Salem High School Alumni Association History

The Salem High School Alumni Association—one of the first high school alumni groups in Ohio—keeps alumni connected to each other and gives numerous scholarships each year.

The Salem High School Alumni Association (SHSAA) began on June 14, 1882, when 33 Salem High School alumni met with several of their former teachers. The next year the association’s tradition of holding an annual reunion banquet started with a dinner at the high school.

Several years later, association members decided that they wanted to do more than keep alive memories of high school days. They decided they wanted to help outstanding graduates attend college. On June 20, 1903, they established the first high school alumni scholarship fund in Ohio. SHS graduates and friends were contacted to raise funds, and within four years the group had enough money to buy a $1,000 bond. The $60 interest generated by the bond was awarded as the first alumni scholarship to Walter French when he graduated in 1908. The association continued its second century of granting scholarships at the 128th annual reunion banquet on May 30, 2009. Sixty 2009 graduates and five alumni received a total of $283,350 in scholarships that evening at Salem High School.

Much of what is known about the association and Salem High School during the 20th century is due to the excellent recordkeeping of Laura Mae Hovermale Whinnery ’30. For many years Mrs. Whinnery collected and carefully archived information about SHS classes, sports, extracurricular activities, and alumni. Many wonderful items—newspaper clippings, photographs, and memorabilia—preserved by Mrs. Whinnery were donated to the association and are now on display at the association’s office at 330 East State Street.

In recent years the association has employed office coordinators to manage its busy office. Robert Dixon ’40 served in this capacity from 1984 to 1995; Henrietta Hilliard Kilbreath ’42 from 1995 to 1998; and Helen Potter Hayes ’57 from 1998 to the present time. Joyce Cosgrove Ehrhart ’53 is the assistant office coordinator. The office coordinator and assistant keep the database of graduates’ names and addresses up to date, supply information and other assistance to class reunion planners, collect and archive information about SHS and its alumni, record contributions and correspond with donors, and coordinate the twice-yearly mailing of the association’s newsletter.

The association’s office has been in downtown Salem since 1983 when Daniel E. Smith ’46 generously gave the association a 15-year, rent-free lease for the three-story building at 328/330 East State Street. During 1983 and 1984, the second floor of the building was extensively remodeled with support from members of 18 different SHS classes. The association later purchased the building. In 2008, the association renovated the first floor of the building that had at various times housed a shoe store, cosmetology school, hardware store, saloon, billiard hall, photography studio, and tobacconist. Many alumni donated money, in-kind contributions, and time to the renovation of the 2,800-square-foot space that includes an office, display area, and a conference room that is available for class reunion planning meetings.

BOARD of TRUSTEES

All Board of Trustee members shall be elected at the annual membership meeting of the Association. The Trustees shall be elected for a term of three years, and no member shall serve more than three consecutive terms. There shall be five standing committees: Alumni Relations, Executive, Finance, Nominating, and Scholarship. Every Trustee shall serve on a standing committee; there shall be a minimum of three Trustees on each committee.