by Alice Stratman Smith
The annual Dresden Jefferson High School Alumni Banquet was held on Saturday, June 17th in the Tri-Valley cafetorium in Dresden, Ohio. A social hour was held at 4:30 p.m. followed by the meal prepared by the Dresden Fire Department and served by the Tri-Valley band members. The front cover of the program featured a Jayhawk drawn by Olivia Jenkins, the granddaughter of Treasurer, Diana Adams Schaefer.
President Alice Stratman Smith welcomed the alumni followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, and Invocation by Rev. Carl Schaefer.
The guest speaker was Alice Stratman Smith, a 1959 graduate. Alice introduced her nieces Tina Stratman Embrey and Beth Slate Melick Smith as her guests. Alice was born and raised in Dresden across the street from where the Tri-Valley Middle School is now located. She is the youngest of five children (Frank, Rhea, Betty, Myron, Alice) of Herman and Melba Davis Stratman. It was a long walk to Grade School and when in High School a kind bus driver let her ride when she carried a French Horn. In school she sang in choirs, in band, a musical play, and at graduation sang A Perfect Day by Carrie Jacobs Bond. (Many years later it was a surprise to learn that her husband Larry’s family was related to Ms. Bond.) During this Alumni Alice sang Side By Side, Hand In Hand by Glenda Owens, Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Alice’s husband Larry was a pastor/missionary and co-owner of Smith Hardwoods at Gratiot, Ohio. Very proud parents to daughters Lisa Miller and Jenny Crothers; one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren. Alice and Larry lived in Ohio, Tenn., Texas and did mission work in Mexico. After Larry died in Texas Alice moved to Zanesville, Ohio. She is thankful, blessed, and proud that she was born and raised in Dresden, Ohio, graduated from Jefferson High School, and attends the yearly alumni.
Officers Diana Adams Schaefer and Martha Fritts Prince have served for many years at the alumni and were recognized. 1959 Graduate Pati Tyson Redmond is scheduled to be the speaker for the 2024 Alumni Banquet. Her father was a teacher at Jefferson High School. Mark your calendars for Father’s Day weekend and plan to attend.
The following were honored and given flowers in vases/school colors:
• 75 years – 1948 – Fred Muse
• 70 years – 1953 – Shirley Weaver Sibbring and Donald Vickers
• 60 years – 1963 – David Kurtz, Dale Vandenbark, Sheryl Starner Williams, John Lowe
Ken Norris announced the $1,000.00 Scholarships to Lahney Searls, Anna Scheurman, Lexi Howe, Hans Holmes, and Mason Prouty.
Diana Adams Schaefer gave the Treasurrer’s Report followed by Martha Fritts Prince reading the minutes from last year’s Alumni and also In Memorium.
Everyone stood and sang the Jefferson Alma Mater accompanied by an Alumni Band under the direction of Mr. Sanders in 1964.
The Banquet came to an end after the closing benediction by Martha Fritts Prince.
