School Board Members [went to a 7 member board in this decade]
- Marian Burchfield
- George Christie
- Charles Clark
- Bernie Ellis
- Art Funk
- Mrs. Albert Kahn
- Mariam Hassen
- Bryon Harker
- Robert Koenigshof
- Kenneth Phiscator
- Richard Post
- Gordon Schneider
- Robert Soucek
- William Stayer
- Frederick Stout
- Harold Thomas
- Russell Vastine
- Chester Wessendorf
Superintendents
- Mr. Pierre Bailey served as superintendent from 1954-1968 at times with assistant superintendents at various times [Mr. Richard Doughtery or Mr. William Fairman]
- Mr. Richard Doughtery 1968-1977 with assistant Mr. Norm Kreager. Mr. Doughtery served Buchanan Community Schools as teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.
Principal
- Mr. Richard Doughtery served as BHS principal from 1954 until 1961.
- Mr. Donald Trull became the principal in 1961 and continued until 1971 with assistant Mr. Ellis May in 1965, our first assistant principal
Staff
- In addition to principal, teachers, secretaries, and custodians BHS had a full time nurse with an office on the first floor.
- Buchanan High school had 43 faculty members of which were 21 men plus school nurse and librarian in 1967-8.
- By 1968-69 the school increased its staff to 42 teachers plus another 10 who taught Junior High in same building [6 English, 4 math, 5 Science, 5 social studies, 3 business, 1 home ec., 2 art, 3 foreign language, 2 music, 2 P.E., 1 auto shop, 2 industrial arts, 2 trade school, 1 transitional, 3 counselors plus school nurse and doctor who taught health—26 men.
- During the 1960s Buchanan had a librarian
Students Graduating—Baby Boom Era 1963-1982
- 1960—115
- 1961—114
- 1962—116
- 1963—106
- 1964—123
- 1965—126
- 1966—139
- 1967—155
- 1968—123
- 1969—164—largest class ever
- The 1968-69 school year began by educating 170 Seniors, 165 Juniors, 167 Sophomores, 169 Freshman [671 in high school alone] plus 7th and 8th grade were in the building, which likely involved educating close to 1000 students each day. This likely was the most crowded the building ever became since graduating classes began to slowly decline.
Timeline
- 1962-63–Science Wing/Band addition completed with estimated cost $390,000; repairs to Moccasin and BHS added another $60,000 to total cost.
- 1956-1962—High School alumni Fran Raven Avers [‘62] noted that the lunchroom “had tables that could be pulled out of the wall for students to eat…lunches brought from home in paper lunch sacks. You could have a drink of water from the fountain in the hallway. {lunch] usually was a sandwich…and maybe an apple …retrieved from the locker. A noisy lunchroom [ended with] a quiet time in the Study Hall or a walk ‘downtown’ [which] filled in the moments before beginning afternoon classes.” Students had an hour break set aside for lunch. This open lunch concept likely ended in the 1980s.
- In the fall of 1962 the first mention of foreign exchange students from Germany, Uruguay, and Mexico was made. Later in the 1960s Buchanan welcomed students from Sweden, West Berlin, Finland, Sweden, Holland
- In the fall of 1962, Buchanan became involved in a program for jobless adults in the area. “The first Berrien county training program aimed at helping long-term, hard core unemployed under the federal Manpower Development and Training Act, got underway. …Training in up-to-date shope techniques started in Buchanan high school’s machine shop under the instructor William Runkewich for 22 students…from…Berrien County. Trainees…will meet 30 hours each week for 30 weeks to learn operation of basic machines…” [The News Palladium, Oct. 30, 1962, p. 13] This program ran from 4:30 until 10:30, which made for a long day for Mr. Runkewich.
- In 1963 the school had a fund equity of $104,555
- By 1965, Buchanan High School had a Law class in addition to a health class taught by local doctor Dr. Vastine
- BHS sent exchange students abroad for the first time in 1963 to Mexico and Germany with others going to Holland, Sweden
- 1964-65—Auto Mechanics became a part of BHS curriculum for the first time. The BHS Auto Trade School was known as one of the best equipped in Michigan.
- By 1965 adult education existed at BHS with a part time director. This program continued until 1996. During those 31 years, hundreds of students returned to a non-traditional program to graduate with a BHS diploma.
- 1967 –Ottawa Elementary dedicated thus the 1922 building became a dedicated 7-12 building.
