7-23-2026 4:05am

Seventy Years Later, Boyertown Class of 1956 Is Coming Home

Lesley Misko Editor

by Julie Cordingley

"Nothing makes you feel younger than when you are with people who knew you when you were young." — Author Unknown

The familiar notes of Pomp and Circumstance have barely faded from this year's high school graduation ceremonies, leaving behind memories of caps, gowns and commencement speeches. Graduates are settling into summer—enjoying carefree days, working summer jobs or preparing for college and the next chapter of their lives.

But as one graduation season winds down, another school tradition begins to take shape: high school reunions.

For many graduates, reunions become more meaningful as the years pass. A fifth reunion may feel like little more than an extension of high school, while the 10th and 15th often revolve around reconnecting with old friends. By the time classmates gather for their 25th or 50th reunion—and especially beyond—those occasions become something more. They are opportunities to celebrate friendships, revisit shared memories and appreciate the passage of time.

One class of Boyertown Area Senior High School alumni is preparing for one of those extraordinary milestones.

See if you can guess the year.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was president. Elvis Presley made his national television debut singing "Heartbreak Hotel." The Civil Rights Movement was in its early stages. Floyd Patterson became heavyweight boxing champion. Congress authorized construction of the Interstate Highway System. The first episodes of As the World Turns and The Edge of Nightaired on CBS. Norma Jeane became Marilyn Monroe, and the Cold War dominated world headlines.

Need another clue?

Closer to home, the graduating class wore charcoal and white as its class colors. The class numbered 166 students, all of whom spent their high school years exclusively in the "old part of the school." During their senior year, the football team lost just one game, and Friday night dances after sporting events were everything. Their class motto was, "We have followed; Now we shall lead," and they celebrated the school's 62nd Annual Commencement.

The answer is the Boyertown Area High School Class of 1956, which is preparing to celebrate its 70th class reunion—a truly remarkable milestone.

When alumnus Leon Mest realized this landmark anniversary was approaching, he became concerned that no one seemed to be organizing a reunion. Rather than let the opportunity pass, he contacted classmates June Herb and LaRue Sheetz to see if they would help.

The three weren't class officers back in high school. They were simply classmates who wanted the chance to reconnect with old friends and reminisce.

They briefly questioned whether a reunion was even feasible, particularly after the interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That uncertainty didn't last long. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and began making plans.

Beginning in March, the trio met for several lunchtime planning sessions. Their lifelong connections to the Boyertown area proved invaluable.

Mest's family operated Crown Card Store and distributed newspapers. Sheetz recently retired after five decades as organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bechtelsville. Herb brought years of experience in local real estate, along with an extensive and carefully organized collection of class memorabilia.

Together, they divided the class roster into thirds and began the challenging task of locating classmates.

After 70 years, it was no small undertaking.

Addresses were outdated. Many classmates had moved far from Boyertown, and, sadly, many had passed away. Still, responses have steadily arrived, and most who replied expressed excitement and gratitude that someone had taken the initiative to organize the reunion.

The organizers also hope football co-captains J. Ralph Borneman Jr. and Ron Boyer will attend, giving them another opportunity to relive—and perhaps embellish—the stories of that near-perfect football season.

Not every response has been positive. Some classmates have declined because of distance or health concerns, while others, despite expressing appreciation for the invitation, simply chose not to attend.

On Aug. 1, however, members of the Boyertown Area High School Class of 1956 who are able to gather will reunite at the Washington Grill, 1063 Route 100 in Bechtelsville, to renew friendships and revisit memories spanning seven decades.

Social media has made it easier than ever to stay connected, but there is still something special about sitting across the table from classmates who shared classrooms, football games, school dances and the promise of youth.

After all, school friends are woven into the beginning of nearly every life story. Seventy years later, those shared beginnings remain worth celebrating.