The Pocatello, Idaho class of 1964 is a class that was split when the "new" Highland High School was completed and opened in 1963. The students attended Pocatello High School during their sophomore and junior years. When Highland opened, those students living within the boundary of HHS transferred to the new school for their senior year. Today, alums from both schools still celebrate combined reunions.
Poky High 50-plus alumni reunion set September 14, 2024; register online or by mail
2024 Reunion is on-line
Good News! It’s time to start thinking about the 2024 50+ combined reunion, to be held at the Red Lion in Pocatello in Saturday, September 14th. All the information is available on our website www.pokyhigh50.com
Pocatello High School PHS 50+, Pocatello, ID
This is the official web site for the Pocatello High School PHS 50+
www.pokyhigh50.com
You can register on-line and either pay by credit or debit card or mail in your check if you prefer. Please register as soon as you can. It really helps our volunteer committee with planning. We hope to see you in September!
For assistance with website, contact: [email protected]
Please help us locate lost mates. If you see an address that is wrong, know where someone is, or know that they are not with us anymore, please e-mail Pete Black at: [email protected]
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List of Hotels in the area: Red Lion 208-233-2200/ LaQuinta 208-234-7500/ CottonTree 208-237-7650/
Super 8 208-234-8888/ Hampton Inn 208-233-8200/ Townplace Suites 208-478-7000/ Comfort Inn 208-237-8155/
Travel Lodge 208-237-0020/ Holiday Inn Express 208-478-9800/ Fairfield Inn & Suites 208-233-9200
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List of Hotels in the area: Red Lion 208-233-2200/ LaQuinta 208-234-7500/ CottonTree 208-237-7650/
Super 8 208-234-8888/ Hampton Inn 208-233-8200/ Townplace Suites 208-478-7000/ Comfort Inn 208-237-8155/
Travel Lodge 208-237-0020/ Holiday Inn Express 208-478-9800/ Fairfield Inn & Suites 208-233-9200
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As you know, there has been some concern and plenty of controversy over using the Indians as a mascot for Pocatello High School. The Native Americans at Fort Hall and other tribes who support their views, have finally asked that the Indian mascot be retired. While they recognize that most of the students have been loyal and respectful of the Indian motifs, other students at other schools have been less than thoughtful and have "chopped," "scalped," and displayed a variety of gestures that demean and offend Native Americans. Several Native students attend Poky and when they face these taunts and chants at other schools, they have a personal reaction as well as the general sports jeering that happens in athletic contests. So, after some study and short list of preferred mascots, a bison was selected as the new mascot. Those in favor suggested that the bison still represents tribal values, the strength and endurance of such a marvelous animal, and is still sacred to many of the tribes in the Intermountain West. The name that was chosen was "Thunder" and several local artists and interested parties drew images to represent Thunder, the Bison, and all associated with the new mascot. Those of us who attend Poky from all the years will always be "Indians" but this new generation of students understand the need for change and have adopted the new "Poky Nation" as their new mascot and home.
Dear '64 Classmates~
To the many of you who sent donations to the Vicki Jo Quinn memorial we (the informal committee) wish to thank you again. As I mentioned before, I was both surprised and pleased with the outpouring of support for this project. It is now paid for and underway. Renee Babcock said it could be ready as early as the end of September, first week of October and installed at the grave-site.
To refresh your memories, the original idea was a 16X10 flat grey stone ($400) to replace the deteriorated wooden cross and original metal funeral home plaque. I emailed those of you for whom I have addresses and the donations came while I was vacationing in Alaska. We received so much love in those donations that we were able to get a 24X18 upright stone in rose pink with engraving on each side. I have enclosed the rendering from Walker Monuments. Renee Babcock worked with Walker Monuments and they helped as well. Walker Monuments provided the colored stone instead of grey, extra engravings, and the rose on the front will be colored a soft red with green leaves. Renee also found artwork that resembles the original wooden cross marker. The metal funeral plaque will be mounted in the concrete base to maintain that portion of the original grave marker.
I have been in constant contact with the family in Lewiston and they have been most appreciative and kind in their responses. Vicki Jo’s oldest sister lives there and I have worked mostly with her son and daughter-in-law. Mrs. Larsen (the sister) is 81 and has suffered a stroke. I have learned that two other siblings of Vicki Jo’s have passed as well. There are two sisters still alive and they have been kept informed via the Lewiston family. Interestingly enough, one of our classmate’s brother is married to one of the other sisters. It is a small world indeed.
With sincere appreciation,
Pete Black,
Robert Myers,
Tony Rojas,
Renee Babcock,
Barbie (Rojas) Sievers,
and others who helped with this project.
Below is the Idaho State Journal article about our efforts...
