All class reunion at Provo High brings back decades of alumni
Alumni ballroom dancers perform during the open house at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
Free buttons sit on the table at the entrance to Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
Carol Barker Brown, class of 1965, looks through historical books in the old gym at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo. Brown hasn't been in the school for over 53 years.
Copies of historic Provosts sit on a table in the dining area at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo. The school held an open house to allow anyone to come and see the school one last time.
Linnaea Lindstrom, class of 1957, signs her name on a large banner at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo. Lindstrom's husband, Brant, served as an English teacher and as an assistant principal at Provo High.
Austin Little, the student body president, speaks to the attendees of the Provo High open house in the gym on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
The Provo High School All-Class Choir sings in the gym at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
Mascot uniforms hang in a display case during the all-class reunion at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
Principal Boyd McAffee addresses the attendees of the open house at Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
Visitors make their way into Provo High School on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Provo.
When Robert V. Craner walked down the halls of Provo High School on Monday night, he was not only thinking about his own school memories, but of three generations of his family that left their own mark on Provo High School.
By the end of the month, the class of 2018 will be the last to graduate from the school that graced University Avenue at 1200 North since 1956. On Monday, the school held an all-class reunion to say goodbye.
Craner’s grandfather, Delbert Van “D.V.” Tregeagle was the first principal of Provo High School from 1947 to 1969. It was Tregeagle who took the initiative and helped build the current school.
“My best memory is knowing I was his (Tregeagle’s) only grandchild that graduated from Provo High,” Craner said. “I have his Provo High jacket and other memorabilia.”
Craner, class of 1977, was active in drama and debate and admitted that he had two lockers, one in B wing and one in C wing, for all his stuff.
“I was in the last class before Timpview High School opened,” Craner added.
Jeri Tregeagle Craner, D.V. Tregeagle’s daughter, and Robert Craner’s mother also attended Provo High and taught English and French at the school as a one-year substitute.
Throughout the school Monday, hundreds of alumni crowded the halls to look at yearbooks, climb the old stairs one more time, and some folks, old and young, even went into the dance class to practice a few steps or the auditorium where the choir and others were singing those last favorite songs.
In a blast from the past, a number of people were wearing their school sweaters, flashing class rings and one man was walking away with a big gold and green trophy out of the trophy case he’d won for the school.
Jared Rohatinsky, class of 2006, said he picked up his trophy for track.
“Running was one of my good memories,” Rohatinsky said. “My memories of Provo High include growing up with so many good people. Tonight, I am seeing faces I haven’t seen in years.”
Peggy Reay, class of 1961, said she is still sharing quality time with some of the faces she went to school with.
“Everything was great,” Reay said. “But after graduation, I was the only one that stayed put.”
Nancy Tracy, class of 1961, and Ronnie Sims Rowe, were part of Reay’s group.
“We were all so close,” Tracy said. “We still are.”
A couple of the women married men within their group and graduating class.
The ladies meet monthly for lunch and to reminisce about the good old days. All eight in the group claim they are 39-years-old and holding.
Their favorite teachers included Ray Jones, the drama teacher, and Gladys Nielsen, who Reay said taught her to enjoy books.
“My junior year was my best year,” said Ron Talboe, class of 1965. “Vietnam was ramping up and the senior guys were worried. My grandkids are facing the same thing.”
Talboe said his favorite teacher was Mr. Christlieb, who taught welding.
“He later went on an (LDS) mission to Africa,” Talboe said. “He took his welder and supplies and taught welding on his mission.”
Talboe said many people found jobs because of his teaching.
“There’s just so many memories,” said Mark Hendengren, Class of 1998. “Our time here was only four years, but it was more impactful than 10 years. Every hall has a memory.”
Hedengren said he hung out with many different groups by said one of his best memories was writing freelance columns for the Daily Herald.
“I wrote a column for the Daily Herald in my senior year called “Teen Talk’,” Hedengren said. He went on to work as a photographer and photo artist. He has printed books of his art and held several exhibits throughout the past 20 years.
By this fall, the new Provo High School, being built in west Provo, will open for school and the new owners, Brigham Young University, will have control of the building. As of yet, BYU has not announced what it intends to do with the property.
