By Becky Maxedon

The Lake Havasu High School Class of 1976 got together over the weekend to reconnect and remember good times.

They also offered some advice for students who will be graduating from high school this year.

Brandt Bruner, class of 1976, said, “Good clean living like we did.” Bruner’s statement was followed by some laughter.

“Enjoy your life and don’t get caught drag racing on Airport Road – I never got caught,” classmate Sean Turner said.

Dennis Steele said, “The piece of advice I could give is if you can find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life and have fun at the same time.”

Janet Wagner said, “My advice would be to marry a classmate ‘cause then you’re always the same age and you can go to the reunions together. 

“Put your phone down and enjoy Lake Havasu even though you think it’s boring. Fifty years ago, we had a lot of fun here and we enjoyed ourselves,” she said.

Wagner added, “Don’t get caught leaving for lunch because the principal will be hiding in the bushes when you get back. Tell your parents the truth. You can’t get away with anything. They have trackers on you. You have a phone. We could get away with everything. Just be smart and be safe.”

The LHHS Class of 1976 and their loved ones pose for a photo at Kokomo during their 50th Reunion Sunday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Monica Barbary Woodard said, “When I lived in Lake Havasu, I used to sing under the bridge with my guitar. I played concerts with Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. I sang at the Nautical. I sang at the Havasu Hotel. 

“It was such a great time to be a teenager in the ‘70s – hardly any restrictions. Nothing was caught on camera and the level of freedom was huge.”

She continues, “We didn’t have a lot of cars. We walked. Everyone met at the beach. And so all your friends were always there.”

Woodard’s advice to 2026 graduates was, “Join the living. Put your phones down. Be authentic To thine own self be true. Look up. There are magical things all around you. Don’t think that the media source is the true story. Create your own stories. Love hard. Find your tribe. Love them hard.”

Classmate Lucia “Pudge” Raddis said, “The best thing I can say to you is don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Reunion organizer Toni Trembley Ade was pleased with the event.

The LHHS Class of 1976 pose for a photo Sunday afternoon. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

On Sunday, she said, “This is our third day. We started Friday night gathering together.”

Ade said for this 50th reunion, instead of just having a girls-only event  they changed it up. “We’ve done the girls together before. But I did the guys alone this time. The guys went someplace for two hours and the girls went to another place for two hours and then we got together afterwards. It was really fun. A lot of bonding going on. 

“Last night was our big event and we always have it at the London Bridge Resort. I’m getting ready to retire so they really did us up right,” she said.

Sunday was a “kickback” day where people were saying goodbye to their friends and getting ready to return home.

 “We had a really great class. For example, there was a guy here from Victorville, Calif., his name was Steve. He drove all the way here for Friday night and then drove all the way home for his wife’s memorial and then drove all the way back to be here with us today. 

That is true love. That’s how we feel about each other. We’re a fabulous class,” she said.