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Contributed Photo
North Bend High School is getting ready to print its latest alumni directory. |
Looking for past friends
By Sara Davenport, News Assistant
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 11:56 AM PDT
The task at hand for North Bend High School alumni George Gebhardt and Dana Sweatt may seem simple, but it has proven to be monumental. The partners diligently compile past graduate information to be included in the North Bend High School Alumni Directory. Or, more specifically, they chase after information on alumni who they refer to as ones who “fell through the cracks.”
Both are volunteers.
Gebhardt, 93, and Sweatt, 61, collect class reunion lists and keep records of changes. Every five years, Gebhardt estimates that more than 1,500 of those alumni will change their address, get married or pass away. If and when these things occur, Gebhardt and Sweatt want to know about it.
 George Gebhardt
“I just get wrapped up in it. This is far more than just a phone book,” said Gebhardt, who is a member of the Class of 1933.
They enlist the help of the staff of the school for the job. The high school contracts with Harris Publication Company out of New York to oversee production of book, which catalogs names, addresses, business and family information. The book comes out once every five years.
Despite their efforts, which also include adding five new graduating classes, about 15 percent of alumni are missing. Harris Publication Company sets up teams in San Antonio and Austin, Texas, to make phone calls and send out mailers to locate lost alumni. Gebhardt and Sweatt’s goal is to reduce the number of alumni who are left out of the directory.
 Dana Sweatt
“Our emphasis is not to sell but have an accurate publication,” Sweatt relayed.
The pair met as neighbors, not at school. (Sweatt graduated in 1965.) They share a common bond through a passion for keeping tabs on graduates, and for helping create the directory.
“The main reason why I started doing this is because no one else would do it. It was a sad situation,” Gebhardt recalled. “I like to do it for the interest of North Bend High School.”
Gebhardt began to take action for the directory in 1993, and he is now on his fourth addition. Before Sweatt became involved, Gebhardt flew solo on the project.
“George has really done a monumental task,” Sweatt said.
Sweatt’s journey, that eventually evolved into helping Gebhardt with the directory, began with North Bend High School’s yearbooks.
“My goal was to collect yearbooks to supplement the Coos Historical Society,” he said.
Sweatt divulged that he now has more than 300 yearbooks at his home. He became involved with Gebhardt’s project and together they’ve formed a dedicated search team.
“Most of doing this (directory) is to find the people. I like to find them,” he said. |
