Lafayette High School's Enduring Legacy: A Class of '67 Story
For many, high school is a defining experience, whether remarkable or devastating. For the Lafayette High School class of 1967, those years forged a lifetime of friendships that continue to thrive in simple, yet special ways. This is a story of a "golden class," as they call themselves, bound by shared memories, playful pranks, and an unbreakable bond that has weathered the test of time.
The Ties That Bind: From High School Hallways to Lasting Friendships
This group of friends, who attended Lafayette High together more than 50 years ago, have grown closer over the years, maintaining their friendships and that need to prank and poke fun at each other like only old high school friends can do. They started together as early as first grade. "These are the people I grew up with, the people who remember my mother and father," said Karen Van Vleet Bradford, who travels back from Arizona for all the reunions.
Tommy Rich, who is moving back to Acadiana from Texas, said, "We were so close in high school, it’s like being back with family again. It’s hard to explain. It’s a great feeling." Forest and her friends understand how rare it is to like each other so much and remain friends for so long, which is why she reached out to The Advertiser to share about their "golden class."
A "Golden Class": Accomplishments and Accolades
"Ours really was a golden class," Smith said, describing football state championships, track and field records and more accomplishments. It was a time when Lafayette High was one of the only public high schools in the city. The Lafayette High class of 1967 had 372 graduates. They even have "mini-reunions" for the students who started together at F.M.
Still Young at Heart: Pranks, Parties, and Reminiscing
Even now, they are still pulling pranks on one another, sharing meals and memories, and partying together as often as possible.
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Like many high school students do, a few Lafayette High School friends got together to pull a prank on Jay Smith. There was some extra toilet paper left over after they finished stuffing a bunch into hurricane fencing to create a white wall with a green "LHS," sort of like what a homecoming float would look like. Someone got the smart idea to take the leftover rolls of toilet paper and wrap Smith's house in the dark of night. "After we wrapped Jay’s house, I saw policemen and told them what we’d done," Sarah DeClouet said laughing. "I asked if they would have arrested us. They said they would have let us go after they stopped laughing." It isn't funny because a group of Lafayette High students rolled a house. It's funny because they were just two years shy of 70 when they did it. "He still thinks he’s 17," Melanie Forest joked about Smith.
Their latest official reunion was a large-scale 70th birthday party on Nov. 2 for the class at the Oil Center in Lafayette, since most are turning that age. "We're still really good dancers," said Jan DeGravelles, who lives in Baton Rouge but still often calls Lafayette "home." "And that's before we start drinking," Smith added.
The Threads of Time: Reunions and Reflections
Like other classes, they had traditional reunions every decade, although "10 was a hard one," DeClouet. It followed the end of the Vietnam War. Some had enlisted, some were drafted and everyone was impacted. "There was a sadness," DeClouet said.
As the years went on, the world changed and these former Lafayette Mighty Lions began to gravitate back to one another with the help of the internet, social media and more time in retirement. Two years ago, their 50th reunion was a big hit, and to top it, they planned the recent "Walk Through Time"-themed 70th birthday party with a 5-foot cake from New York to represent everything they've been through together. Each tier was decorated as a different decade, leaving nothing out. There were toy soldiers, cassette tapes, disco balls, Y2K, the Twin Towers and a big rhinestone 70 to top it off. The final tier said it all - "Playtime. We are kids again. What's next?"
Remembering the Good Old Days: Lafayette Haunts and Shared Experiences
As often as they can, they frequent their old Lafayette haunts - La Fonda, Legend's, Judice Inn, Prejean's, Alesi Pizza House and more. "It's where we came for dates and dances," Smith said. They estimate about a quarter of their graduating class of 372 still live in the area. About 20 to 40 get together one Saturday every other month in Lafayette.
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And when they do get time to play together, they talk over each other, laugh and reminisce about high school - winning state in football, getting a meal for 15 cents at Burger Chef, and Hoppers shutting down because of mono. "I'll never forget that taffy pull at your house," DeClouet said with a laugh. Or going to Evangeline Maid Bread "after a night out" and eating hot bread right off the line, Kay Montgomery Albrecht added with a wry smile. Bradford appreciates being back at all the old places. "It’s stirring all the old memories," she said with wet eyes. There are 120 members in the group.
An Unbreakable Bond: Support, Care, and Acceptance
They still look out for each other, too, especially those still living in and around Acadiana. When DeClouet recently went on a blind date, Smith called her at 7 the next morning to check on her. "It shows how we take care of each other," DeGravelles said, looking around at a table of friends. "No matter what happened, I could go to any one of you. We don't agree politically - religiously either. But it just never mattered." "We can pick up and call one another and pick right up where we left off like no time has passed," DeClouet said.
After graduation, "everybody got spread out," either going to college, being drafted or choosing the military, said Erick Swan. Now an electrical engineer in Lafayette, Swan is tasked with keeping track of class members' current addresses. He has a binder full of lists and compiled photos.
Read also: Lafayette College: An In-Depth Look
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