Retro RFH Presidential Spirit of ’76 — Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Spirit of ’76 captured by the RFH Class of ’76
Photos/RFH Yearbook

Well, with the 2024 presidential election kicking off the week, it seemed only appropriate to continue in that theme with retro RFH photos — class presidents, their teams and even the top administrator.

Why not? If the day fits … And, lest we forget that back in the 1970s, there was a bicentennial for the U.S.A. going on. And there was much making of the year in the theme of RFH festivities and the yearbook.

The RFH Class of ’76, in fact, reprised its own ode to our first president, George Washington, with a mock crossing of, shall we say, McCarter Pond?

But, back in the bicentennial year, during the presidency of Gerald Ford, some RFH “cabinet members” and ever-so-popular superintendent Dr. John Kinney journey down McCarter Pond in the bicentennial year of 1976 in an RFH yearbook reenactment of Washington’s crossing (the Delaware River, not a pond).

Dr. Kinney posing as Washington, it reminds us that he was at the helm of many innovative educational efforts at RFH, not to mention that he spearheaded the regional name of the high school way back in 1956, two years after he was hired as its principal.

He was admired as a fearless, creative leader. And his boatload of teacher advisors and other class leaders here were always happy to follow his lead. Dr. Kinney was a great sport. And he didn’t even need a life preserver! No one ever wanted to toss him overboard.

Then there were those presidents we voted for and counted on as fearless and, often, fun leaders. The class president for 1976 was Mike Sanders. He’s the one with the full beard and mustache in the above pic. Wait. The guy was 17 with a full beard and mustache. A preppy twist on Lincoln look-alike?

Now, that’s some true spirit of ’76!

Then there was Ward Tietz, Class of ’78, who has been seen in the R-FH Retro scene countless times. And Greg Nowell has made his retro reappearances. Who remembers Greg Nowell’s graduation speech? There are many RFH presidential stories to be told.

Who was your favorite RFH class president? How about school leader/administrator or teacher? It’s all about leading and inspiring, right? Row forward!