Meriden Rural Alumni Roster

Ozawkie Rural High School 1916 - 1942

Ozawkie Rural High School began in 1916. A brick building was built, and the first class of graduates was presented diplomas. The 1916 class consisted of two students: Leslie Bentley and Vera Benson. The school building burned on Thanksgiving Day in 1942, and the school year was finished in the various church buildings in town

Ozawkie Rural High Schol 1943 - 1964

A new school was built and ready for use in 1943. By the 1960s, the rumors of Perry Lake taking the town of old Ozawkie had become a reality. The class of 1964 was the last graduating class at ORHS. There were eight seniors: Sam Bates, Wayne Church, Ralph Johnston, Karen Larimore, Marcia McMullins, Steve Rath, Julia Schrader, and John Swinney.

Ozawkie's mascot was the Coyote, and their colors were red and grey. In the early 1930s, their school newspaper was called the Ozawkian, but in 1933 the name was changed to The Coyote, and that name remained through the closing of the school. The annual yearbook was also titled The Coyote.

Later, in 1969, a school building was completed in new Ozawkie (to be part of the Meriden district), and the Meriden school district changed their name to Jefferson West. Within a few years, the district had began using the color red (as an accent) into it's school colors (black and white), as another way of incorporating Ozawkie into the district. The new Ozawkie building was first used as an elementary school, and then for many years was Jefferson West Junior High School, and later was used to house various elementary grades. It is currently the Jefferson West Intermediate School.

If you have more school history or photos please contact me.