45th Reunion

We had a great 45th class reunion at the end of June. Photos will be posted here soon. Coming soon may be a mini-reunion near you! If not, we'll see you in 2018.

GHS 45th Reunion 2013 Schedule of Events

-- 45^th REUNION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY - June 28, 2013
Golf Icebreaker: If you are interested in either golf event, let us know. Ken Nibling will be coordinating the golf again this year and he’ll be in touch if you sign up with your interest in golfing. Tee times start Friday afternoon at the UF Golf Course on SW 2d Avenue.  Contact Ken at knibling@att.net.

Welcome Party! : 6 p.m. – “until”, Gator's Dockside Sports Bar, 3842 Newberry Road in the Royal Park Plaza. Attire: Casual. After the hors d's run out you can order drinks and menu items from the servers. No charge, cash bar, full menu.  Photos.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2013
Golf Outing: Play another round this morning with tee times starting at TBD, again at the UF Golf Course. If you didn't beat the course on Friday there's always Saturday, or the next reunion in 2018!

“Guided” Tour of Gainesville High School: 9:30 a.m.– 10:15 a.m., Meet in front part of the school outside the Auditorium. Revisit the cafeteria, gymnasium, library, playing fields, classroom, Teaching Auditorium (“TA”), perhaps for the first time!

“Guided” and Air-Conditioned Bus Tour of Old Gainesville: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Meet in the large parking lot at the front of Gainesville High School at 10:15 and soak up the purple sunshine. Stops (or at least drive-bys) at the Rec Center (Teen Time), American Legion Hall, Wise's Drugs, Citizens Field, GHS, UF campus and many other historic or otherwise memorable spots and sites in Gainesville, with refreshments included. Tour leaves promptly at 10:30. $10.00 to cover costs, tickets required.

Motorcycle “Ride in the Countryside”: Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott near the Archer Road exit on I-75, at 3700 SW 42d St, in the front parking lot.  Take a ride in the countryside, lasting about 2 hours if you ride it all.  Led by classmates Ronnie Wright and Doug McCallum.  Biker chicks and other passengers welcome.  Free, but please register your interest on your reunion registration form

Afternoon Free

The “Big Event!” Dinner-Dance: 6-11 p.m., Gainesville Country Club off Williston Road, just west of I-75 at exit 382. Attire: Casual. Beverages at 6:00, Class of ‘68

Group Photo at 6:45, Dinner at 7:00. DJ: Tom Collette 8:00-11:00. 

Music, photos, and surprises. $80.00 per person, paid with registration.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013Coffee Hour at 9:30 a.m., Gainesville Country Club off Williston Road.

Memorial Service and Farewell Breakfast: honor our deceased classmates: 10 a.m., Gainesville Country Club, overlooking Payne’s Prairie. Join us in remembering and recognizing classmates who have passed away, with a simple ceremony and memories from classmates.  The service will be followed by our
Farewell Breakfast at about 11 a.m., Gainesville Country Club. Full hot breakfast, $17.50 per person for both Sunday events together, tickets required,

Farewells: 12:30 pm

Message from Bill per events for '13 Reunion

Friday night icebreaker - Gator Dockside, 3700 W Newberry Road; Saturday morning tours -  GHS; Saturday night dinner-dance -  Gainesville Country Club, Williston Rd & I-75; Sunday morning memorial & breakfast -  Country Club.  A few more details will be out soon.  Bill

Lodging information for the 45th Reunion of the GHS Class of 1968

To out of towners attending the reunion: We have reserved rooms at two hotels. There are 10 rooms set aside at the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Gainesville. It is relatively new and right across the street from Lillian’s. All rooms have 2 queen beds; double occupancy is $129, single is $119. They charge a $6 parking fee per vehicle, and tax will be 11%. You may reach the hotel directly at 352-240-9300. Be sure to reserve by May 28th and mention GHS Class of ’68 Reunion to receive the group rate.

The other hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott at Archer Road and I-75. We have reserved 5 double doubles and 5 kings, both at $99 plus applicable taxes. Again, the group name is GHS Class of ’68 Reunion, and reservations need to be made by May 28 to secure the discounted room rate. Their number is 352-335-9100.

2013 45th Reunion Registration Form

Note new reunion date

GHS ‘68

REUNION UPDATE NEWS

You want NEWS?

I’ve got News, Good News, and GREAT NEWS!

Great News first.  You’ve probably been following Gator football, wherever you are.  Well, the only team in Gainesville with a better record now than the 11-1 Sugar Bowl-bound Gators is your UNDEFEATED Gainesville High Hurricanes!  Right now they are 13-0 and in the Class 6A (largest classification is 8A), State Semifinals this Friday.  They won their first playoff game by the dominating score of 60 – 3!  Shades of the Niblack years!

ESPN recently rated this year’s Hurricanes the 16^th best high school football team in the U. S. A. !!!

Good News next.  Your Reunion Committee is planning a great 45^th Class Reunion.  If you came to the 40^th, or wish you had, you’re really going to like the 45^th:  golf, motorcycle ride, tours of GHS and our old Gainesville haunts, good music, good food and fun. And high school classmates and stories galore!

That brings me to the Update – this is what you needed to hear.  Best laid plans, right?  After setting the date a year in advance, a conflict with our reunion plans still developed and we had to take action.  The Steering Committee voted to move the Reunion forward (later) by one weekend, so that the new Reunion date is June 28-30, 2013.  We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this causes you and we sincerely hope this change does not present any conflicts for you that you cannot resolve.  We want you to come.

SO HERE’S THE HEADLINE –

GHS ’68 – 45^TH REUNION – JUNE 28-30, 2013

ONE WEEK LATER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

We are re-finalizing the plans and filling in the details.  We’ll send them to you in the spring so you can send in your reservations.  In the meantime, you can follow classmate news and reunion plans on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/GainesvilleflHighSchoolClassof1968  and on the Reunion Blog site atwww.ghs68.blogspot.com .  Check us out!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, and See You at the End of June!

Your Reunion Steering Committee

Susan Hazen Balloon        Jackie Cooter Hoover        Jim Conner        Bill Harlan        Robbie Davis ‘77

 

RIP Gary E. Stanley, Ret. GYSGT U.S.M.C. My brother Gary died last night while officiating a high school football game in Ft. White. He was a true hero to me, a big brother, a man who fought for his country and would fight to his death to defend this country. he was a brother, father,son, uncle and grandfather and his family meant alot to his. he died doing what he loved (sports) SEMPER FI MY BROTHER, till we meet again. To his friends, they can contact me at 850 510-6978

THE GHS CLASS OF 1968 MOURNS WITH YOU JON. GARY WAS ALWAYS AS SPECIAL PART OF OUR CLASS AND WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A PRECIOUS FRIEND TO US ALL.