ALTON - Marquette Catholic High School is celebrating 80 years of Catholic education in Alton, first with a series of graduate decades' recognition at Marquette home football games, and then an all-school class reunion on Jan. 12, 2008 at the Commons at Lewis and Clark Community College.

In 1927, at the request of Bishop James Griffin, the Ursuline sisters founded the first Catholic co-educational high school in the diocese, which was named for Pere Jacques Marquette, the French Jesuit missionary who explored the Mississippi River in the late 17th century. The class of 1928 was the first to graduate from the school.

The main building in the Marquette complex was built in 1927, on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. A gymnasium was built in 1956, and a classroom addition and remodeling were completed in 1982.

The Ursulines withdrew from Marquette sponsorship in 1992, and it operated as a diocesan sponsored school through May 1 of this year, when a self-governance model was established. The school is now an independent, private Catholic school under the governance of its board.

During the 80^th anniversary celebration, Marquette graduates from the 1920s, 1930s and 1970s were recognized at the Sept. 8 football game at Public School Stadium, where they were seated by student ambassadors in a special section, and recognized during the game. On Friday, Sept. 14, classes from the 1940s and 1980s will be recognized in a similar manner, with special honors given to the 1982 state finalist football team.

At the homecoming game, Friday, Sept. 18, classes from the 1950s and 1990s will be recognized. On Sept. 19, an alumni homecoming party will be held at 6 p.m., at the Alton Knights of Columbus Hall, 405 E. Fourth St., where at 9 p.m., all past homecoming queens and May queens who are there will be honored with a "re-crowning."

"So far, the oldest May queen to confirm that she will be there is Pat (Siglock) Hinrichs, from Alton (class of '43)," said Meg Miller, MCHS advancement director. "It is going to be fun."

At the last home game, Saturday, Oct. 13, classes from the 1960s and 2000s will be recognized.

Everyone is invited to attend the January all school class reunion, which will be a casual mixer, said Miller. Anyone who has old pictures, videos, memorabilia or other items to lend for display that evening are asked to contact the Marquette development office (618) 463-0585. More information is available at www.marquettecatholic.org, or by calling the development office.