Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Hundreds of Tucumcari High School alumni are expected to flood into the city later this week for the 51st annual Rattler Reunion.
Michelle Shipley Jaynes, president of the alumni association that organizes the event, said last Friday that over 100 had registered for the Reunion so far.
She said she expects over 400 alumni to show up at the Tucumcari Convention Center by the time most of the activities kick off this Friday. The Class of 1993 is the Reunion host.
Shipley Jaynes said organizers didn’t feel compelled to make many changes to the Rattler Reunion.
“Nothing really new,” she stated in a text message, “just hoping for a great turnout to reunite old friends and make new friends.”
Last year, inflation and a local flare-up of COVID-19 cases prompted a substantial number of THS alumni to stay home. Instead of a hoped-for attendance of 500, about 250 to 300 attended the 2022 event.
An unexpectedly large crowd of 450 to 500 attended the event in 2021 after the 2020 edition was canceled due to the pandemic.
This year, registration begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the convention center, with a meet-and-greet and a cash bar.
On Friday, registration at the convention center begins at 9 a.m., with a 5:30 p.m. social until midnight.
The day includes a barbecue dinner at 6 p.m. at the convention center, along with an 18-hole scramble at 10 a.m. at Tucumcari Municipal Golf Course.
The big day is Saturday, which begins with a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast at the Mesa Cafeteria at 901 S. Fifth St., then the parade of classes on Route 66 at 9 a.m. This year, organizers will give prizes for different categories in the parade.
Registration will continue from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, along with class photos at that time at the convention center.
The Golden Rattler Luncheon, with catering by Kix on 66, for anyone from the Class of 1973 and earlier will be at noon. The host class is the Class of 1968. Other class luncheons will be held at various locations at that time.
The Saturday gathering of the classes and dance begins at 6:30 p.m. at the convention center.
At 10 a.m. Sunday, the Odeon Theatre will host a community worship service. The Robert Pumpkin Memorial Disc Golf Course at Five Mile Park will host an event at 1 p.m. to close the Reunion.
More information may be found at rattlerreunion.com or emailing [email protected].