The 6th Annual Ranken Car Show & Alumni Reunion was held on Sunday, April 19th, as planned. While it rained all day, it didn't drown anyone's enthusiasm for classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, good BBQ, and getting together with old friends.
The alumni lunch and Automotive division reunion was attended by 55 graduates from all departments spanning 70 years of Ranken education. The competition for the greatest number of alumni from one program in attendance was won by the Automotive Collision Repair (ACR) department again this year, barely beating out Automotive Maintenance (AMT) by two. As reigning champs, Larry Schmidt, ACR '82 alumnus and faculty member, received the trophy with current ACR student A.J. Bridges. The trophy will be on display in the ACR department for another year. Jim Kyle, AMT '41 and retired Automotive Maintenance faculty, attended along with Bill Wagner CRP '37 and retired Carpentry faculty. Classmates enjoyed the food, looking at graduation class pictures, and keeping dry under the tent.
Of the Automotive Division information collected, Ron Ray ('73 AMT) drove 325 miles to attend the event from Chicago, IL; Jacob Colter ('58 AMT) has been married the longest logging in 53 years; Randy Prewitt ('96 AMT) has a Bachelors De gree and is a teacher; Dean Alinder ('62 AMT) held the highest position title as owner of his own auto shop, and Jim Kyle was the oldest in attendance at 87 years of age.
