Wethersfield High School’s Class of 1976 was honored for its special place in school history at the annual meeting of the Frank H. Craig Wethersfield Alumni Association held last Sunday in the school cafeteria.
Seventy-two seniors walked across the stage on Thursday, May 27, 1976 when they were introduced as Wethersfield High School’s Bicentennial Class. Fast forward to 2026 and members of the class gathered last weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of their graduation.
A weekend of customary reunion activities concluded with 20 class members attending the “Over 50” alumni reunion.
Looking back, the 1976 yearbook, “The Quill,” featured a Bicentennial theme throughout. The senior’s homecoming float’s theme was “Geese Victory Rings Throughout the Land” and carried a large, tissue-paper clad replica of the Liberty Bell.
Class member Jeff Johnson remembered that in addition to the traditional green and white tassels representing the school colors, red, white and blue tassels also hung from their caps at graduation in honor of the Bicentennial.
The alumni association presented each class member who attended with a commemorative Bicentennial Class of 1976 poker chip designed by Mike Pillen at Breedlove’s Sporting Goods — Awards & Gifts.
This was the 84th meeting of the organization formed in 1939 by former students of Wethersfield’s first school superintendent, Frank H. Craig. Each year the class observing its 50th anniversary is invited to join the “Over 50” organization.
This year the alumnus who took the prize for coming the farthest was Jane Nosal, of Seattle, Wash. Five other states were represented including California, Texas, Minnesota, Tennessee and Iowa.
The Class of ’76 had the most members present with 20. There was a tie for second between the classes of 1958 and 1966.
Al and Pat Corwin and Bill and Janelle Leaf tied for couples who started dating in high school.
Winners received replicas of a “Wethersfield Forever” button found by alumni vice president Ray Cruse and his wife in an area antique shop.
Wethersfield’s new superintendent, Kurtis Smyth, introduced himself to the gathering and junior/senior high school principal Tyler Nichols was also in attendance.
Cafeteria Supervisor Ladosha Bystry was presented a grill set in appreciation of the meals she serves every year at the reunion.
Senior members of the National Honor Society were greeters and helped serve the meal.
Former teachers attending were Richard Lindstrom and Bob McPheeters.
The afternoon concluded with everyone singing the school song, “Wethersfield Forever,” accompanied by members of the WHS band directed by Patrick Wilson.