Former Pocatello High School students buy classmate new headstone 56 years after her murder
By Madeleine Coles // Nov 22, 2018
In 1962, the city of Pocatello was shocked by the murder of 16-year-old Vicki Jo Quinn. Quinn, a student at Pocatello High School, was buried in the Mountain View Cemetery and her grave was marked with a homemade wooden cross and a small metal plaque bearing only her name, the year of her birth and the year of her death.
Fifty-six years later, Bob Myers, who also attended Pocatello High School and knew Quinn, though he was not her age, was speaking with another classmate who decorated graves, including Quinn’s. Myers visited the grave and said he was saddened to see trees growing out of it and the cross slowly crumbling from time.
“It had been 50 some years, and this wooden cross was deteriorating and falling apart,” he said. “And I thought she deserved better than that.”
Myers said he has breakfast every week with his friend, Pete Black, who was in Quinn’s class at Pocatello High School. He told Black about his idea to purchase a new gravestone, and Black reached out to other members of his class to gather donations.
Originally, Myers said he and Black planned on a small, flat gray headstone, but the response from their classmates and the community was overwhelming.
“I could not believe the notes we got,” Black said. “All kinds of things and memories came flooding back. The whole thing was really quite touching.”
Black tracked down one of Quinn’s three surviving sisters to consult her.
“They were just absolutely thrilled that somebody cared, and they gave us permission to do so,” Black said.
Quinn’s younger sister, Ame Cochnauer, who was just 8 at the time of Quinn’s death, said she heard through other family members about Myers and Black’s efforts and was left speechless.
“I immediately teared up,” Cochnauer said. “I was just so taken aback to think that people still remembered and cared. I was at a loss for words, honestly.”
Cochnauer said she wished her parents could have seen Quinn’s new headstone, but they both passed away many years ago.
With the generous donations from community members and classmates, Myers said they were able to afford a large, pink headstone with a rendering of the original cross engraved on it, as well as the names of Quinn’s parents and siblings engraved on the back. The original plaque was also mounted at the concrete base of the new headstone.
Black said he stayed in touch with Quinn’s family throughout the process of designing the headstone.
“They were more than grateful that we were doing this to honor our little classmate who never had a chance,” he said. “And I think it’s really neat that she at least has a memorial now that’s out there for her.”
There was even some money left over after purchasing the headstone, which Myers said was deposited into an endowment account in Quinn’s name at the Pocatello High School Foundation, which will be used to fund projects for the school.
“What started out as a small conversation really blossomed,” Myers said.
Though Cochnauer was very young at the time of her sister’s death, she said this has made her realize what a large influence it had on the community.
“Sadly, nowadays, it is too commonplace,” she said. “But back then, it wasn’t. The entire community was pretty shocked. This tells me, though, that she had a tremendous impact on a lot more than just my family.”
To the many of you who sent donations to the Vicki Jo Quinn memorial we (the informal committee) wish to thank you again. As I mentioned before, I was both surprised and pleased with the outpouring of support for this project. It is now paid for and underway. Renee Babcock said it could be ready as early as the end of September, first week of October and installed at the grave-site.
To refresh your memories, the original idea was a 16X10 flat grey stone ($400) to replace the deteriorated wooden cross and original metal funeral home plaque. I emailed those of you for whom I have addresses and the donations came while I was vacationing in Alaska. We received so much love in those donations that we were able to get a 24X18 upright stone in rose pink with engraving on each side. I have enclosed the rendering from Walker Monuments. Renee Babcock worked with Walker Monuments and they helped as well. Walker Monuments provided the colored stone instead of grey, extra engravings, and the rose on the front will be colored a soft red with green leaves. Renee also found artwork that resembles the original wooden cross marker. The metal funeral plaque will be mounted in the concrete base to maintain that portion of the original grave marker.
I have been in constant contact with the family in Lewiston and they have been most appreciative and kind in their responses. Vicki Jo’s oldest sister lives there and I have worked mostly with her son and daughter-in-law. Mrs. Larsen (the sister) is 81 and has suffered a stroke. I have learned that two other siblings of Vicki Jo’s have passed as well. There are two sisters still alive and they have been kept informed via the Lewiston family. Interestingly enough, one of our classmate’s brother is married to one of the other sisters. It is a small world indeed.
With sincere appreciation,
Pete Black,
Robert Myers,
Tony Rojas,
Renee Babcock,
Barbie (Rojas) Sievers,
and others who helped with this project.
Below is the Idaho State Journal article about our efforts...
Former Pocatello High School students buy classmate new headstone 56 years after her murder
By Madeleine Coles // Nov 22, 2018
In 1962, the city of Pocatello was shocked by the murder of 16-year-old Vicki Jo Quinn. Quinn, a student at Pocatello High School, was buried in the Mountain View Cemetery and her grave was marked with a homemade wooden cross and a small metal plaque bearing only her name, the year of her birth and the year of her death.
