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By FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writer

The Arkansas City High School Class of 1943 wants to restore a mostly forgotten tradition of displaying class portraits.

The class decided to put money down on the plan -- $604, to be exact.

Several Class of 1943 members showed up at a recent meeting of the ACE Fund Founding Committee to present the check for the picture project.

They also gave $604 to support ACE Fund student projects.

The Arkansas City Public Schools Enhancement Fund, or ACE Fund, is a charitable endowment that supports special projects and programs in Arkansas City Public Schools. The ACE Fund is under the umbrella of the Legacy Foundation, a community foundation based in Winfield.

Individual portraits of Ark City High graduates from classes dating back to the early 1900s had been displayed for years at the high school, but the display was taken down several years ago.

"The Class of '43 is not planning further reunions and wanted their remaining reunion funds to be used to help students enhance their educational experience at ACHS," said Dolly Bonfy, chairperson of the ACE Fund committee, in a press release.

"The other half (would be used) to establish an endowment that would always be in place to repair, maintain and add future graduating class picture displays."

The ACE Fund committee has discussed the class picture project with Ron Ballard, superintendent of schools, Bonfy said. He has assigned the project to Tara Taylor, a high school administrator, to work with the committee on developing a plan.

"The Class of '43 is hoping that other ACHS graduating classes and interested alumni will donate to the funds and build a $5,000 donor-advised endowment that will be in place forever," she said.

To contribute to the Ark City High picture project send donations to: ACE Fund, P.O. Box 995, Arkansas City, KS 67005. For more information, call 620-442-1322 or Bonfy at 620-221-4507.