In Summary:
One classmate was unaccounted for at the start of the 45th class reunion.
Georgia Mini-Reunion, hosted by Bill & Camille Ronay in Social Circle.
Bonnie Pechin visited with Diane Anderson & Mary Phillips when she came to Orlando area for a visit.
Classmates get together for dinner in Jacksonville for a Gala Fundraiser.
Classmates meet at Steak 'n Ale to welcome Bruce MacMillan home for a visit.
Dicky Rogero is found and catches up on old times with friends in St. Petersburg, FL.
45th Class Reunion weekend events held in April, 2006.

WPHS Class of 1961 Viet Nam veterans attending reunion get together for a photo shoot.
Date set for 4th Mini-Reunion in Social Circle, Ga.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN!
     The mention of the creation of an alumni web site occurred at the 40th class reunion, June, 2001. The site was created and online by July 1st.
    During the past 5 years the "Class of 1961 Web Site" has been providing e-connections with those from our graduating class and beyond. Memorabilia has been sent in for editing and posting to the web site.
    As news of events are whispered, you will find coverage on your web site.
    Classmates we have located or relocated, along with all those we have e-mail addresses for, will receive an e-mail with a link to the 5th anniversary newsletter. Those we do not e-connect with will receive, via USPS, their own copy of the 5th annual WPHS Class of 1961 Alumni Web Site newsletter with a brief narrative of the news of this past years.

     All but one classmate had been accounted for at the time of the 45th class reunion held in April, 2006, due to the efforts of Mary Phillips and Bill Ronay.
     Those attending the Friday night dinner gave a standing ovation to Mary Phillips and Bill Ronay for the countless hours of research and phone calls made by them over the past 5 years in their on-going effort to account for all members of the class of 1961.
     The alumni web site committee will continue to make every effort to keep the e-connections up to date along with the graduating class address roster.
     Please remember to contact Bill or Mary if you change e-mail or postal addresses.
Click here to visit Glenridge Middle School home page.
Click here to go to WPHS home page.

Classmate participation is key to the success of the alumni web site. A special thanks goes out to Bob Cross, Dave Rees, Frank & Maggie Ferguson, Julie Baldwin, Chip Schram, Sandy Flowers, Ann Spaulding & husband Steve Wilberding, Sharon May, Jim Fleming, Perky McKim, Loni Abbotts, Sarah Moores & husband Chuck Campbell, Charlie Cayll, JoAnn Engle, Max Morris, Perky McKim, Vic Vermillion and others, for the photographs and stories they have sent in for publication to the web site this past year.
     A very special thanks to Bill Schwartz who continues to provide his valued expertise and encouragement with regard to the web site.
     Send in your old photographs and newspaper clippings for display on the alumni web site. We have visitors to the web site from all over the world. Let's keep up the momentum!
We say goodbye to two classmates this past year. Jim Crosby passed away September 27th, 2005 at home surrounded by family, after a long illness. Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, his 4 children and 8 grandchildren. Linda Schmidt (Rhodes) passed away January 13, 2006 after a long bout with Amyloidosis. Linda is survived by her 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
WPHS Class of 1961 45th Reunion a Rousing Success!
     The much anticipated Suzanne, Dave and Ann.photographs taken at the weekend events of the 45th class reunion have been added to the reunion web site by event. Between 800 and 1,000 photographs were taken during the weekend and in almost every photograph there were smiles, sharing, compassion, understanding, amazement, laughing ... emotions stretching over 45+ years and a lot of love. Classmates who have never attended a class reunion, some who were connecting with friends for the first time in many years. But no one was at a loss for words. If only all members of the Class of 1961 could have shared the camaraderie. It was indescribable!
      Hopefully you will all be able to share vicariously as the photos get posted to the web site.
     Classmate Ann "Stevie" Spaulding (Wilberding) chaired the reunion committee. With Ann's leadership and the great support of committee members, the 3-day event proved to be a rousing success. A cocktail social and dinner consisting of filet mignon and mahi mahi was hosted by Bob Finfrock at Dubstread Country Club. After dinner there was a 'surprise' event - Richard Giannini vigarously auctioned off a baseball autographed by Jack Billingham that fetched a cool $1,000. Bill Mason, Julie Baldwin's husband, was the high bidder. This, along with $2,500 collected from classmates previously, gave a combined total of $3,500 which was presented to Mr. Gordon at Winter Park High School. Viewing of the much anticipated class video produced by Ann Spaulding and Bill Schwartz on Saturday morning along with a tour of our former high school brought a good crowd; band rehearsal in the afternoon hosted by Nancy Temple; the 1961 Wildcat Open Golf Tournament where Frank Ferguson got a hole-in-one; the sock hop and barbecue held at the former Orlando Youth Center Saturday night; Convocation Sunday morning and a picnic on the high school grounds. Vic Vermillion came the fartherest distance to attend...all the way from Kuwait.
      Reunion committee members were: Stevie Spaulding Wilberding, Chair; David Rees, Vice Chair, Registration; Dewey Ramsby, Treasurer; Loni Abbotts Humbert, Photographs; Julie Baldwin Mason, Sunday Picnic; Tom Bledsoe, Sunday Picnic; Allen Burris, Grand Central Chair; Mary Carter Lavalle, Hotels; Sandra Cash Jones, Invitations; Charlie Cayll, Grand Central; Frank Ferguson, Golf; Bob Finfrock, Friday Dinner Chair; Anne Laing Ryder, E-Communications; Heather Marwick Griffin, Art Exhibit; J. Cheney Mason, Teacher Liason; Max Morris, Grand Central; Mary Phillips, Grand Central; Pat Phillips, Saturday Sock Hop; Bill Ronay, Honorary; JoAnn Ross Giannini, Convocation; Bill Schwartz, Class Film; Sharon Spelzhausen Bozarth, Locations; Nancy Temple Jerome, Band Reunion; Fran Ussery Morrissey, WPHS Liason; and Helen Whittington Woodall, Class Gift.
     It is important to note that many committee members did 'double and triple' duty to ensure the class reunion venues were well organized and fine tuned. Kudos' to all who participated in making the 45th class reunion weekend such a rousing success! Click HERE to visit the 45th Class Reunion Web Site.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
     The success of this web site is measured in several different ways. GREAT STORIES of reuniting with friends from years back is one of our favorite 'success' rewards. But additionally, we were very proud to be a part of the 45th class reunion. That was the initial motivation for creating your WPHS Class of 1961 Alumni Web Site.
     Share with us your stories of how you connected with a classmate via this web site. We want to hear from you. You can click HERE to read a bit about how the site has affected classmates.
     We are looking for more pictures. Pictures and newspaper articles if you have any. Your web'mistress will be delighted to post the pictures to the web site along with your name for contributing. The pictures and their captions have made the web site the success that it is.
     Don't forget, if you change your e-mail address you should contact Mary Phillips or Bill Ronay so they can update their records to ensure you receive the most recent e-mails from your classmates.
     This web site does not update itself. We have tracked down a few classmates who forgot to contact us when e-mail addresses were changed. Help us eliminate broken links and undeliverable e-mails. Remember to contact us of any snail-mail or e-mail changes. Many thanks.