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Twenty-five members of the Central High School class of 1954 met for their 70th reuion at the Pickwick on August 14. Photos by Jim Lundstrom

The No. 1 song of 1954 was “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes. I Love Lucy was the top TV show in the nation. From Here to Eternity crushed all competition at the Academy Awards, with 13 nominations and 8 awards. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president and the ill-fated Richard Nixon was vice president. Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin was just beginning his hearings in search of communists in the government in 1954.

And Duluth Central High School graduated a hardy class of students that has sadly diminshed through the years, but the Trojan spirit carries on through annual reunions. Twenty-five class members were confirmed for the 70th luncheon reunion at the Pickwick on Aug. 14. 

“Yeah, 70. Can you believe it? We can’t believe it,” said Marv Lund, who serves as the master of ceremonies at the class reunions.

“After graduation we had one every five years and about 10 years ago we decided to do it every year. I’ve been to them all but one, when my wife had surgery,” Lund said.

Mention of the impressive turn out of 25 people who are celebrating their 88th year on the planet causes Lund to proclaim, “We’re 1 percenters.”

He explains that he read somewhere recently that 99 percent of the people born between 1930 and 1946 are now dead.

“So, if you’re alive, you’re a 1 percenter,” he said.

Seeing so many 1 percenters looking in pretty good shape for the reunion makes on wonder aloud if Duluthians are just a hardier bunch, maybe?

“I agree,” Lund said. “So, most everybody here turns 88 this year. It’s nice to get together. It’s amazing how people change over the years. You get more mellow. Maybe the ego is diminished a little bit.”

The official head count for the Central class of 1954 was 295, but Lund said when he looked at the list, he noticed some friends of his were not on the list. His research indicated the year began with 317 seniors, but only 295 graduated.

“I always thought it was just a handful, but a lot more of our classmates didn’t graduate,” he said.