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Gulf High Booster Group Planning Big Reunion

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: September 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - The invasion of West Pasco is coming soon.

That's the promise from Gulf High School Athletic Booster Club. It is organizing what members hope will become the most massive reunion in the 86-year history of the school.

They are calling the little get-together the Buccaneer Alumni Invasion.

The event grew so big it expanded to two days, Oct. 24 and 25, the chairman, Bill Phillips, explains. It's hard for him to believe it's been 33 years since he picked up his diploma with the class of 1975.

For the kicker, the goal is to gather up to 500 Gulf High School graduates to "Fill the Field" before the Saturday night varsity football game between Gulf and Hudson High School. An aerial photo is being arranged of all the alumni standing on the football field. It should be quite a sight, Phillips believes.

So far reservations from some 140 people have trickled in, Phillips said, although typically many guests wait until the last minute to register.

Reservation information is posted online at www.gulfhighinvasion.com>. Or go to the Gulf High site at www.gulfhigh.org> and click on the "Alumni" or "Booster Club" links.

The alumni group has snagged Steve Persall as master of ceremonies, a 1974 Gulf graduate who went on to become a movie critic for The St. Petersburg Times.

The whole point to the festivities is to raise money for four academic and athletics scholarships, Phillips notes.

One of the scholarships will be named after Brian Singletary, the long-time Southgate Publix store manager. Singletary, a Tarpon Springs High School product, is being drafted as an honorary Gulf alumni member.

The historic occasion should add more memories to the storied past of Gulf High, which first opened its doors Sept. 18, 1922. The school had cost about $40,000 to build, according to school archives.

All of about 75 students attended in grades 6 through 11 that first year. The school now has many more teachers than that. In recent years enrollment grew to more than 1,600.

Countless local leaders have walked the halls of Gulf High School.

To name just a few, Gulf High School teacher John Gallagher in 1971 won election to the New Port Richey City Council. This electoral success and a degree in public administration served as his springboard later to become city manager and then Pasco County administrator, the position he still holds more than a quarter of a century later.

A 1971 graduate, Dan Tipton, went on to become New Port Richey mayor in 2004.

The stroll down memory lane for reunion participants will start with a pep rally at Sims Park 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.

A Kickoff Party will follow at Fatty and Mables.

The fun continues 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 with a Fore Fun golf outing.

A pregame barbecue, catered by Pit Boss BBQ, will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 25.

The Fill the Field photo of graduates from the past 86 years will be snapped at 7 p.m.

The Hudson and Gulf varsity high school teams will clash at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, with more alumni festivities at halftime.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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