The First Utah School
for the Deaf Alumni Reunion, 1976
for the Deaf Alumni Reunion, 1976
Written by Celia May L. Baldwin (Quoted with permission)
Layout by Jodi B. Kinner
2014
Peter M. Green
The topic of having a reunion for classes dating as far back as 1908 on the school campus had been discussed and suggested by numerous Utah School for the Deaf alumni. This desire materialized when Peter M. Green, 1952 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf voluntarily assigned himself as the general chairman and formed a committee of five alumni (Baldwin, The Utah Eagle, November 1976).
In the early 1970’s, Peter brought up the idea among some deaf friends, and took a leading role in organizing a committee, for the first reunion of the Utah School for the Deaf Alumni. He eventually appointed twenty deaf alumni of that school to serve on his committee, and assigned them specific duties (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976).
In the early 1970’s, Peter brought up the idea among some deaf friends, and took a leading role in organizing a committee, for the first reunion of the Utah School for the Deaf Alumni. He eventually appointed twenty deaf alumni of that school to serve on his committee, and assigned them specific duties (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976).
Celia May L. Baldwin
Celia May L. Baldwin, Utah School for the Deaf alumni of 1965 was the publicity director and consultant of the Utah School for the Deaf Alumni Reunion. The reunion was held at the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah on June 24, 25, and 26, 1976. USD alumni excitedly met and said the following comments:
Sharing Memories
“Haven’t seen you for 29 years!”, “You haven’t changed much!”, “Great to see you again!”, Remember the terrible prank that we did…?”, How many children do you have?”, What, 6 already!” These were the common “signed conversations” among the alumni at the first reunion held at the Utah School for the Deaf. It was a happy, pleasant, and memorable occasion for every alumnus (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976; Baldwin, The Utah Eagle, November 1976).
Sharing Memories
“Haven’t seen you for 29 years!”, “You haven’t changed much!”, “Great to see you again!”, Remember the terrible prank that we did…?”, How many children do you have?”, What, 6 already!” These were the common “signed conversations” among the alumni at the first reunion held at the Utah School for the Deaf. It was a happy, pleasant, and memorable occasion for every alumnus (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976; Baldwin, The Utah Eagle, November 1976).
1976 Reunion Book
The first day of the Reunion drew a pleasing number of alumni! Arriving on the campus of the Utah School for the Deaf, this time as alumni, they could not miss the directions to the registration desk. The gymnasium was filled with so many happy people hugging and shaking hands! Alumni immediately buried their noses in the Reunion Book. Finding themselves in the pictures, many tapped their friends’ shoulders and exclaimed, “That was me, when I was 7 years old” or likewise. Included in the book was the history of the alma mater. Much delight was shown by most alumni in reading the souvenir books (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976; Baldwin, The Utah Eagle, November 1976).
The entertainment at the reunion was the presentation of mock awards to the alumni in attendance. The following winners were:
Viewing Kenneth C. Burdett's bulletin boards of USD historical pictures.
1. The Older Person Attending the Reunion: Kate Keeley, 83 years old.
2. The First Person Purchasing a Combo Ticket: Beverlee Hansen.
3. The First Person to Register for this Reunion: Selma Worsley
4. The Person Traveling the Farthest to this Reunion: Paul Baldridge of Indiana, 1,400 miles.
5. The Person Traveling the Shortest Distance to this Reunion: Superintendent Tegeder, ¼ block.
6. The Person Having the Most Members in the Family: Robert Frye, 12 children
7. The Person Having the Most Grandchildren: Albert Bray, 24
8. The Person Having the Most Great Grandchildren: Lee Hunter, 13
9. The Present Teacher Teaching the Most Years at the U.S.D.: Donald Jensen, 35 years.
10.The Retired Teacher Who Taught the Most Years at U.S.D.: Kenneth C. Burdett, 40 years.
11.Couple Having the Longest Marriage Life: Arnold and Zelma Moon, 47 years.
12.The Person Giving the Best Theme for This Reunion: Georgia Walker, “To Share Memories.”
13.The Tallest Alumni: Alumnus – Chem Sevy, 6’4”; Alumna – Kay Curtis, 5’10.”
