Article about the graduation by Chris Yoder from the May 2016 SDHC newsletter — The graduation exercises for the Saugatuck High School Class of 1901 was held May 24, at the Congregational church atop the hill in Saugatuck. Sixteen graduates were joined by an enthusiastic crowd. Class President Jennie Veits, presented an oration entitled "Education." Class Secretary Howard Coates, gave one on "Locomotives." The other class members were Clarence Halverson, Marie Upham. Olive Ludwig, Lewis Knox, Florence Miller, Lottie Hancock, John Blink, Mame Schumacher, Clarence Winslow, Faith Kirby, Louise Walz, Robert Olson, Ethel Winslow, and Mattie Hirner (many of these Saugatuck surnames are still recognized today). Jennie Veits was to marry James Brown and to become the mother of the late Bee Finch. Clarence Halverson was the son of a Great Lakes pilot. Clarence Winslow was to become the father-in-law of Frank Denison of Broward Marine fame. Faith Kirby Nevins was to turn her family home into the first local hospital (today "The Kirby House"). At least seven of these folk rest in Riverside Cemetery. Two of these are the first and last class members to pass away: Marie Upham, who married John R. Moyer and died at age 37 in 1912 leave two young daughters; Olive Ludwig, who married Ira Koning and lived to the ripe old age of 97, dying in 1981. In an article entitled "Honors Won at Labor's Care," the May 31st issue of THE SAUGATUCK COMMERCIAL reported "Lack of space forbids anything like a detailed account of the program each evening, and as to the orations, all that we will say is that the twentieth century class has added new laurels to our high school and earned for itself well deserved honors. Prof. Latta is not to be blamed for feeling proud of this class. Each theme was handled in a manner that showed careful and well-directed thought. One amusing fact was brought out by the class historian, as follows: The oldest member of the class is Clarence, the youngest, Clarence; the tallest member Clarence; the shortest Clarence; the heaviest member Clarence, and the lightest Clarence. Of course there are two Clarences - Winslow and Halverson." The writer continued with praise for the quality of local education, saying "There is probably no school in Western Michigan that graduates a larger per cent of its students, and we doubt if there is another that has turned out the same proportion of successful teachers. While this is due in a large measure to the earnest work of Prof. Latta, we must not forget that the education of the pupil begins in the primary department, and if the work in that and each of the succeeding departments was not faithfully done such good results could not come from the High school."