ONCE A PANTHER – ALWAYS A PANTHER Class of 1944 member recognized at alumni banquet

PHOTO BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN
Dorothy Magno poses with two of her grandchildren and fellow Norton alums, Nicholas Milich and Dr. Lindsay Milich. Magno was the oldest NHS graduate at the Norton Alumni Association banquet.

Alumni from many different classes fill Norton High School Commons for the 104th annual Banquet and Meeting.

Norton grad Mallory Bird introduces herself. This year’s scholarship recipients were asked to introduce themselves to the alumni association members.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

NORTON  It was something special to be present as recent Norton High School graduates and scholarship recipients were invited to close the annual Norton Alumni Association meeting by leading those present in singing the NHS alma mater. They were almost immediately joined by voices of more than 200 Norton alumni gathered in the high school Commons for the annual banquet.

According to the program for the 104th event June 14, the alma mater was written by Winifred Dearth Stokes, Norton Class of 1943.

Depending on when the alumna wrote the official school anthem, the oldest graduate in attendance this past Saturday, Dorothy Magno, may have begun singing the tribute as soon as it was first instituted.

Magno attended Norton more than 80 years ago. She didn’t walk the halls of the current school, which opened in 2017 but the 98-year-old’s mind is as sharp as if she did.

Magno sat with her daughter, Laura Brabson, and grandchildren Dr. Lindsay Milich, Class of 2012 and Nicholas Milich, class of 2015, at the end of a table with a sign reading 1944 – identifying her as the oldest alum at the banquet.

Magno played basketball in high school but at the time the girls team only played half court. She is a big basketball fan to this day and has been a season ticketholder to Magic basketball games for 71 years. Her daughter, Laura, graduated from Barberton High School and was a Magics cheerleader. Magno continues to cheer for the Magics. She also is well-known in Barberton because she was a cook at Barberton Memorial for 20 years. She retired in 1986 and former students will recognize her when she’s out and about. Magno stays active and gets out to get her hair done weekly to look her best and she gives back to the community with her talent of sewing. She has sewn items for family members and she sews lap quilts to donate to nursing homes.

As a member of the Norton Alumni Association, she returns to her roots in Norton. She said she believes about 79 students were in her graduating class. She said everyone knew each other.

“I remember how everybody was a friend,” she said.

Magno will turn 99 on Jan. 1. She is a mom, grandma and great-grandmother and two of her grandchildren, who both graduated from Norton and had received scholarships themselves when they were students, are now members of the association and sat with her. Magno said her grandchildren are a testament to how the alumni scholarships can help through college and on their journey to successful careers.

“I hope they take advantage of what they’re receiving,” Magno said about the current recipients. Each of the 14 students received a scholarship worth $1,000. Students present introduced themselves and stated where they were attending college or university and what they planned to major in.

This year, scholarships were awarded to Mallory Bird, Jacob Bush, Maggie Earnest, Katarina Jovanovic, Mason Pardee, Hannah Peters, Maggie Somerville, Michael Blankenship, Jayda Champer, Lucas Foote, Averie Myers, Gianna Pennell, Caiden Shockey and Eliza Stone. About half were in attendance and others had reasons for not being there that the crowd seemed impressed with such as a couple competing in the National Speech tournament. A. J. Bulgrin and Drew Essex were military enlistment award recipients.

Every year, the alumni association has a banquet with a business meeting that includes news and announcements and updates, election of officers and to give out awards. At the same time, the event tends to serve as a unique reunion honoring members from classes spanning decades.

The 2025-2026 officers are Ken Greenbank, president elect; Marilyn Bramlett Peacock, first vice president; Charles William, second vice president; Vicky Carr Wallace, treasurer; Cindy Dolfen Webel, secretary; Blake Miller, scholarship chairman; John Simon, past president.

The date for next year’s banquet has already been set at June 13, 2026. Attendees dropped off their name tags at the door and mingled heading to their vehicles. At least a couple people were overheard bidding each other well with plans to see each other again at next year’s event.