Kent-Meridian High School

Class of 1956



Alma Mater, Kent-Meridian, we love you brave and true. Alma Mater, we hail thee, as our praises we renew. High above your famous portals proudly waves your white and blue. We revere thee, and cheer thee, as we pledge our faith to you.

KMHS-56 News

It's on! The KMHS-56 Luncheon is on! Usual time - noon on the last Thursday of the month - but at our new location! That's Maggie's on Meeker in downtown Kent. Their address is 307 W. Meeker, their phone is 253 852-4116, and you can see their menu at https://maggiesonmeeker.wordpress.com/lunch/
You don't need reservations or prior arrangements - just show up about noon and look for a bunch of old dears who look vaguely familiar at that will probably be us. Bring your spouse, your date, your old classmate or, better yet, bring all three!
Please join us for good food and better chatter.

And now ... on with the website!

Originally, this site consisted of photos of Class of 56 attendees at the "KM-2000 All Years Reunion" in August 2000. As the webpage "matured", I've reorganized it several times and added a ton of other photos, including group shots from other reunions, class photos as far back the 1st grade and a growing collection of personal photos, "vintage" and otherwise.
Feel free to help yourself to any of these pictures and pass them along to classmates you might be in contact with, particularly those not online. Just right-click on the full-size image and follow the prompts to save it to your hard drive.
Many of these images have been reduced in size for use on the webpage. If you'd like copies of the original full-sized files, drop me an email.
Important! If you have any KMHS-56 photos, slides, etc. that seem appropriate for this page, please email me and we'll figure out how to get them posted here.
As you scroll through the online class directory, trying to connect these "well experienced" faces to names you remember from long ago, you'll notice that we have still have classmates whose information is out-of-date, incomplete, inaccurate or missing entirely. If you're in contact with any of these folks, please point them here with the "assignment" to fill out an Info Form or, at least, send me their email address so I can start the wheels rolling. If they're not online, just print out the printable version of the Info Form for them to fill out and mail in.
And... if you're wondering " WHAT online class directory?" or have forgotten how to access it, drop me a line here to learn about it.

Send comments and requests to:
Tom Bigley
bigleytl@earthlink.net

Note: The images below are all thumbnails of larger images. Click on the thumbnail to load the full size version in a new browser window. To return to this page, simply close the new browser window or "ALT-TAB" to toggle back.

In Memory of
Lost Classmates

Class of '56 Reunions

Here's a challenge: How many of these old coots .... uh, I mean these "young whippersnappers" - can you identify?

Our 20th Reunion
at Renton Inn - 1976
Our 25th Reunion
at Meridian Country Club - 1981
Our 30th Reunion
at Longacres - 1986

KM-2000 All Years Reunion
at the High School

More photos

50th Reunion Diadem
(Caution: this is a large file)
Our "BIG FIVE-O" 50th Reunion
at The Embassy Suites in Tukwilla

More photos

Our 56th Reunion at the ...
... Embassy Suites in Tukwila

Our 60th Reunion at the Embassy Suites

Recent Gatherings and "Mini-Reunions"

KMHS-56 2009 Annual Picnic Lake Meridian, Aug 2009
KMHS-56 Arizona Brigade Surprize, AZ Mar 2010
KMHS-56 2013 Picnic Lake Meridian, Jul 2013

"Vintage" Class Photos

Feeling smug about identifying the folks in the above shots? Then, try your luck with these "slightly" earler photos. As you can see, we're missing quite a few class pictures. If you can dig any up, drop me a line and we'll get 'em posted in short order.

» email me «

Our Grade Schools
Valley (Kent) Elementary	Meridian Elementary	O'Brien Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
1st Grade Class Pictures - 1944-45
Kent Elementary	Meridian Elementary	O'Brian Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
2nd Grade Class Pictures - 1945-46
Kent Elementary	Meridian Elementary	O'Brian Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
3rd Grade Class Pictures - 1946-47
Kent Elementary	Meridian Elementary	O'Brian Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
4th Grade Class Pictures - 1947-48
Kent Elementary	Meridian Elementary	O'Brian Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
5th Grade Class Pictures - 1948-49
Kent Elementary Kent Elementary	Meridian Elementary Meridian Elementary	Transferred to Kent/Valley Elementary	Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary
6th Grade Class Pictures - 1949-50
Kent/Valley Elementary Kent/Valley Elementary Kent/Valley Elementary	Meridian Elementary		Thomas Elementary	Panther Lake Elementary

Our
Intermediate Schools

Seventh Grade Classes
1950-51

Valley Intermediate Meridian Intermediate

Valley Intermediate
Grade 7n
Valley Intermediate
Grade 7s
Valley Intermediate
Grade 7x
Valley Intermediate
Grade 7y
Meridian Intermediate
Grade 7
Meridian Intermediate
Grade 7

