Reunion to honor Ronan's 1974 State Champs
Members of the 1974 Ronan Chief football team, who won the state title that year, will gather again on their hometown field Sept. 20 as part of 50th anniversary festivities.
The Ronan Chiefs State Championship football team from 1974 will gather once again Sept 20-21 for their 50th reunion.
According to Jay Krantz, who is helping organize festivities, the celebration kicks off with at tailgate party at 5 p.m. Friday, sponsored by the Ronan Community Hall of Fame and Ronan Boosters in the Ronan High parking lot. Members of the football team, along with coaches, managers, cheerleaders and homecoming royalty from 1974, will be introduced at halftime of the Polson vs. Ronan football game, which also coincides with Ronan's Homecoming.
The next day, Sept. 21, the same group of luminaries will reconvene at the Mission Mountain Golf Club clubhouse for a buffet-style dinner and celebration. At 6 p.m., the public is invited to join the party, get reacquainted with the team and reminisce about the 1974 season.
“So far there has been a great response from all who were invited to celebrate the event,” Krantz said. He added that they chose to gather during the annual Ronan vs. Polson game for several reasons.
“The weather should still be favorable, there is usually a sizeable crowd for the rivalry game and it will be a great time to once again thank the community for their continued support,” he said. It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge “those 1974 teammates that have given back to the school and community.”
That includes the 1974 teammates, led by Pat Meagher, who paid for and constructed the monument that adorns the entryway to Laverne Parrish Field – which honors Ronan’s Medal of Honor hero, who died during World War II.