Rattler Reunion board preps for 50th

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Rattler Reunion board was determined not to skip the 2021 edition — mainly because this is the 50th anniversary of the annual event for Tucumcari High School alumni.

Tucumcari hosted its first Rattler Reunion in early August 1971. The Tucumcari Daily News at the time reported that Stanley Jennings, the event’s chairman, said the Rattler Reunion “promises to be the highlight of the year.”

“We wanted to do our best to have some sort of gathering because this is the 50th year,” Rattler Reunion Chairman Joe Szaloy said in a telephone interview Thursday. “As a board, we felt extremely saddened we were unable to carry it on last year. That was the first time it had been not held in that 50-year period.”

Szaloy said he didn’t have a firm number of THS alums who have committed to attending, but early indications look promising.

“The person in charge of the website and Reunion pages said there have been quite a few preregistrations,” he said. “There’s high interest in Tucumcari itself, plus former Rattlers in other towns and states. They’re very interested and optimistic we’re having a Reunion this year.”

Because health restrictions in New Mexico were officially lifted in early July, that left too little time for the board to organize the usual banquet at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

“We didn’t want to be locked into a sit-down banquet and the restrictions not be lifted. We decided it would be better to have a come-and-go, indoor-outdoor casual gathering of the classes at the convention center instead of the sit-down dinner,” Szaloy said.

Szaloy acknowledged the change in format with the big gathering at the convention center probably is safer amid the ongoing threat of the Delta variant of the virus.

“That was part of the thought process, too — that people could be indoors, be outdoors as part of their own decision and could wear the mask if they so choose,” he said.

Szaloy said Rattler Reunion participants will be reminded of safety measures during registration this week.

“We’re going to try to recognize the social distancing as much as possible,” he said. “We understand in large gathering we’re not going to have complete control over that. We’re going to give them encouragement and instructions that we appreciate everybody taking the necessary precautions.

“We think we can make it a good, safe, fun event for everyone involved and, hopefully, we have a lot of people to be involved,” he added.

The lifting of restrictions also prompted the Rattler Reunion board to move the Friday night street dance from the Tucumcari Railroad Plaza back to the convention center.

“Because of the heat, the lifting of restrictions and several other variables, the alumni board decided in a vote they could put it back at the convention center for the comfort of the patrons and the Rattlers,” he said.

The Saturday night event at the convention center will include four guest speakers — longtime Tucumcari boys basketball coach John Span (Class of 1979), Texas educator Terry Young (Class of 1978) and brothers Mick and Stan David.

The band Limited Edition will perform both Friday and Saturday nights. Vendors will be set up outside of the convention center to provide food and refreshments.

This year’s Rattler Reunion will contain new wrinkles. Because of the 2020 cancellation, this year’s reunion will be a combined event of 2020 and 2021. As a result, the Rattler Reunion hosts will be the classes of 1990 and 1991. The Golden Rattlers will be the classes of 1970 and 1971.

In addition to the Reunion hosting an annual golf event at the city’s municipal course, a disc-golf tournament will be hosted Saturday morning at Five Mile Park.

For the first time for Rattler Reunion, the Odeon Theatre will host a non-denominational service led by Renee Maciel on Sunday morning.

Szaloy said the Rattler Reunion still is seeking volunteers. He said those interested should consult the website at rattlerreunion.com or talk to an alumni board member at the convention center on Thursday afternoon.

Here is the schedule for the event:

Thursday

• 6 to 8:30 p.m.: Registration begins and meet-and-greet at Tucumcari Convention Center

Friday

• 9 a.m.: Disc golf tournament at Five Mile Park; for information, call (575) 708-1898

• 10 a.m.: 16-hole scramble golf tournament at Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course; for information, call (575) 749-0452

• 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Registration at convention center

• 5:30 p.m.: Social hour with cash bar at convention center

• 6 to 8 p.m.: Street dance at convention center

Saturday

• 7 to 9 a.m.: Pancake breakfast at Mesa Cafeteria at 901 S. Fifth St. by FFA alumni

• 9 a.m.: Parade of classes on Route 66; entries gather at 8:30 a.m. in convention center parking lot

• 10 to noon: Class photos at convention center; registration continues

• Noon: Golden Rattlers Luncheon by host classes of 1965 and 1966 at Vaquero Asador restaurant at Quality Inn

• Noon: Class luncheons at various locations

• 5:30 p.m.: Social hour with cash bar at convention center

• 6:30 p.m.: Gathering of the classes and dance

Sunday

• 10 a.m.: Non-denominational worship service at Odeon Theatre at 123 S. Second St.