there had still been a high school were invited to attend the reunion.

From the Class of 1963 were Jewell Cassetty Thompson, Gilbert Capes, Sandra Farley Kleber, Juanita Gerth McClellan, Nancymae Poer Witters, Jean Jackson Nichter and Diana Kleber Jackson.

From the Class of 1968 were Sullivan, Carol Gerth Elam, Dalene Lawdermilt Yates, Marie Vogel Layman, Albert Capes, Dennis Vogel and Nancy Lamb Nichter.

Bessenger, a former teacher at Hayden High School, shared his memories about how he started as a teacher there. As far as it’s known, Bessenger and Mitchell Dunker of Madison are the only living teachers from the high school days. Dunker was unable to attend.

Sullivan spoke about becoming the sixth grade school teacher at Hayden Elementary School in 1974. He held that position until his retirement in 2009.

When it was time for the election of officers for the 2024 homecoming, a motion was made that the current officers would be carried over.

Those would be Sullivan, president; Jean Nichter, vice president; and Ruddick, secretary-treasurer. It was announced the 2024 Hayden homecoming will be June 23.

A door prize was presented to the oldest person in attendance, and that went to Class of 1949 graduate Paul Richart, who is 92. Sandra Farley Kleber won the prize for traveling the farthest, Indianapolis, and Dennis Vogel was selected to win the other door prize by random drawing.

At the conclusion of the program, attendees enjoyed ice cream and a time of fellowship. Some people also took advantage of the opportunity to visit the Hayden Historical Museum buildings.