- In 1967-8, BHS had three secretaries for the Superintendent, one each for the Assistant Superintendent, Principal and Assistant Principal. BHS also had four counselors and special education teachers, eight English teachers, three foreign language teachers [French, Latin, Spanish], five teachers of social studies, the science department had four teachers, math had six teachers, three for business, two for home economics, four in industrial arts, two P.E., three in music plus health taught by Dr. Vastine, and art.—42 teachers for grades 7-12. Of course, that year there were over 150 seniors.
- 1968—Ceiling in the auditorium collapsed over the weekend. It “had been living on borrowed time.” This auditorium was part of the original school built in 1922. Consultant hired to study needs in all buildings to determine needs and problems.
- In the fall of 1969, full time Community School Director position was added with William Tyus overseeing adult education and community recreation.
- In 1962, the first exchange students became a part of THE PINES memories. Over the decades, foreign exchange students arrived from many nations to enrich student lives—Germany, Uruguay, and Mexico. Later we were educated by students from Czechoslovakia, Sweden, West Berlin, Finland, Brazil, Holland, Mexico, Japan, Turkey, China, France, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Greenland, Brazil, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Korea, and beyond. Exchange students enriched BHS over many years. With the Covid pandemic exchange programs were put on hold. Students and staff alike would likely welcome exchange programs to continue in the future.
Student Activities
- “B” Club
- Band with over eighty members in the Varsity Band and a Junior Band [grades 7-9] about 50; the band received straight ones in 1966-7 ratings
- BUCKHORN was published weekly with over 50 students participating in 1960-1. The Buckhorn—2nd place in state in 1962-3 with 28 students but increased to almost 50: in 1967-8 the publication was presented a No. 1 ranking by Columbia University
- Camera Club
- Chorus
- Christmas Formal Dance sponsored by Student Council
- Debate
- Dramatics Club
- Drivers Education classes were offered free of charge to all students with 36 hours of classroom instruction and six hours on the road. There were three teachers.
- Electronics Club which set up 120 ft. tower and antenna next to gym for radio with a dozen members
- In 1962, the first exchange students became a part of THE PINES memories. Over the years, foreign exchange students arrived from many nations to enrich student lives—Germany, Uruguay, and Mexico. Later we were educated by students from Czechoslovakia, Sweden, West Berlin, Finland, Brazil, Holland, Mexico, Japan, Turkey, China, France, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Greenland, Brazil, Australia, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Korea, and beyond. Exchange students enriched BHS over many years.
- Football season had homecoming with parade, homecoming dance, bonfire, and snake dance
- French Club and the 3rd and 4th year students acquired pen pals by 1966; in 1967 the organization had a goal to visit Canada.
- Future Farmers of America with more than a dozen members some who went to MSU to conventions
- Future Homemakers Association with more than a dozen members; in 1967-8 they raised funds for an orphan girl in Vietnam
- Future Nurses Club later called the Paramedics Club with up to two dozen members who served as Candy Stripers at the Buchanan Community Hospital
- Future Teachers Association with about two dozen members and they visited museums, libraries, colleges and sold hotdogs. In 1967-8 they assisted the teaching staff by replacing some of the elementary teachers for one day a month so those teachers could attend curriculum council meetings.
- Girls’ Athletic Association usually with more than 50 members manned the concession stand during football and basketball. They planned activities for GAA members.
- Glee Club with more than forty members that performed in the Fine Arts Festival
- Homecoming with court [some with fur coats], bonfire, snake dance, floats, and formal dance.
- Junior Play
- Latin Club gone by 1970
- Library Club which hosted an annual Roman Banquet
- National Honor Society began at BHS
- Orchestra with about forty members which meet during lunch to prepare for events
- Pep Club with over seventy members
- Prom
- Senior Play
- Shindig in late 60s with musical groups
- Spanish Club started in 1969-70 with plans to visit Mexico
- Student Council with 25+ members
- The Pines with editors, an editorial staff and business staff with over two dozen staffers
- Trade School which was part of the curriculum—safety, operating machines, repairing machines, use of math, blueprint reading, machine shop theory and practice
- Tumbling Club
- Twirlers, who won 1st place in NBTA contest in 1961-2
- Ushers Club with several dozen members
- Velmarian Literary Society—gone by 1970
- Athletics
- Cheerleading with girls and boys
- Cross Country [boys] started in 1966-7
- Baseball
- Basketball [3]—Conference Champs 1966, perfect season in 1968
- Football [3]—Undefeated and Rated #1 Class B in Michigan in fall of 1965 with 25 consecutive wins going on in 1966 for a record of 32-1
- Golf
- Tennis
- Track—Conference Champions in 1964
- Wrestling—finished 3rd in state meet in 1965-66 with Mack Baker having perfect season
