The school building in Roanoke is marking 100 years and the Roanoke High School Alumni Association is throwing a party.

Members will celebrate the centennial milestone while reflecting on the past during a gathering 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 at the school which is now Welsh/Roanoke Junior High School, 8150 U.S. 90 in Roanoke.

Roanoke High School, which was built in 1923, served as a grade 1-12 school for 50 years until it closed in May 1966 and students were bussed to the Welsh schools. It was reopened in 1967 as the Welsh-Roanoke Junior High School (WAR), accommodating grades 7-8.

“We have had reunions in the past and our last one was 2011-2012, but we’ve always had it at different places,” Glenn Miller, a 1965 graduate of Roanoke High School. “We are really looking forward to having it at the school this year because it is the centennial of the school building.”

The reunion is also expected to be the last reunion of Roanoke High School alumni as the group is dwindling, Miller said. Edward Carter, who is believed to be the school’s oldest graduate, died in December at the age of 101.

Seventy-five to 100 alumni, former faculty and spouses  are expected to attend, he said.

All former students and faculty are invited to bring their memories and mementos to share.

WAR Assistant Principal Chris Humble has created a special video presentation to be shown during the event. The video will feature photographs of the building, students and faculty throughout the years.

“I think it will be fun to see one another and I am excited and anticipating seeing the video of the different attendees of the school and to see the old building,” Miller said. “It is going to be a wonderful trip down memory lane for everyone.”

Old school jackets, yearbooks, trophies and other memorabilia will also be on display.

During the gathering, the group will honor special guests including past and present members of the Jeff Davis Parish School Board.

In honor of the centennial, the alumni group is seeking donations for a scholarship to be awarded later this year. Donations will be accepted during the reunion.

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More information is available at Roanoke High School Reunion on Facebook or by calling Glenn Miller at 337-753-2640 or 337-368-3249 or Margie and Jimmy Benoit at 337-485-1394 or email Chris Stanley at paramediccsstanley@gmail.com