Red Raider 1956 “Fulda High School--a growing school--looking ahead to bigger and better goals--opening doorways to new horizons for its students---doorways to knowledge, skills, appreciations---doorways to fun, health, friendships-doorways to life and success. This Red Raider is your doorway to the past year at Fulda High. “ This was the inscription on the first page of the Fulda High School annual from 1956. Larry Zins, Fulda, who hosted his 70 year class reunion, displayed this publication for his classmates to look at. In all, 62 seniors graduated that year in the class of 1956. Many have seen this fence in Fulda near US Highway 59. It is a shout out to the Fulda High School Class of 1956. They were the last class to graduate from the building that currently houses Fulda Elementary School. Several members of that class were together for their 70 year class reunion on Thursday, July 23rd, at the home of Larry Zins. L to R are: Dean Greenfield, Larry Zins, Jerry Hochstein, Millie (Voss) Portz, Loren Heger, Maggie (Schreiber) Hill, Dan Hill, Deaana (Bestge) Warner, Jay Vos, and his wife, Phyllis who were celebrating not only Jay’s 70 year class reunion, but also their 69th wedding anniversary.
This was the cover of the Fulda High School 1956 annual. Entitled Red Raider, the hard-bound book is mostly dedicated to senior class activities, with underclass photos to seventh grade.
By Norma Dittman Sounds of excited conversation burst from Larry Zin’s garage in Fulda, MN, on Thursday, July 23rd. The group gathered there had a lot to celebrate. They were together for their 70th year class reunion. The alumni that had gotten together were the last class to graduate from the “old” Fulda High School - the building that currently houses Fulda Elementary School.
“We were supposed to be the first class to graduate from the new school that they built, but they had to wait on some construction orders, which pushed it back so the class of 1957 was the first graduating class, Deanna (Bestge) Warner said.
“We graduated in a class of 62 students,” Larry Zins stated. “There are 40 who have passed away. I sent out information for this reunion to everyone else. This is the group that could come, minus Howard Kass and Francis Crowley. They both live so close by, so they will probably be here sometime. It’s great to see everyone come together.”
Zins was hosting the gathering in the garage of his home on the northeast side of Fulda. A fence bordering his yard proudly proclaims “Fulda Raiders Class of 1956”. By the fence is where it was decided to take the 70th year reunion photo “We try to get together every year, and with this being the 70th year, we wanted to do so again,” Zins commented.
Reunion day started with coffee at the Zins home, and then moved on to 507 Burger and Grill in downtown Fulda for lunch and, of course, more conversation. “The best part is getting together and sharing what has been happening over the past year. I try to stay in contact with the classmates. You know, some kids really dislike school, but not me. It was some of the best years!”
On a table for all to view were four annuals entitled Red Raiders. “I have all four years of the annuals. All of my other memorabilia - letters, awards, etc., - I donated to the Fulda Public School museum,” Zins said. “Every once in the while, I will get out the annuals and look through them - especially if a name kind of rings a memory for me. Lots of memories come back when you view those books.”
“I’m so glad those who could come are here for this reunion. It means a lot to all of us,” Zins said.
