The East Liverpool High School Class of 1973 recently held its 50-year anniversary reunion. (Submitted photo)

EAST LIVERPOOL – More than 70 alumni from the East Liverpool High School Class of 1973 gathered recently to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Guests traveled from as far away as Florida, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and California.

The classmates got together for an informal evening at The Elks Lodge July 28 followed by a catered dinner at the East Liverpool Country Club July 29. That event featured welcoming remarks by Dennis Thompson, a member of the ELHS Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a greeting from ELHSAA President Drew Cooper. The Rev. Carl Fannin gave the invocation.

A video presentation created by Debbie Lowe Gibson honored the memory of the 84 classmates who have passed away since 1973.

Class member Lee Rubin gave an update on the Class of 1973 Scholarship Fund, which was endowed 10 years ago with the ELHS Alumni Association. Since its inception, classmates have donated more than $15,000 to the fund. The inaugural Class of 1973 Scholarship was awarded to a graduating senior in 2014.

Since that time, 10 scholarship awards have been made to new graduates – for a grand total of $3,065. The 2023 scholarship recipient was Naveah Chavis, the niece of Class of ’73 graduate Carla Chavis Oliver.

The reunion planning committee included Joann Appeldorn, Michelle Davis Hunsicker, Debbie Lowe Gibson, Jackie Talbott Mercer, Jeff Mercer, Lee Rubin, Barb Parks Thompson and Dennis Thompson.