Colton, CA—Class reunions are part of our cultural fabric. You have the classic 10-year, then the 25th year, maybe a 50th year if the majority of the class leadership is still alive.

The Colton Union High School Class of 1962, on the other hand, has theirs annually.

“We plan to do this annually,” said Joe Walloch, one of the committee coordinators for this year’s reunion, which took place on August 27th at El Torito in San Bernardino, then finished up at the Le Rendez-vous in Colton for brunch on the 28th. “The last time we met was the year before COVID.”

With pandemic restrictions lifted, this group of proud Colton alums, part of a graduating class that included 361 seniors, came from all over. Some, like Joyce Ray, drove in from Dana Point. Others drove down from Monterrey. And many stayed local, like Jackie Barden, who lives in Riverside.

Others, like 1962 class president and event organizer, Gary Clark, flew down from Lake Oswego, Oregon. As a licensed pilot since he was 15-years old, Clark hopped in his own personal aircraft and flew down to reunite with old friends.

“We had such a good friendship in high school that we wanted that to continue,” Clark said about the group’s decision to reunite annually. In order to keep the class of ‘62 updated on events, the group even has their own website, which they keep updated with photos and memories.

“If we didn’t have Gary, we wouldn’t have this,” said Joyce Ray.

The joy of the reunion, of course, is to reminisce and revisit memories of yesteryear. At El Torito on the 27th, the group hired a DJ who played hits from the 60s so they could dance through the evening. “The girls haven’t lost anything,” Clark said.

During brunch at the Le Rendez-vous, attention was turned to stories from the golden age of Colton High, when it was the only high school in the district. “You can sit with anyone and have a good conversation,” said Jerilynn Smith.

Mike Meadows, who graduated in 1962 at 16-years old, played for the varsity football team and was captain of the tennis team, was full of stories, especially about his time at the Pepper Bough. He shared a story about how he was dating a young lady at the time from Poly High School in Riverside, and the Pepper Bough was to run an article headlined “CHS Athlete receives moral support from young lady in Riverside.” At the last minute, without the knowledge of adviser Cristina Beeson, some on the paper changed the headline to read “immoral support.”

With stories like these, the group has no plans to stop reuniting. They are already scheduling for next year.