Attendance was down somewhat for the 2003 Alumni Day reunion compared to recent years, officials said.
423 people purchased buffet tickets this year. Additional people attended the event but not the dinner and the overall attendance was estimated at between 450 and 500 people.
Alumni Day usually coincides with Father’s Day and attendance by out-of-town people is boosted. This year, Father’s Day was a week earlier.
Despite a slight reduction in attendance, this year’s reunion displayed the usual “Purple Pride” that distinguishes the Milan alumni organization.
Outgoing MHSAA president Lisa Springer thanked the MHSAA executive board for their “undying work and countless hours.”
Mayor George Killebrew, a 1957 Milan grad, noted that the city takes pride in its schools, great teachers, principals, administrators, school board and alumni organization. “(MHSAA) is an asset to Milan every year,” Mr. Killebrew noted, saying that he often bragged about the alumni group at meetings around the state. “(Milan educators) are striving for academics and we have one of the top public schools in the state,” he added. Mr. Killebrew also commended MHS principal Tim Warren for being recognized as Tennessee’s principal of the year by the state principals association.
Jim Towater, a 1964 Milan graduate, told alumni members that the Bulldog pride and spirit remains strong for today’s students. “I’m honored to be superintendent,” said Towater. “We emphasize academics and are quite competitive across the state.” Towater told visitors that the school district is constructing a new 108,000 sq. ft. middle school.