Jodi's 20 Year Class Reunion

Yep...it's been that long so there's no hiding my age any longer. I graduated from Powell High School in 1988. We don't make it back to visit as much as we'd like, but I have stayed in close touch with Denise (Hill) Schuler and she trys to keep me in the Powell loop as much as possible. I find it humorous that I had a younger baby at my 20th reunion than I did at my 10th. Several classmates had graduating seniors this year while one classmate was expecting her first baby. There was one set of triplets and at least one set of twins. Our class celebrated with a BBQ, band and fireworks at Tracy Sweet's house on Friday, June 27th. It was a blast seeing and connecting with so many former classmates. Live Wire (our class's version of an 80's hair band) reunited for this special occasion. What a riot to see the 'before' picture from 1988 (posted in the Powell Tribune and on a huge color poster at the party) and then watch Paul, Rick, Marc and Travis pose for the 20 year follow-up portrait.

Here is the speech that Kent Bailey delivered at the Alumni dinner on behalf of the class of 1988:

Powell Panther Class of 1988 – Alumni Banquet, Park County Fair Grounds, Powell, WY

…and now you get to hear from the young-ones in the crowd.
The class of 1988: 133 members strong. Nineteen eighty-eight; a time when gas was $1.20 a gallon and we worked for $3.10 an hour, the minimum wage…

…we graduated at a time of peace and prosperity. After the tassels were turned and the caps were tossed, we set out to find success. We went to work, we went to college and we went into the military to fight in Desert Storm.

Now we met to remember, to reconnect and to reunite. We met at Tracy Sweet’s home for food, music (and as most people heard) fireworks. Four of us met; only in spirit.

We met as lawyers, nurses, educators, journalists, entrepreneurs, farmers, architects, engineers, cosmetologists, mechanics and realtors. We met as mothers and as fathers. (To the best of our knowledge, we did not meet as grandparents…yet).

We met with many of us married; a few of us divorced. We met from Alaska; Hawaii to South Carolina; South Dakota to Texas; California to Florida, and everywhere else in between.
We met a little older, a little grayer, a little balder, a little wider, and yes, a little wiser…
…but most importantly, we met as friends! (We are still ‘HOT’).

May we continue, class of 1988, to reach for the stars, dream big and continue to find success!

Kent Bailey, Class of 1988 – June 28, 2008

On Saturday afternoon a family picnic was held at Homesteader Park and we went on a tour of the brand new, beautiful Powell High School set to open this fall. On Saturday night Denise and I went to the all-alumni event for a few hours while Phil and Mark held down the fort. On Sunday, Phil and I and the kiddos went to First Baptist Church and ran into a few other familiar faces, went out to lunch with some friends, and then hung out some more with the Schulers.

All in all, it was a great weekend with lots of fun, food and friends!! I am looking forward to 2013 for our 25th class reunion. We are off to Phil's 20th in Laramie in 2 weeks.