All-Class Reunion: McNees instrumental in beginning All-Class Reunion, Robinson recalls

Occasionally someone comes along who is dynamic and energizes nearly everyone they contact. In Kimball, one of those people would be the late Harry McNees.

A long-time and beloved band teacher, McNees worked with the band students of Kimball High School on more than just marching band, jazz band and band trips.

It was McNees who spearheaded the first Kimball All-Class Reunion in 1994, according to Karen Robinson.

The year of the first All-Class Reunion was also the year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kimball Schools.

Robinson said McNees began collecting addresses of graduates. Since her son, Greg, was the president of the band parents club at that time, Robinson began helping McNees organize the first event. She was also chairperson of the first event.

"When he started talking about having an all-class reunion, I volunteered to help him with it. We had various committees," Robinson said. "The thing that I remember the most, with the first one we had no idea how many people would come. So we plucked 1,000 out of the air. At that time there were probably about 3,000 graduates. The last day, when registration closed, we had 250 registrations come in over and above our 1,000."

The organizers and committee members were thrilled, but the large number of those in attendance meant that a proper sit-down meal was not possible. Instead, box lunches were prepared.

"There were people who didn't like it, but there was nothing we could do," Robinson said. "We made up for it by showing them a good time."

Chairs and tables were borrowed from local churches as well as from the other schools. Guests were seated in the student center and the gym, and others were left standing.

There was just not enough room for the main event – an All-Class band concert that was a huge draw for former students, Robinson said.

"Everybody came back to play for Harry (McNees)," Robinson said. "In fact, we recorded it because there was not enough room in the gym to seat everybody."

The attendees then watched the town fireworks show and had the choice to go dancing at the event center afterwards.

"I can remember the first one, we had somebody in Kimball who said they had to stop at the stop light twice before they could go," Robinson said.

Though attendance has declined, Robinson said it is just as fun today as it was back then.

"What it was then is basically what it is today," Robinson said. "The first one was so successful, why change?"

Through the years the program has changed a bit. One year the Methodist church bell choir was the entertainment, as well as a men's chorus.

"The meals have gotten better, though its not really a sit-down yet," Robinson said. "We like to think that is not why they come."

The event takes a lot of preparation and the help of many dedicated individuals. When McNees passed away, Marcia Buesher continued collecting addresses until 2014, when she, too, gave it up.

"That is the most difficult part of it," Robinson said. "I don't think they have addresses for the last 10 years. That takes a lot of time."

Despite the occasional difficulties, there are benefits of hosting an all-class reunion, according to Robinson. Some classes did not organize regular reunions and some classmates were better friends with those in grades above or below their own.

"In our family we have four generations who have attended and graduated from Kimball High School," Robinson said. "Some of them, it is kind of like a family reunion."

Reminiscing and reconnecting with family and friends is perhaps the biggest draw these days.

"There's nothing like your school friends and your school," Robinson said. "I am very fond of the Kimball High School and would do anything for them."