Dec. 27 — Recognizing Puyallup Alumni

Annual assembly celebrates 87 years of recognizing former students

Hundreds were led down memory lane to 1957 as part of the Puyallup High School Alumni Assembly last Friday.

The 87th annual event took place on Dec. 21 in the school gym. It’s the longest such event in the state, said Principal Dr. Mike Joyner and one of the oldest in the country, drawing alumni from across the nation.

“I get pumped about a month and a half before it starts,” Joyner said.

It’s common for alumni to call the school and ask about the event about the same time.

“I think there is a pride in Puyallup that is unique,” Joyner said. “It’s a moving experience for a lot of people.”

Every year the event is the last school day of December, before winter break.

Last year, the event was canceled because of power outages. So this year the featured classes of 1957 and 1982 invited last year’s featured classes of 1956 and 1981 to join them in being recognized.

During the annual event, a class is featured from 50 years ago and 25 years. The class from 50 years ago, takes those present back in time to experience their life as a high school student, by reflecting on what was happening back then.

The class of 1957 took those in attendance back through a presentation of the happenings of 1957 with characters like Elvis, played by classmate Gary Buchanan, along for the ride, while class representative Bart Olson talked about what was big at the end of the 50s.

Different classmates came up alongside, Elvis and Olson to talked about scientific innovations like Sputnik and changes in American Popular culture.

“We had some pretty wild times back then,” Buchanan said.

There was a big band swing music and the beginning of rock n’ roll, with its king Elvis.

“Music was a big thing in those days,” Olson said.

He also recalled television shows like “I Love Lucy” and “Leave it to Beaver” with his classmates playing the TV icons.

Olson then accompanied Elvis toward the light to play music with the “King of Eternity.”

The 55 individuals present from the class of 1957 then broke into their class yell. “Our spirit as high as heaven. 1-9-5-7.”

Their class was particularly close, Olson said, because they were together in the same building from seventh grade to graduation.

And many of them maintain friendships today, he said.

“Just being close to your classmates for all these years is really special,” Buchanan said. “I just hope we’re an inspiration to get them (other classes) all to do this sort of thing.”

After the class of 1957’s yell, the oldest alumni present were recognized, with one alumni from the class of 1925. When the class of 1957 were high school seniors at their alumni assembly, their class recognized a alumni from the first Puyallup High School class in 1892.

The traditions continued with the class roll call, where Joyner called on those present from each graduating class starting with 2007 up to 1925. Each class, varied in size, all stood to be recognized and some even chanted out their class yell.