The video shown at our 50th Reunion in September – with a few additions. You can watch the video here, or you can download the video to your own computer. Our thanks to Dick Chamberlain for putting this together.
CAUTION – This is a LARGE file at 285 MB. You can download the video file if you desire.
You may also download individual photos used in the slideshow.
NOTE: Problems have been reported concerning playback with Android 5.1 devices. If you experience such a problem, go directly to youtube to view the video.

[dropcap]Over[/dropcap] 50 years ago, the Class of 1965 bid farewell to Collinsville High School and began scattering throughout the world as we began our adult lives. But it has been easy to remember the life-long friendships that we formed at CHS, the dances at the Tepee, cheering for the victorious Kahoks in the gymnasium, the football bowl and other sporting events, and so many other activities. During those few short years at CHS we developed a special bond as a class – a bond that would bring us back together again and again as the years flowed by; to gather and remember our carefree days in class and around town.

On behalf of all of the Reunion Committee, we thank each and every one of you who joined us in Collinsville to celebrate those friendships and memories. It was your active participation that made our reunion a resounding success. The smiling faces and tearful hugs that adorned the Doubletree Saturday night will be remembered with more smiles and tears in years to come.

A special thanks is also extended to the spouses and significant others of our classmates – you have become an essential part of our extended class family. Your support and participation is very much appreciated, as I’m sure your spouses have already expressed to you.

The ladies who kicked everything off on Friday at their luncheon set the stage for each success that followed. The Golf outing brought our sports enthusiasts together for some fantastic fun. Our celebration at the Tepee was absolutely great, with dancing, refreshments, and blasts from the past. The visit to the Collinsville Museum and Miners Theater that followed opened eyes not only for those returning to town after many years, but also to life-long residents of Collinsville. Those activities established the mood for the tremendous gathering that came later in the evening at the Doubletree.

And to those who had planned to attend but were faced with life situations that prevented it – we thank you too, and wish circumstances would have allowed you to be here with us. In reality, you were with us in spirit. We had a heck of a time!

Thank you all for so many memories, smiles and tears. YOU have made it all worthwhile.

Your Reunion Committee

Classmate Steve Gauen presented a tribute to the 1965 Kahok basketball champions back in January at the Fletcher Gymnasium on January 10th, 2015. This was his address –

Celebration of the 1965 Basketball Championship
Fletcher Gymnasium – January 10, 2015

I would like to recognize the following people, first our cheerleaders:

Lynn Ackermann                                      Kris Kaiser
Dianne Bloomer                                       Judy Roschke
Diane DeMoro                                           Jane Ulkus
Barb Fowler

Second, our team managers:

Tom Noascono
Rich Lyons
Frank Mitchell

And third, the players:

Don Birger                                              Dennis Arnold
Jack Darlington                                    Mick Belobraydic
Steve Gauen                                           Bruce Evans
Dennis Pace                                            Mike Vincent
Harry Parker                                           Keith Zeisel

And of course, our 1965 classmates (as well as underclassmen)!!  They knew that we knew they were with us Players and Cheerleaders……Sometimes Rowdy…..No, most of the time Rowdy and behind their team all the way!!

I know we need to keep score and that there needs to be winners and losers…That is just the way it is…But I now realize that it is more about the “Journey”….Here we are 50 years from the event we are honoring tonight against a quality rival Quincy that we played twice in 1965 for a margin of victory totaling 4 points.

Quincy fans, make no mistake about it, your 1965 team was also a champion as well….not because of your victory on the court over Collinsville….because that simply did not happen…..but because of the character, integrity and high standards of your coaches and players that represented your community at that time.  Nothing but first class.

For some of our classmates the journey I speak about has ended way too soon….as well as for our mentors coaches Virgil Fletcher and Frank Pitol….And for others of us our journey continues and will play out in future years….But there is one constant…something that will never change….that is the Collinsville Kahoks will always be remembered as the State of Illinois 1965 State Basketball Champions!!! And for this there is reason to celebrate.  We salute the CHS Class of 1965………………SALUTE!!!

Thank you,
Stephen E. Gauen
Class of 1965

The Ladies of ’65 had their monthly luncheon at Fazzi’s Restaurant and Bar Monday, and as usual, looks like they had fun. Photos were provided by Joyce Weber Ackerman .

Received word today that the Ladies of ’65 Christmas Party this year will be on December 10th at 6:00 PM.  Classmate Betty Stephens Wilson will be hosting at her home in Highland. You can get additional information, Betty’s address, and all that stuff from Joyce Weber Ackerman.  To help prevent spambot emails, I’ll list her email address as below – I think you can figure it out.

jackerman922  /at? gmail ?dot? com

And if you have trouble deciphering her address, send me a note using our “Contact Us” link in the menu, and I’ll send you a private message with the correct address.

Here are a couple of videos from our 50th Reunion. The first is of Steve Gauen speaking on Coach Fletcher and his legacy (6 minutes 22 seconds). The second is Jim Seka and recognition of military veterans in the Class of ’65 (10 minutes 26 seconds). The final video is the Kahok cheerleading squad (5 minutes 47 seconds).  Hope you enjoy them.

A sad note to add today, as we have learned of the passing of yet another classmate. Gary Hugh Mock suffered a heart attack and died on May 7th, 2014. Information was supplied by his daughter, Leann Mock. Ms Mock also provided the updated photo of her father as well as one of herself with her brother Kevin. I’ll add additional information on the “Deceased” page as it becomes available.

Our sincere sympathy and condolences go out to Leann, Kevin, and all who knew and loved her father. Rest in peace my friend.

 

We took some group photos at the reunion, and they are available for download in various sizes. If you only want to use the photo on the computer, choose the small file. The largest file is suitable for printing at 8″ x 12″ (Caseyville 8″ x 10″). The other size is suitable for 4″ x 6″ prints. If you are not sure how to go about getting a photo printed and you still want a print, contact me and we’ll work something out.  Click a photo to go to the download page.

 

 

 

We’re happy to see that classmate Tom Wille has added his autobiography to our growing list. And we’d certainly be happy to hear YOUR life story too! You can access Tom’s autobiography via the “Classmates Info” menu, and also vis “Photos” > “Our Senior Year” > “Autobiographies”.    Psst……. you can also just click on the photo below.

I got into town today – all ready for the reunion tomorrow, Thought I’d drive by the old school and get a new photo – some folks had heard a rumor that it had been torn down. NOT TRUE!! This photo was taken this morning and, although no longer a part of Unit 10 schools, the old building still stands proudly.