Delaware Hayes High School Principal Richard Stranges gave a special tour of the school on Thursday to a group of students from the class of 1968 who are preparing for their 50th class reunion in August.
Stranges led a small group from the class on a tour through the new areas of the high school and through some of the old areas that have been renovated.
Patricia Stout said the class is preparing three days of reunion events: a party at Brookshire on the evening of Aug. 23; a tour of Hayes High School at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 24 with a dinner at Old Bag of Nails at 6 p.m. and the Hayes versus Buckeye Valley football game at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 25, is reserved for classmates to make plans for meals and afternoon activities.
The tickets for the Aug. 23 event are $55 per graduate, which includes a class photo, and $45 per guest. Tickets for the Hayes versus Buckeye Valley football game are $7.
Stout brought a few of her classmates to the high school Thursday to start raising awareness for the upcoming reunion. Stranges took them to the new Rowland Science wing and through the older parts of the school. The visitors reminisced about the school and told Stranges what the school was like when they attended.
“It’s shocking,” said Debi Hoskins Bauder.
Bauder’s classmate, Alex Reed Fogle, said “It was nice to see progress” at the school.
“It was remarkable to see how they were able to incorporate the old into the new,” said Fred Blakeslee.
Stout said she “appreciated the fact that kids are walking the same hallways” they did when they were in high school.
“Those were the days — $.34 gas, $.49 Big Macs and the graduating class of 1968!” Stranges said. “I look forward to hosting this amazing class in August as we take a Hayes walk through time.”
More information can be found on the class’ Facebook group: Hayes High School Class of 1968 – 50th reunion.
Donations are being collected to help with the reunion costs, and checks can be sent to Brenda (Strohl) Steinbrecher at 196 Curly Smart Circle, Delaware, Ohio 43015. Checks can be made payable to Hayes High School Class of 1968.
Classmate contact information can be sent to Carol (McKirgan) Birsa at [email protected].
Additionally, Blakeslee is collecting photographs for the reunion and has asked that classmates email him photos from their yearbooks, previous class reunions, and current photos to [email protected].

