Over half a century has passed since the 1965 HHS graduating class picked up their diplomas.
That class was the first to don the caps and gowns at the then-new high school building that currently serves as the high school. It was also the largest group of seniors, 144, to graduate.
Those achievements are now commemorated with a plaque in the hallway by the auditorium where they started on a new life.
Around 30 members of the 1965 class were on hand Saturday to unveil the plaque with superintendent Dwayne Noble providing a short tour of the building.
The plaque points out that those alumni, “developed many friendships and memories during their tenure at HHS. These friendships continue among the members today, regardless of geography or circumstance and will endure.”
Those class members note their careers today started with the Henryetta high school education.
Class members started out with a luncheon reunion at noon then came to the high school. Upon entering the building, they were greeted with a banner welcoming them back and acknowledging they were among the many “Fighting Hens” who went to school here. That banner was created by the Henryetta Middle School graphics class.
“It was our pleasure to add this plaque to our building,” Noble said. “We are proud of all our graduates and wanted to make sure they were recognized.”