Sequim Gazette staff

Dorothea Lilly — then Dorothea Hatmaker — lived in Oklahoma for most of her childhood until her family moved to Sequim, where she graduated with her fellow Wolves in 1957.

 

“I just fit right in,” Lilly said.

 

“I like it here. I don’t have to worry about nasty bugs or tornados.”

 

And so she stayed, working as a custodian and bus driver in the area.

 

Lilly was one of dozens of alumni who joined the 200-plus current students of Sequim High School at the school’s centennial celebration on Jan. 13.

 

The event marked 100 years from Sequim High School’s first ninth-grade class.

 

Alumni had a chance to walk the grounds and visit classrooms during the school day and then flocked to the Rick Kaps Gymnasium for a special award ceremony, videos and speeches from teachers and graduates.

 

Dave Blake, a school board member for 25-plus years and SHS class of 1966 graduate, reached back into the past and found his old letterman’s jacket.

 

“This thing’s a little tighter than it was 45 years ago,” Blake said, “when I graduated.”

 

Following an events-packed assembly — one that included a video presentation featuring alumni talking about their high school days, Amanda Bacon (class of 1998) singing “One Moment in Time,” the 2010-2011 high school boys’ basketball team showing off their skills, a speech from 30-years-plus teaching veteran Larry Hill and a teacher-staffed rock band — alumni congregated in the library to view photos from SHS’s past.

 

Sequim High senior Audrey Lichten, who led the organizing of SHS centennial events, said the toughest part of bringing together the centennial events was, well, bringing it all together.

 

“There were a lot of things to incorporate with the community — getting old pictures together, incorporating things in the school.”

 

I thought it went great; I was really pleased with a great day and a great week,” Lichten said.