MULLEN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

by Sara Genkens and Marjorie Pearson

Entry T29 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Elvia Fox Boyer - Class 1916 and her children June
4, 1986 - Her 70th year L-R Getty, class '47, Wilma
- '41, Elvia '16, Doris, '42, Phyllis '46, and Dennis 1951

The first annual Alumni Banquet was held
in honor of the graduating class of 1916 of
Mullen High School. It was on May 18, 1916
in the Rock Home. It was put on by the
teachers, Supt. Jewel West, Clayton Gaines,
Estella Krejca, and the high school students
(14) or maybe more. At this time all of the
high school students attended the banquet.

The menu was: strawberries with powd-
ered sugar, pressed chicken sandwiches,
saratoga chips & olives, waldorf salad, &
wafers, ice cream cake, coffee and mints.

A program was put on by the teachers and
students for the 1916 graduates, sisters,
Sylvia and Elvia Fox.

World War I was going on and the YMCA
was having a drive when the class of 1917
graduated and they asked the juniors to give
what they expected to spend on the banquet
and $60.00 was raised for the YMCA. The
class enjoyed a dinner given Febr. 14, 1917,
by their sponsor, Miss Mae Clayton.

According to the alumni notes, beginning
in 1926, a levy was assessed to each alumni
member each year whether attending the
banquet or not, in the amount of 25 cents.

In 1929, the alumni started meeting in the
high school gym. At that time a discussion
was held about letting spouses of alumni
attend. It was voted down.

On May 28, 1932, an alumni constitution
was drawn up and published. The committee
included: L.E. Ericksen, R.A. Moller, Violet
Mathews, Vera James, and Corliss Fitzg-
erald.

In 1934, the members had to start making
reservations prior to the banquet, if attend-
ing.

On June 30, 1944, the 26th annual alumni
decided to purchase dishes, and in 1956, to
buy drinking glasses and in 1960 they
purchased silverware.

On June 7, 1947, the association began
having a dance following the banquet, open
to the public, with the proceeds going to the
association.

On June 11, 1988, the 70th annual banquet
was held, our members now number 1514 and
278 attended the banquet. It is still held in
the school auditorium with only Mullen
graduates attending. Seated by classes, and
now honoring each year the new graduates,
the 20 yr., 40 yr., 50 yr., and receiving 50 year
pins, 60 yr., and 70 yr., classes.

The first 70 yr. honor class was in 1986,
with Elvia (Fox) Boyer attending and her five
children also present, all of them being
Mullen Alumni also. (Photo of them includ-
ed).

A dance still follows the banquet, open to
the public.

This year (1988) an alumni newspaper was
published and mailed to each alumni who
have paid their dues, which are now $1.00.

The year of 1989 is the Hooker County
Centennial and the Mullen Alumni Associa-
tion will be planning a special celebration for
their annual banquet.

The alumni president for 1989 will be Dale
A. Ginkens, a decendent of settlers in this
county. Grandparents, Sara (French) Gink-
ens, class of 1917, fraternal grandmother;
Zilpha (Ronzo) Fosdick, class of 1925, mater-
nal grandmother; parents, L.L. Ginkens, Jr.,
class of 1943 and Betty Jo (Fosdick) Ginkens,
class of 1948.

We will be looking forward to the centen-
nial year of 1989 in celebration of our 71st
alumni banquet. All alumni that can attend,
please do.