Calling All Classmates

For most of us, preparing for our high school reunion means deciding what to wear. Not so for those who plan the event. 

On their to-do lists: Picking the date, finding the right venue, deciding on a menu, coordinating the entertainment, tracking the R.S.V.P.s, handling the money and more. 

But one of the most daunting tasks is finding all those former classmates.

This was especially true for the planning committee of ’s Class of 1971, which this year is celebrating its 40th reunion. 

The Class of ’71 still holds the record for the largest graduating class in DHS history, with the official number of graduates standing at 640.

Considering the number of years that have passed and the size of the class, locating all those people was no picnic. 

Just ask Bob Simon, one of the organizers of this year’s reunion along with four other committee members–Nancy Siwik, Colleen Terry, Steve Bird and Shelly Bell–and the guy heading up the search team. A sixth classmate, Stan Guinn, while not an official committee member, was instrumental in reaching out to former classmates through the Dearborn High School Class of 1971 website he created.

“I originally volunteered to help find some of the missing classmates by doing searches on the Internet,” said Simon, who, along with Terry, did most of the searching.

Ditto for Terry. 

“Because I live in Wisconsin, I knew I couldn't do a lot of the things that need to be handled locally, so I offered to do online searches for classmates,” she said. 

Their search began with a baseline list of classmates that Simon compiled using several sources, like the old school records and alumni lists located by Guinn for his website, as well as boxes of information saved by Siwik, who had worked on past reunions. 

From there, he and Terry hit the search engines scouring numerous websites and public databases including property tax records, voter registration records, even the Social Security Death Index.

Also key to their search was the use of social media, primarily the DHS Class of ‘71 Facebook page set up by classmate Bill Brandon (not a committee member), and Guinn’s website, which allowed them to get input directly from former classmates.

Combined, Simon and Terry have spent close to two years and countless hours conducting online searches, sending emails, letters, making phone calls–even digging through old yearbooks and historical records–to make it happen.

It was a lot of work, but the results are impressive. 

“Between all the searches Colleen and I did, what showed up on Facebook and the website, and those few people who did respond to the missing lists we published, we eventually found about 600 of 640,” said Simon. 

“I think having the Facebook page helped considerably,” said Terry. “We had over 100 people sign up soon after it was up and running, and I think there are over 150 now.  Out of a class of 640 or so, that's a pretty good ratio.  

“Also, Stan has a great website which helps because people will go on and update their information,” she added.

Simon agrees. “Key (to future planning) are Stan’s website and the Facebook page. I think a lot of people will continue talking through both those places, updating their address and contact information. 

“We’re hoping people will do that over the next 10 years, and nobody will have to spend these hundreds of hours searching.”

Both agree, however, there is a payoff.  

“Seeing the names of the people who are coming being posted on Facebook is exciting, said Terry. “It makes me want to go even more.”

“I’ve talked with people I went to grade school with, surviving spouses of classmates, people I didn’t even know,” said Simon. “That’s what I’ve enjoyed.”