By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A woman who graduated from Yukon High School 75 years ago is expected to attend the annual YHS alumni banquet.
Marge (Kroutil) Downing was a member of the YHS Class of 1947, one of 16 “honor” classes that will be recognized during banquet festivities just two weeks away.
YHS reunion activities will be presented on the weekend of Saturday, June 4.
This year’s YHS alumni honor classes are 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2022.
“These are this year’s honor classes, but we encourage all Yukon Miller graduates to come to the banquet and participate in our golf tournament,” YHS alumni board member Neta Duke said.
Downing, 93, will be attending the June 4th alumni banquet.
Marge Kroutil was YHS valedictorian in 1947, when there were 47 students in her graduating class. After graduation, she went to Monticello Girls School in Illinois before returning home to attend the University of Oklahoma where she earned a sociology degree in 1951. She raised two children.
Downing previously lived at 414 Oak Street in Yukon and played the piano at Yukon’s First Christian Church.
Although she now lives in Edmond, Downing remains a huge supporter of “anything in Yukon.” She is still able to live alone and care for herself.
The oldest YHS graduate attending will be Marvin Compton, 96, a member of the Class of 1944.
Compton, who served in World War II, retired in 1988 from the Yukon Post Office and lives an active lifestyle at Spanish Cove Retirement Village.
There is not a year that goes by that he doesn’t attend the YHS alumni banquet.
Alumni and memorial scholarships will be presented to about 30 members of the YHS Class of 2022 during the alumni banquet set 6:30 p.m. June 4 in the YHS cafeteria, 1777 S Yukon Parkway.
Tickets are $20 each, on sale in advance at Conrad Marr Drug and YNB Bank and at the door.
Banquet attendees will honor the memory of Millie Rose, who was the last living member of the YHS Class of 1942.
Millie played softball for Yukon, was a varsity yell leader (cheerleader) and Principal Ralph Myers’ “pet.”
For many years, Rose owned and ran the Horseshoe Bar on Main Street.
Rose attended her 75th anniversary alumni banquet in 2017. She had a great time because so many attendees knew her and came to talk with her.
People said she was a great person and a wonderful mom who raised three boys, John, Danny and Joe.
Rose passed away eight weeks after that ’17 banquet. She had attended every alumni banquet in Yukon.
‘FULL’ GOLF TOURNAMENT
Some 136 players will tee that morning in the ever-popular YHS alumni golf tournament at the Golf Club at Surrey Hills, 11340 Surrey Hills Blvd.
The four-person scramble features breakfast, an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start – and plenty of door prizes.
This year’s alumni golf tournament is full but there’s a waiting list for 2023. Hole sponsors are still needed; call James Van Horn at (405) 826-4914.
The YHS Alumni Association has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to graduating YHS seniors over the past 45-plus years.
Annual reunion events were started by Danny Rose, Johnny Rose, Phil Kastl, Bill Logan, Sandy (Black) Bohannan, Irene McAlister, Michelle (Hancock) O’Dell, and Van Horn.
“James spearheaded the idea of giving scholarships to Yukon seniors,” Duke said. “The Yukon Alumni Association has given more scholarships than any other organization in Yukon.
“Once a Miller, always a Miller.”
Alumni scholarship awards are funded through sponsorships, donations and the golf tournament.
“We’ll give scholarships to Yukon High School seniors who plan to attend a college, vocational-technical school or university this fall,” Duke said.
“Students are selected based on a written essay, academics, extracurricular activities, and work. We also look at their need.”
YHS Miller alumni supporters may mail donations to:
Yukon Alumni Association
P.O. Box 850694
Yukon, OK 73085
“All donations are greatly appreciated to keep this scholarship tradition going,” Duke said.
For more information, call Duke at (405) 406-5546.
