Top of the Morning, July 31, 2024

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Champaign Central’s Class of 1974 — 438 strong — will celebrate its 50th reunion Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The Maroons have done a good job keeping in touch with reunions in 1979, ‘84, ‘94, ‘04 and ‘14 — as well as 50th and 60th birthday bashes in ‘06 and ‘16.

“Basically, we like to party,” Patty Kobel said.

Two class members heavily involved in planning reunions — Page Johnson Parkhill and Bruce Amsbury — died since the get-together “so we’re keeping the tradition going in their memory,” Kobel said.

We’ll share stories of the Maroons leading up to the big weekend, including:

• Beating Centennial 10-0 as the first class to play the Chargers in football, cheerleaders having to wear wool uniforms on an 80-degree-plus day. The game drew 4,500 fans;
• A yearlong discussion of the Watergate trial in

Les Bowman

• ’s History class;
• Modeling at Robeson’s Department Store;
• Open lunches at Country Fair (Arby’s), downtown Champaign and West Side Park;
• A block party hosted by students and parents on Harrington Drive following graduation;
• Streaking — including once at a Central-Centennial basketball game;
• Stuffing as many students as possible into a Volkswagon.

Reservation deadline for the reunion is Thursday. Email Kobel at pkobel@illinois.edu or visit the Class of ‘74 Facebook page.