Our
Junior High School

Junior High Classes
1951-1953

Kent-Meridian Junior High

Kent-Meridian Jr High
Grade 8 - 1951-52

KM Jr High
Grade 9 - 1952-53
Boyle's Homeroom
KM Jr High
Grade 9 - 1952-53
Burrell's Homeroom
KM Jr High
Student Council
1952-53
KM Jr High
Grade 9 - 1952-53
Anderson's Homeroom
KM Jr High
Newspaper Staff
1952-53
KM Jr High
Band - 1952-53

Our Faculty

Junior High Teachers
1952-53
Senior High Teachers
observing Graduation
June 1956

"Vintage" Documents

Class of '56
Commencement Program
Contributed by
Maurice Murphy

Royal Herald
circa 1956
Contributed by
Tom Bigley

Royal Herald
circa 1953
Contributed by
Tom Bigley

Royal Herald
circa 1950
Contributed by
Marge (Dittmar) Green

Post-Intelligencer
circa 1956
Contributed by
Skip Wakefield

Personal Photos, Old and New

" Beneath the Sea " Lila, Nancy and Bob at the Junior Prom Contributed by Marge (Dittmar) Green	7th Grade Trip to Pier 91 USS Hugh J. Gaffney Contributed by Tom Bigley	Methodist Youth Group 7th Grade Contributed by Ned Crain	The Boys... Last day at Kent Intermediate? Contributed by Carole (Edline) Anderson	Jay in 1956 Contributed by John Agars	John in 1956 Contributed by John Agars
Aivars in 1955 Contributed by John Agars	Me in 1956 Contributed by John Agars	Lynn and Elrey Contributed by Marge (Dittmar) Green	Sandy and Muffy at a BPA picnic Contributed by Marge (Dittmar) Green	Miscellaneous Contributed by Marge (Dittmar) Green	John and the Studebaker Contributed by John Agars
Party Hearty! Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Sandy, Virginia, Marla and Lila as flappers Contributed by Maurice Murphy	At the Hop Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Dorthy, Cathy and Roland Jankelson ('57) making paper flowers? Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Virginia, Jean, Sandy and Muffy Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Muffy(?), Marla, Carol, Rosalie and Virginia Contributed by Maurice Murphy
KMHS Marching Band downtown Kent Contributed by Maurice Murphy	KMHS Marching Band and Royalettes Contributed by Maurice Murphy	"Hap" Pommer's "student torture devices" Contributed by Tom Bigley	Let's try it again... together this time! Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Bob lays on the old Senior Class charm Contributed by Maurice Murphy	Jim mans the Civil Air Patrol desk Contributed by Maurice Murphy
Dave and Nancy Contributed by Jean (Green) Gault	GAA 52-53 Contributed by Lynn (Green) Breda	FHA 52-53 Contributed by Lynn (Green) Breda	Mrs. Rightmire English Teacher Contributed by John Agars	The Girls - 2003 Contributed by Sandy (Stennes) Jennings	Bob and Jean at the Senior Ball Contributed by Bob & Jean Green
Sandy's Certification Contributed by Sandy (Stennes) Jennings	"Hank" at Work Contributed by "Hank" (Stark) Foubert	Pete and Tom Olympia October 2004	John & Francie Agars on Indian Mt Lookout circa 1985	Chuck Parsons & Jim Thorton on 1955 Road Trip	Party at the Fetterlies
Girl's Honor Initiation	Girl's Honor Initiation	Girl's Honor Initiation	The Group	Bob being "Kewl" at Kent Elementary	Gordy on the Kent Elementary Schoolyard
Cathy at Kent Elementary	Joan & Mary	Mack Kirkland	Mark Pugh	Rita (54) "instructs" Sophs Jon, Tom & Jim on KM Protocol	Loren & Tom's wheels
Loren's Wheels	George & Beverly	Loren & Boots	Ron, Ted and Tippy	Donna and Sharon Switzerland 1961	Donna & Charlie at Kent Elem's 50th Reunion
Princess Sharon Kent Parade - July 1956	Bev, Pat, Sharon and Donna - 1955 Ski Trip	Jackie, Sharon, Sandy, Hank and Donna 1954 House Party	Bob Green on Enger Brother's Float, Kent Cornucopia Parade	Pricilla, Carole, Marla, Sarole, Sonja and Elaine at Valley Intermediate	The girls of Mrs Hurley's 6th Grade Valley Intermediate Class
Ron and Rosalie with their racehorse "Jamaica Bound"	The Girls Sept 2008 Luncheon

Links and Such

Sign Up Online for our Class Directory

Printable Version of Sign Up Form

Classmates.com.

My Homepage.

Our 20th Reunion at Renton Inn - 1976	Our 25th Reunion at Meridian Country Club - 1981		Our 30th Reunion at Longacres - 1986
KM-2000 All Years Reunion at the High School More photos		50th Reunion Diadem (Caution: this is a large file)	Our "BIG FIVE-O" 50th Reunion at The Embassy Suites in Tukwilla More photos

Our 56th Reunion at the ...	... Embassy Suites in Tukwila
Our 60th Reunion at the Embassy Suites

Our Faculty
	Junior High Teachers 1952-53	Senior High Teachers observing Graduation June 1956