Dover High Coming Home reunion June 12-15 spans eight decades

Dover High School classes of 1966-2014 have welcomed the classes of 1928-1965 to join them in celebrating another era of Dover High School’s history. The Coming Home reunion organizers have been busy reaching back to times past to make the occasion enjoyable for everyone who attends.

In recent weeks, several alumni from Dover High’s past era (1923-1965 - now Central Middle School) have come forward to offer their support for the Coming Home reunion of Dover High as they say goodbye to the current high school.

Late last week, Dover High’s 1953 prom queen and cheerleading captain, Ginger (Biddle) Wingard, contacted organizers to offer two of her megaphones which she has cherished over the years as well as several yearbooks dating back to the '30s and '40s.  Nancy (Somerville) Martin, class of 1964, recently dropped off her majorette baton, high school pennant, varsity letter with her basketball and field hockey pins, a 1963 football program and her 1963 and 1964 yearbooks along with several photos of high school trips and photos of her friends. She also offered a 1962 Dover High football schedule poster, the games of which her late brother,  James “Jimmy” Somerville, played in. Jimmy was the Senators' 1961 Most Valuable Football Player and  first downstate player to be named MVP of the Delaware Blue-Gold All-Star Game in 1962.

To complement this historic weekend, organizers have booked bands and musicians having ties to Dover High School who will play music from the '40s to current tunes throughout the weekend. To date, The Honeycombs with alumni Dave Joiner and Allen Kessel; The Reunion Band with alumni Matt Spong, Robert Marston and Dickie Dempsy; The Shakers with alumni Rick Tremble and Billy Meyers; Fazes with alumni Ray Brokenbrough and Vonzell Starnes; The Trailer Park Trio with alumni J.D. Hogsten Travis Bowers and Scott Parsons; and The Adam Murray Project have been  booked. Others who will be performing include Donald Ashley, Todd Stonesifer, Gretchen Emery, singer and songwriter Sol Knopf, Craig Stonesifer and Kevin Johnson, all Dover High school alumni. Although not an alumnus himself, Mike Hines of Mike Hines & The Look, a very poplar band since the early '80s that played at a number of DHS proms and homecomings, will also perform. Two members of the band attended Dover High.

Organizers encourage DHS alumni to follow the event on the Facebook page, Coming Home Dover High School or on twitter @dhsaade. Tickets are limited; a single ticket is good for the entire weekend of events.

Early bird ticket prices are $15 per person and $25 per couple through May 14 but will increase to $20 and $30 respectively as of May 15. Tickets may be purchased at Townsend Brothers Chevrolet, C.F. Schwartz Toyota, Price Honda or Forney’s Jewelers.

For details about the reunion or the event schedule go to www.dhsaa.com. Those wishing to become sponsors or volunteer for the event may call the event hotline at 302-670-5400.