Events kicked off with a New Ulm High School tour led by Principal Mark Bergmann Friday.

The idea of a multi-school, multi-year gathering was the brainchild of NUHS grads Dale Bahr, Mike Herzog and a few other classmates in the summer of 2023.

The idea picked up speed with more supportive feedback last year when the NUHS Class of 1989 held its 35th reunion. Bahr reached out to Mike Herzog, a 1987 grad and 1988 grad Tony Bowar who contacted other grads and the event continued to grow, forming a committee and Facebook groups including graduates of each class–Herzog, Bowar, Bahr, Krista Ahlers and Tracy Davies from the Classes of 1987 through 1991.

A four-time All-American and 800 meter national champion in track and field at Minnesota State University-Mankato, Bahr taught adaptive phy-ed for a number of schools and coached track and cross country at Gustavus Adolphus College. He now owns a construction company and still runs road races on occasion.

“We’ve got graduates flying in from all over for this,” said Bahr. “What’s really cool is putting all these classes together. I think it’s really exciting. We have so much planned this weekend. We’ve gotten such great feedback from people. Social media was a big part of it. People can come and go and do what they want. We’re hopeful of having a few hundred people here.”

Saturday reunion events include golfing with tee times starting at 9 a.m., a private Schell’s Brewery tour, the Shine the Light event at German Park hosted in-part by one of the reunion members–Sue Brandes, a Brown County Yellow Ribbon organization member; the Hermannfest Walk/Run, and Hermannfest at Hermann Heights and Harman Park.

Herzog, who lives in Victoria, sells frozen fruits across the U.S. and the world.

Tony Bowar lives in Burnsville and works in finance for a software company.

“I’m excited to come back home,” said Bowar. “There are many reasons to get together with people in these classes. It’s pretty cool.”

Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm High School Principal Mark Bergmann, right, leads a school tour for 1987 to 1991 New Ulm area High School graduates holding a reunion this weekend. Alumni pictured from left, Kim Bowar Kruger, Dale Bahr and Mike Herzog, among others.