14.The Shortest Alumni: Alumnus – Wayne Stewart, 5’3;” Alumna – Irene Cook and Darlene Cochran – 4’11.”
15.The Alumnus Having the Longest Beard: Carl Farnsworth.
16.The Alunmus Having the Handsomest Mustachio: Edwin Lewis
17.The Alumni Having the Most Freckles: Alumnus – Robert Dr. Sanderson; Alumna – Kleda Quigley.
Photo: The alumni enjoyed viewing Kenneth C. Burdett's USD historical pictures on both sides of eight wheeled 4 x 8 foot bulletin boards covering activities and scenes of campus life including academics, athletics, commencement exercises, superintendents, principals, vocational programs, buildings and grounds, support services, student activities, houseparents/supervisors, and Utah deaf organizations.
2. The First Person Purchasing a Combo Ticket: Beverlee Hansen.
3. The First Person to Register for this Reunion: Selma Worsley
4. The Person Traveling the Farthest to this Reunion: Paul Baldridge of Indiana, 1,400 miles.
5. The Person Traveling the Shortest Distance to this Reunion: Superintendent Tegeder, ¼ block.
6. The Person Having the Most Members in the Family: Robert Frye, 12 children
7. The Person Having the Most Grandchildren: Albert Bray, 24
8. The Person Having the Most Great Grandchildren: Lee Hunter, 13
9. The Present Teacher Teaching the Most Years at the U.S.D.: Donald Jensen, 35 years.
10.The Retired Teacher Who Taught the Most Years at U.S.D.: Kenneth C. Burdett, 40 years.
11.Couple Having the Longest Marriage Life: Arnold and Zelma Moon, 47 years.
12.The Person Giving the Best Theme for This Reunion: Georgia Walker, “To Share Memories.”
13.The Tallest Alumni: Alumnus – Chem Sevy, 6’4”; Alumna – Kay Curtis, 5’10.”
14.The Shortest Alumni: Alumnus – Wayne Stewart, 5’3;” Alumna – Irene Cook and Darlene Cochran – 4’11.”
15.The Alumnus Having the Longest Beard: Carl Farnsworth.
16.The Alunmus Having the Handsomest Mustachio: Edwin Lewis
17.The Alumni Having the Most Freckles: Alumnus – Robert Dr. Sanderson; Alumna – Kleda Quigley.
Photo: The alumni enjoyed viewing Kenneth C. Burdett's USD historical pictures on both sides of eight wheeled 4 x 8 foot bulletin boards covering activities and scenes of campus life including academics, athletics, commencement exercises, superintendents, principals, vocational programs, buildings and grounds, support services, student activities, houseparents/supervisors, and Utah deaf organizations.
Alumni of Utah School for the Deaf
A total 370 people registered at the USD Reunion. Approximately, seventy-five alumni came from other states such as Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Indiana (Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976; Baldwin, The Utah Eagle, November 1976).
HISTORICAL DOCUMENT
- For more information about the 1976 USD Reunion, click the attachment page of the "First Utah School for the Deaf Alumni Reunion, 1976." Celia May L. Baldwin, UAD Bulletin, July 1976 & The Utah Eagle, November 1976 (Quoted with permission).
1976 USD Reunion
Utah School for the Deaf
Alumni Reunion, 1984
Alumni Reunion, 1984
Compiled and Written by Jodi B. Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2014
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2014
1984 Reunion Book
The Utah School for the Deaf (USD) alumni gathered again in 1984 to celebrate the 100th year anniversary since the founding of the Utah School for the Deaf in 1884 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second reunion was held on school campus in Ogden, Utah on June 28, 29, and 30. More than 400 alumni and former teachers attended the reunion in honor of the school’s 100th year (Thalman, Standard-Examiner, June 30, 1984).
Robert L. Bonnell
A contest was held to come up with a theme for the reunion. The theme of the reunion selected was “A Century of Memories.” Robert L. Bonnell, alumnus of 1956 was the one who came up with the best theme (UAD Bulletin, March 1984).
