Merrill High School class of 1976 marks 50th reunion

The Merrill High School class of 1976 celebrated its 50th reunion on June 6, 2026, at the Merrill Town Hall, drawing about 90 classmates from as far away as Switzerland, Tennessee, Iowa, North Carolina and California.
The class holds a unique place in school history as Merrill’s bicentennial graduating class—the first to wear red, white, and blue tassels. According to the commencement program, 315 students graduated that year.
The reunion carried the patriotic theme forward, with red, white, and blue decorations chosen to mark the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. One of the organizers, Cheryl Radloff, said the celebration also recognized seven couples in which both spouses were classmates. Each couple received a bottle of Boone’s Farm wine, which Radloff called “a blast from the past.”
A slide presentation featured photos from previous reunions, including a Merrill-Wausau West football game, along with a tribute to classmates who have died. A classmate served as DJ, spinning music from the 1970s, and Red Granite Tap provided a food truck.