Contributed FLOAT PRESENCE — Jefferson Union High School Class of 1976 Homecoming court members, from left, Nita (Mellendorf) Thielke, Joni (Hilderbrand) Colantoni and Lisa (Siragusano) Greathouse, queen, rode in Richmond's Memorial Day parade May 25 as the class prepares for its 50-year reunion on Aug. 8. Extreme weather conditions at the 1975 Homecoming game prevented the court from having traditional halftime ceremony festivities, so reunion committee member Jim Ramsey suggested the class have a float in the parade.

RICHMOND — As plans progress for the Jefferson Union High School Class of 1976 to hold its 50-year reunion on Aug. 8, committee members have enjoyed reminiscing about days of old at what has since become Edison High School.

How heavy rain robbed the homecoming queen court members of what would have been their ride around the field in convertibles during halftime ceremonies was one such topic that generated laughter and memories of a very soggy situation.

But it also fostered an idea.

Committee member Jim Ramsey proposed that the homecoming court girls get their belated 15 minutes of fame, even if it was five decades late in the making. Why not have a special float in Richmond’s annual Memorial Day Parade that the court members could ride, Ramsey offered.

The suggestion was embraced by Ramsey and committee member Clint Sanders, both of whom were football players with their own memories of that wet Homecoming game played against Warwood on Oct. 17, 1975. The Yellow Jackets went on to win 8-0, thanks to a touchdown by Bill Jones and a 2-point conversion by Sanders.

Flattered by the float proposal were committee members Debi (Truax) Costa, class president, and Joni (Hilderbrand) Colantoni, both homecoming court members.

By the time Richmond’s well-attended parade unfolded on May 25, Sanders and Ramsey had arranged for a float with decorations along with pre-publicity about it.

Sanders and his wife, Barb, had a banner made for the float that read “JUHS Class of 1976 Homecoming Court — Joni, Susie, Nita, Debi, Lisa.”

They also used the homecoming game football program to have advertisements enlarged and used as decorations, many of which were testimony to days gone by. They included Crissinger’s Sohio Service; Red and Jo’s Friendly Tavern; Lake Lodge; Jack “Jumbo” Barker and family, Salem Township trustee; Miller’s Hardware; Town Restaurant; Phil Koontz Dairy Bar; Richmond Farm-Feed; and Modern Woodmen Insurance, Ralph Hilt Insurance Agency.

“The float was fun,” Sanders said afterward. “It was Jim’s idea — a good one. Putting the float together at the old elementary school was fun and easy with all the good help,” Sanders added, referring to the former Richmond Elementary School where the parade lineup occurs.

On hand to help along with Ramsey and Sanders and his wife, Barb, were committee member Donna (Palmer) DiAngelo, who road on the float with Homecoming queen court members Joni (Hilderbrand) Colantoni, Nita (Mellendorf) Thielke and Lisa (Siragusano) Greathouse, who was crowned Homecoming queen. They wore patriotic colors of red, white and blue, in part because of the holiday but also because they were the bicentennial class colors.

That year, Susie Corso also was a member of the Homecoming court along with junior attendant Tina Maragos.

In an interview with WTRF-TV in the days before the parade, the classmates reminisced about how the field turned into muck after the heavy rains, preventing the queen contestants from their time of recognition that traditionally would have included convertible rides around the field in their formal gown attire.

Instead, they sat in the bleachers, protected by rain gear.

“Our band director gave us raincoats that belonged to the marching band,” explained queen contestant Debi (Truax) Costa in the interview conducted by Brendan McNamara. “I was a majorette and these two were cheerleaders,” she said, referring to Joni (Hilderband) Colantoni and Lisa (Siragusano) Greathouse. “And we couldn’t cheer, the band couldn’t go on (the field), nothing. So, we just sat in the stands with the raincoats on and watched the game.”

It had rained so much that no one was allowed on the field, Colantoni said during the interview. “Even the rest of the cheerleaders who weren’t on court, no one was allowed on the field because it came to your knees. That’s how much it had rained. And the football players were only allowed out once the game started,” Colantoni explained.

Although the coaches had wanted to cancel the game, it happened just the same since the opposing team already was on its way to Richmond.

The former Lisa Siragusano, who was crowned homecoming queen, reflected on the occasion. “They called the court out while we sat in the stands and most of the people had already gone, but the students stayed. That section was filled, and they called all of our names out, and as we sat there in the pouring rain, it was just a little different,” Siragusano said.

“It’s just one of those things that you feel good about. You’re helping them. We’re all classmates,” Ramsey told WTRF-TV. “Clint and I have been best friends in 4-H. We farm together on both our fathers’ farms, so it’s just a humbling thing that we’re able to do this, and we’re just glad they’re going to get their due.”

The Class of 1976’s 50-year celebration is Aug. 8 at Undo’s in Weirton from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature a buffet-style dinner, cash bar, class photo at 5:30 p.m., and a variety of photo displays. The cost is $55 per person.

Although the reservation deadline was June 15, RSVPs continue to be accepted. Checks can be made payable to Brenda (Powley)) Holmes and mailed to her at 15534 state Route 152, Toronto OH 43964 or payment can be sent through Venmo to @Brenda-Holmes-83.

The final planning meeting before the reunion will be held July 10 at 1 p.m., at the Richmond Coffeeshop, located at 110 W. Main St., Richmond.