Howe High School / BMHS Alumni Association
History
In 1896, a small committee met to discuss the idea of forming an alumni association for interested graduates of the Howe School. The first formal meeting took place on June 17, 1897 to coincide with the school’s graduation ceremonies. The Howe School Alumni Association was formed; the first officers were elected and a constitution was approved at this meeting. These actions marked the beginning of traditions that continue to be observed by graduates of Howe High School and Billerica Memorial High School today.
Since 1896, the Alumni Association has organized a banquet and reunion each year in June to invite new graduates to join the organization and provide its’ members the opportunity to gather and enjoy remembrances of their high school days. A review of the records reveals just one exception. In 1918, the association decided not to hold a banquet due to the war and had only the traditional business meeting that year. The tradition of our annual banquet continues with a few changes.
The Alumni Association became a Non-profit Organization in 1996, and holds the title of the second longest running alumni in the country. For the last two years, we have held our annual meetings in March, so our Alumni would have more time socializing at our banquet.
We continue to invite the Principal and the Superintendent to give an update on our schools and the graduating seniors. The Alumni has presented scholarships to the graduating seniors each year, with Doug Dooley, Class of 1960, a local contractor, donating 10 scholarships each year to deserving students. We also have the Jack Fay Athletic Achievement award, which the recipient is chosen by the coaches each year.
Over the course of time the Alumni Association started to recognize its Alumni by nominating a member for Lifetime membership.
Per our By Laws, all Life Time Members will have their dues paid for life. They also will be the Alumni's guest at our banquet/reunion each year.
Lifetime Members
Active Lifetime Hall of Fame Members
- 1972 Cathy Conway
- 1951 John Baraldi
- 1948 Larry DeBenedictis,
- 1945 Betty Leavitt Glavine
- 1959 Donna Strom Robillard,
- 1959 Barbara Rounds Reinecker
Deceased Hall of Fame Members
- 1928 Doris Kinney Hunter
- 1945 John T. Glavin
- 1951 Grant H. Whiteway
- 1951 Ann O’Neill Baraldi
- 1934 Mary Jackson Rounds
- 1932 Alice Dunstan Webber
- 1939 Mary Pasho
- 1937 Margaret Mason
- 1934 Helen Knight
- 1939 Lillian Horman Matthews
- 1932 Margaret Blakely Ingraham
- 1945 Francis J. Glavin