Local Life

Retro RFH Graduation Blur

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It’s all a blur. That’s how some RFH grads of 45 years ago, more and even less feel about their graduation day.

And the snapshot of the milestone moment is just that in the mind and quite literally on Kodak print paper in this case. It was a quick grab of the diploma getting moment captured by a Croft parent at the RFH Class of ’78 graduation.

Notice how the backdrop is the high school? Well, in 1978, graduation was on the front lawn of the school because of work being done on the Borden stadium, which was where usual graduations happened at RFH back in the day and, actually, up until about a decade ago — or less.

That year, Dr. Kinney, RFH superintendent, had been quoted in the Register as saying that the seating capacity was limited, and a couple thousand dollars was spent on chairs for spectators for the great lawn venue.

The class walked up from a line-up at the parking lot on the side of the school. That was interesting, thanks to the renegade class members who strayed between cars and got lost in the rank and moment. Ahem.

Yes, a blur it was. Yet, class members and even parents never seemed to forget Class President Greg Nowell’s speech. Well, I’ll rephrase that. No one seems to remember exactly what he said, just that it defied all proper protocol and left a lawn full of cackling students and parents — and teachers and administrators.

This was a fun class. I know. I was in it — and in the student audience blur in the photo. RFH ’78 grad Mary Croft provided the look back and she’s the one with diploma in hand making a clean getaway from RFH — sort of.

We’ll see just how much is a blur when this class reunites this summer celebrating 45 years. More on that later.

Hey, even though some of the memories may be a bit blurry, or even downright thick fog, the fuzzy and warm sensation remains. Though, this class was cool. Nothing tepid about it. We’ll blame the blur on the ol’ Instamatic camera, certainly not our brains!

Congrats to the RFH Class of 2023. May your memories hold in a clear haze!