Chester High School?Class of 1953 reunion

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Breaking tradition, the Chester High School Class of 1953 met October 1 & 2 during the Homecoming activities for their 57th reunion. In the past, they met every five years since graduation and claim to hold a record of the most reunions by any CHS class. The group was met with enthusiasm as they joined the parade riding on a trailer with attached signs indicating the "Class of '53" which were prepared by classmate Phil Smith of St. Peters, MO. On Friday evening, many classmates attended the football game and witnessed their beloved Yellowjackets earn another "win."

Saturday evening, the classmates met at the Captain's Table in the Old Landmark Inn for a social hour and dinner. Classmate Don Wingerter gave the dinner prayer. Classmates welcomed their former teachers Mr. Manley Limbaugh and his wife, Mary, and Mr. Frank Steh and his wife, Betty, from Springfield, IL.

After dinner, Betty Wagner reported on the classmates who were unable to attend and those who had not responded to the invitation. She also read statistics from the year 1935 (the birth year of most classmates) indicating that Franklin D. Roosevelt was President, the Social Security Act became law, the yearly income was $1500, the price of gas was $.12 per gallon, and the price of a postage stamp was $.03. Everyone enjoyed hearing the report on their senior trip to the South which included Jackson, MS; Pensacola, FL; Mobile, ALA; Biloxi, MS; New Orleans, LA; Baton Rouge, LA; Natchez, MS; and Vicksburg, MS. Following that reading, a few lines of a song were sung & dedicated to Mr. Limbaugh, since he had heard it many times on the bus as we traveled south. Mr. Limbaugh thanked the class for inviting him and for remembering him as a chaperone on the class trip. Classmate Bill Schirmer announced that it was the birthday of Mr. Steh so we presented him with a candlelit cup cake, cards, and a wooden bank constructed by classmate Dale Grott. Mr. Steh thanked the group for inviting him and remembering his birthday and made some comments about his classroom experience with some of the classmates. His students were called to comment on their experiences in Mr. Steh's class and Jack Lindsey enlightend Mr. Steh with an explanation of a situation during the construction of one of the Building Trades houses.

Mrs. Wagner also read a letter to the Editor which had been submitted to the Randolphh County Herald Tribune by classmate Phil Smith. His comments were well received by the class as many remembered the great teachers and the fun times they had all enjoyed during their grade and high school years in Chester, IL.

The classmates voted to donate their leftover reunion funds to the CHS Band for their trip to Disney World in 2013. A check for $250.00 will be presented to the band. The class will meet for their 60th reunion in 2013 and look forward to another great gathering of classmates.