Viewing Kenneth C. Burdett's bulletin boards of USD historical pictures.
Peter M. Green, 1952 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf, was again the chairman of the reunion. He gave a message saying, “With the passing of years, many friendships and memories gained at their beloved school, had faded into the past. With the reunion, they had an opportunity to renew old friendships and refresh old memories once more…something that was first one hundred years ago” (A Century of Memories: Utah school for the Deaf 100th Year Anniversary Alumni Reunion, 1984).
The Reunion Committee once again put together a booklet consisting of a brief history and pictures of their school dating back to its founding 100 years ago. Once more, the alumni enjoyed watching USD historical movies filmed and produced by Kenneth C. Burdett, who spent almost all his life at USD, first as a student and then as a teacher. They also enjoyed viewing his USD historical pictures on both sides of eight wheeled 4 x 8 foot bulletin boards covering activities and scenes of campus life including academics, athletics, commencement exercises, superintendents, principals, vocational programs, buildings and grounds, support services, student activities, houseparents/supervisors, and Utah deaf organizations.
The Reunion Committee once again put together a booklet consisting of a brief history and pictures of their school dating back to its founding 100 years ago. Once more, the alumni enjoyed watching USD historical movies filmed and produced by Kenneth C. Burdett, who spent almost all his life at USD, first as a student and then as a teacher. They also enjoyed viewing his USD historical pictures on both sides of eight wheeled 4 x 8 foot bulletin boards covering activities and scenes of campus life including academics, athletics, commencement exercises, superintendents, principals, vocational programs, buildings and grounds, support services, student activities, houseparents/supervisors, and Utah deaf organizations.
1984 USD Reunion: Part I
Duane Harrison, a former hearing teacher at the Utah School for the Deaf, shared his observation of alumni by saying, “They really aren’t alumni like you and I know. For many of them, this is where they grew up; this is home” (Thalman, Standard-Examiner, June 30, 1984). Peter Green, organizer of the celebration event also commented, “These people have come so far because this is home. They weren’t just classmates, they were brothers and sisters and this school is where they spent their youth” (Thalman, Standard-Examiner, June 30, 1984). The alumni were probably sad when the reunion ended.
The alumni did not meet again until 1996 and 2002, chaired by Lynn Losee, Class of 1961. Both 2005 and 2009 reunions were chaired by Rosa Maria Flores Rathbun, alumna of the Class of 1969. For the first time in 2005, the mainstreamed students who were products of USD were invited to the event and became part of the reunion as alumni. Anne Post Fife, a USD/mainstreamed student and graduate of the Class of 1994 at Hillcrest High School, is the chair of the 2014 reunion.
Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) has been under USD wing since 2005. JMS alumni, as part of USD, can attend future USD reunions
The alumni did not meet again until 1996 and 2002, chaired by Lynn Losee, Class of 1961. Both 2005 and 2009 reunions were chaired by Rosa Maria Flores Rathbun, alumna of the Class of 1969. For the first time in 2005, the mainstreamed students who were products of USD were invited to the event and became part of the reunion as alumni. Anne Post Fife, a USD/mainstreamed student and graduate of the Class of 1994 at Hillcrest High School, is the chair of the 2014 reunion.
Jean Massieu School of the Deaf (JMS) has been under USD wing since 2005. JMS alumni, as part of USD, can attend future USD reunions
ARCHIVES
1984 USD Reunion: Part II
Bibliography
“A Century of Memories: Utah School for the Deaf 100th Year Anniversary Alumni Reunion,” 1984.
Thalman, James. Deaf School Marked 100th Year. Standard-Examiner. June 30, 1984.
USD Reunion ’84 Information Ready to be Mailed Out. (March 1984). UAD Bulletin, Vol. 7, No. 10 (March 1984): 2.
“A Century of Memories: Utah School for the Deaf 100th Year Anniversary Alumni Reunion,” 1984.
Thalman, James. Deaf School Marked 100th Year. Standard-Examiner. June 30, 1984.
USD Reunion ’84 Information Ready to be Mailed Out. (March 1984). UAD Bulletin, Vol. 7, No. 10 (March 1984): 2.