_______________________________________________________

Standing outside in the bitter wind and snow flurries on the first day of June, 1967 at OIT, we all shivered as we waited for the procession to begin.  As we talked excitedly with our friends, relieved that it was all finally over, we also were thinking, "what next?".  Some knew exactly what; others had no clue.  But we all shared an optimism that our futures would be good and a conviction that we would have happy lives. 

We lived, isolated from many of the world's problems, and were on the cusp of an era while optimism was still possible, before the horrors of Vietnam began to take centerstage, before the rise of the counter-culture and the shaking apart of the foundation our parents had fought so hard to build, before Kent State and riots and people spitting on young soldiers coming home whose only crime was to have been drafted. We were almost naive in our innocence.

As the strains of Elgar's "Pomp & Circumstance" began to usher us into the cavernous gymnasium, we seemed suddenly somber, the realization that a phase of our life was over, and however much we anticipated the next steps in our lives, we sensed the loss of what we had enjoyed, what was comfortable and familiar and predictable.  The loss of the common life we had all shared to a greater or lesser extent.  From the greater extent of the Assasination of a beloved president, to the loss of friends who died before their lives hardly began, to the lesser extent of knowing we would be losing our beloved circles of friends as we moved on in life.

We processed, oh so slowly, up that seemingly interminable aisle, surrounded by the long rows of chairs holding our parents, siblings, and grandparents.  Flashbulbs exploded like fireworks as we each passed the rows where our loved ones stood, leaning over to get the best snapshot possible of their "child".  And the parents felt the realization that now things had changed.  My kindergartener has somehow become an adult.  And, oh how adult we felt!

As Sandy Ruconich and Vicki Lake delivered their Salutatory and Valedictory addresses, we felt encouraged and enabled to go forward and make a better world.  Then we felt goosebumps as we heard the stirring "Battle Hymn of the Republic", performed by the choir and orchestra, mixed with not a little pride in the reunion of our nation commemorated in that hymn. 

Then the agonizing "presentation of diplomas".  We began to think there must be 3,000 people in our class.  The presentation went on and on, and the shyer ones among us dreaded that moment when our name was called to go forward, but then felt a great sense of relief and pride when handed the diploma: "I DID IT!  I survived the high school challenge, and I graduated!"

And so, off we went, in oh, so many different directions, to our destinies.  Some lived the lives they planned, others met roadblocks that led them on detours to a different life.  Some led happy lives, and others suffered great sorrow.  We all met challenges that shook us to the core, and left us changed people.  And some had to leave us along the way.  Still, the people who are coming back for this Fortieth Reunion are the same people we knew, but we are far more than that.  We are the sum total of what life has thrown at us, and what we have thrown back in its' face. 

We DID make an impact on this world.  Not the impact we had planned, but an impact nonetheless.  A Fortieth Reunion is a commencement of a sort.  Once again, we are commencing on to a new era.  We are approaching the "golden" years.  And the challenge for us now is to face the question, what legacy will we leave to the next generation?  What are we going to do with the rest of our lives?  Will we fade into an easy retirement, or will we continue to work to make a positive impact on this wonderful but terrifying world we have helped to create?  At our Fiftieth Reunion, What will we look at with pride, and say, "look what we did!"?

Here's to the Klamath Union High School Class of 1967.
Paul Allen
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After high school, I attended Oregon State University.  In my sophomore year, I met Pete at a fraternity/sorority exchange and we've been together ever since.  We married a week after graduation and this year celebrated our 36th anniversary. 

Pete is the publisher of the local newspaper and has recently been transferred to a larger newspaper in northern San Diego county.  So we are in the process of making the move.  I have been the Executive Director for the Foundation at our local college, Lower Columbia College.  It has been a great job and I've enjoyed fundraising for the college.  We are excited about the move to southern California. 

Our family consists of two grown sons.  Jeff (29) graduated from University of Washington in Finance and works for Microsoft in Seattle.  Recently he received a great transfer to Lisbon, Portugal as the CFO for Portugal Microsoft.   Jeff and his wife Naomi are enjoying exploring the area.   Ryan (25) also graduated from UW in Construction Management.  He is a project manager for a mechanical contracting firm in Seattle, McKinstry. 

My mother still runs the bowling lanes, Hanscam Lanes, so we have reason to come down to visit the area every once in a while. 

I look forward to seeing you at the reunion.  I hope we can recognize everyone. 

40 years sure goes by fast!  After going to Oregon State and getting my teaching degree, marrying my true love, Scott Boley, KUHSClass of 1966, I've lived in Gold Beach, OR.   Scott and I bought an old wooden troller, F/V Frances, and have fished commercially for salmon for 32 years. We raised our son, Evan, on the fishing boat.  Quite an adventure!  I went back to teaching in 1990, and will officially retire July 1 of this year.  About 1997, along with 2 other fishermen, we opened a fish market, Fishermen Direct, in Gold Beach.  Scott passed-on in the spring of this year. I hope to make this reunion, if the Albacore Tuna season allows.   

After all these years still in Klamath Falls......have two wonderful daughters Danne' and Hollie...And just recently married Dinah, I call her din-a-mite..I am truly blessed.  Working in the broadcast business for 17 years for local ABC station KDKF-TV.....looking forward to seeing eveyone and playing music with  the MALIBUS for the 40th reunion. God Bless

dan