Fifty-six years later, Bob Myers, who also attended Pocatello High School and knew Quinn, though he was not her age, was speaking with another classmate who decorated graves, including Quinn’s. Myers visited the grave and said he was saddened to see trees growing out of it and the cross slowly crumbling from time.
“It had been 50 some years, and this wooden cross was deteriorating and falling apart,” he said. “And I thought she deserved better than that.”
Myers said he has breakfast every week with his friend, Pete Black, who was in Quinn’s class at Pocatello High School. He told Black about his idea to purchase a new gravestone, and Black reached out to other members of his class to gather donations.
Originally, Myers said he and Black planned on a small, flat gray headstone, but the response from their classmates and the community was overwhelming.
“I could not believe the notes we got,” Black said. “All kinds of things and memories came flooding back. The whole thing was really quite touching.”
Black tracked down one of Quinn’s three surviving sisters to consult her.
“They were just absolutely thrilled that somebody cared, and they gave us permission to do so,” Black said.
Quinn’s younger sister, Ame Cochnauer, who was just 8 at the time of Quinn’s death, said she heard through other family members about Myers and Black’s efforts and was left speechless.
“I immediately teared up,” Cochnauer said. “I was just so taken aback to think that people still remembered and cared. I was at a loss for words, honestly.”
Cochnauer said she wished her parents could have seen Quinn’s new headstone, but they both passed away many years ago.
With the generous donations from community members and classmates, Myers said they were able to afford a large, pink headstone with a rendering of the original cross engraved on it, as well as the names of Quinn’s parents and siblings engraved on the back. The original plaque was also mounted at the concrete base of the new headstone.
Black said he stayed in touch with Quinn’s family throughout the process of designing the headstone.
“They were more than grateful that we were doing this to honor our little classmate who never had a chance,” he said. “And I think it’s really neat that she at least has a memorial now that’s out there for her.”
There was even some money left over after purchasing the headstone, which Myers said was deposited into an endowment account in Quinn’s name at the Pocatello High School Foundation, which will be used to fund projects for the school.
“What started out as a small conversation really blossomed,” Myers said.
Though Cochnauer was very young at the time of her sister’s death, she said this has made her realize what a large influence it had on the community.
“Sadly, nowadays, it is too commonplace,” she said. “But back then, it wasn’t. The entire community was pretty shocked. This tells me, though, that she had a tremendous impact on a lot more than just my family.”
The celebration of our classmates turning 70 throughout the year was a tremendous hit. We had friends from Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and of course, several from Utah and Idaho. It was so much fun that several classmates said that we need to have another gathering like this. The Juniper Hills Country Club staff was awesome and the food was great! Thanks to everyone who made the journey to attend and thanks to all those who helped put it together. Let's do it again sometime!
BREAKING NEWS: RIOTING AND LOOTING SPREADS TO RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
The rioting in major cities across the U.S. has spread to Sun City, a retirement community in Maricopa Co, AZ. Looters from Sun City have broken into the CVS store, just outside of Sun City, that sell items like laxatives, vitamins, adult diapers, hearing aids, reading glasses, energy drinks and surgical stockings.
The thugs were easily caught and arrested since they were using their walkers and golf carts to flee.
The protests have been limited to the evening hours because most of the lawbreakers either had doctor’s appointments during the day or rioting would have interfered with their naps.
The marches didn’t last that long because many of the demonstrators had to get home to pee. In many cases, the demonstrators simply forgot why they were even there.
Officials considered a curfew starting at 9 p.m. but since that’s the time when most of the residents go to bed anyway, it was decided that it wasn’t needed.
Community leaders concluded that part of the problem was that residents were restless because they had too much time on their hands since the recreation centers, pools, theaters, boutique stores and especially the bars were closed due to the coronavirus.
Community officials wanted to form a committee to look further into the problem, but the next day no one could remember why they needed a committee.
The rioting in major cities across the U.S. has spread to Sun City, a retirement community in Maricopa Co, AZ. Looters from Sun City have broken into the CVS store, just outside of Sun City, that sell items like laxatives, vitamins, adult diapers, hearing aids, reading glasses, energy drinks and surgical stockings.
The thugs were easily caught and arrested since they were using their walkers and golf carts to flee.
The protests have been limited to the evening hours because most of the lawbreakers either had doctor’s appointments during the day or rioting would have interfered with their naps.
The marches didn’t last that long because many of the demonstrators had to get home to pee. In many cases, the demonstrators simply forgot why they were even there.
Officials considered a curfew starting at 9 p.m. but since that’s the time when most of the residents go to bed anyway, it was decided that it wasn’t needed.
Community leaders concluded that part of the problem was that residents were restless because they had too much time on their hands since the recreation centers, pools, theaters, boutique stores and especially the bars were closed due to the coronavirus.
Community officials wanted to form a committee to look further into the problem, but the next day no one could remember why they needed a committee.