“I remember thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, these people are so old,’” Beth Gardner said with a laugh, recalling the day she led a tour of the then newly expanded Mt. Lebanon High School as part of her father’s 40th high school reunion when she was a  teenager. Nearly 50 years later, Gardner, whose maiden name is Schriber, is helping to organize her own milestone: The 50th reunion of the class of 1976.

The golden reunion comes as the United States approaches another milestone — the nation’s 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial — giving classmates a rare chance to reflect on two historic moments in their lives. For many, it also celebrates friendships that began in the hallways of Mt. Lebanon High School and have endured for half a century.

Gardner has been a guiding force behind almost every reunion her class has held since graduation.

“Our class is unusual,” Gardner said. “We’ve had a reunion every five years.”

Her connection to the school spans generations. Her grandfather built a home in Mt. Lebanon in 1923, and her father graduated from the high school in 1932.

“There are many of us who had parents and children graduate from Lebo,” she said. “Some families may even have four generations now.”

When the Class of 1976 arrived at the high school in the fall of 1972, they were stepping into a newly expanded building. The $10 million expansion included a planetarium, an artificial turf football field, and students were divided into green, gold and blue floors, each with its own administrative team.

The class of 1976 became the first ninth graders to attend high school there. Before that, ninth grade had been part of Jefferson or Mellon junior highs. Class schedules were also different.

“They tried a modular schedule,” classmate Jery Grupp said. He explained that classes did not always follow a traditional bell-to-bell format. “But they only did that the first year I was there.”

Grupp and his family moved to Mt. Lebanon in 1960.

“We built a house over in Sunset Hills,” Grupp said. “In fact, my father lived there from 1960 until his death in 2020. My sister lives in that house now.”

Gardner said students scheduled their days using 15-minute “mods” rather than traditional class periods.

“We built our own schedules,” she said. “Classes were typically four mods but some were less or more.”

Open periods — known as free mods — gave students time to study, socialize or step off campus — a freedom that might surprise teenagers today.

“We were allowed to leave campus,” Grupp said. “People would go out for lunch.”

Clubs and activities were a defining part of student life.

“The curriculum rivaled some colleges and there were endless clubs and activities to support, enhance and explore our interests, talents and potential,” Gardner said.

By their senior year, the nation was celebrating its 200th anniversary. The Rockettes, the school’s dance and performance group, traded gold sweaters and tassels for white shirts, red vests, and red tassels. Communities nationwide marked the Bicentennial with patriotic displays, from painted fire hydrants to commemorative quarters.

“Our motto was ‘Get Your Kicks in ’76,’” Gardner said.

Some classmates later gained national prominence. Entrepreneur and business leader Mark Cuban recalled the friendships and everyday moments like hanging out with his friends and playing summer league basketball, that shaped his time the most.

He described the atmosphere at the school in the 1970s as reflective of the broader culture of the time, “Just like Dazed and Confused” with a smoking section and long hair.

“We didn’t have to register for the draft,” Cuban said. “Women were realizing that they could go to college and prepare for any job they wanted. It was truly a unique time. And of course, music played a big part. We were the Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll generation.”

Cuban also credited teachers for shaping his confidence.

“Mrs. Abraham, my guidance counselor was amazing. Ms. Dzic, my Russian teacher, Mr. Starkey my history teacher — all helped me build confidence and had an amazing impact on my life,” he said. “My best friends then are my close friends now. We still get on Zoom calls and get together as often as possible.”

Friendships and new connections have remained central to why classmates return for reunions.

“With a class of 700 or close to 750 people, you don’t know everybody,” Gardner said. “You’re not just catching up with people you knew in high school. You may be meeting people for the first time.”

Looking back at past reunions, Grupp said he is always fascinated to see everybody.

“I walk around and I am just impressed with what people have done for themselves, for community, for others,” he said.

Planning the reunions has changed dramatically. Early gatherings relied on mailed invitations, typewritten lists and handwritten records. Gardner recalls sitting in a parking lot at a ski resort with a baby in the back seat, paging through the white pages to track down classmates’ parents.

Computers eventually replaced typewriters. Today, the class website — developed by classmate Carol Humphreys Gordon — allows classmates to register for events, message each other, follow reunion plans and honor the  classmates who have passed away. Social media also helps keep alumnus connected.

“We have an incredible connection through Facebook amongst people that we stayed in touch with,” Grupp said.

Planning for the 50th reunion began nearly two years in advance. Committee members now span the country, from California to Georgia to Washington, D.C., and meet regularly on Zoom. Each brings different skills — calligraphy, music curation, organizing memorabilia displays. “It truly takes a village,” Gardner said.

Venues have ranged from hotel ballrooms to parks, fire halls, and even PNC Park. Reunions have expanded into full weekends with golf outings, brunches, tours of Mt. Lebanon, and baseball games.

One enduring tradition began at the 10th reunion: a Friday night gathering at The Saloon before the main event, giving friends more time together and welcoming other classes.

The reunions have also produced unforgettable moments. At one early gathering, appetizers sparked a spontaneous cheese-cube food fight. At another, former teachers were invited, highlighting the mentors who shaped their lives. The 45th reunion persevered despite the pandemic, held outdoors at Scott Park.

“Not even that kept us from gathering,” Gardner said.

Although classmates now live across 35 states and six countries, shared experiences in Mt. Lebanon continue to draw them together. “Our paths have diverged,” Gardner said. “But we’re all connected by those common experiences and memories.”

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Class of 1976 celebrates its own milestone — 50 years of friendships, memories, and a community that helped shape who they became.

“This will be our golden moment in time,” Gardner said.

The Mt. Lebanon High School Class of 1976 Reunion takes place Thursday, July 20 through Sunday, August 2. For more information or to register: lebo76.com/50th-Reunion-Info.htm.