The sun hung low in the sky Thursday evening as four generations of Turlock High graduates gathered to take photos in front of the Turlock Unified School District administrative office.

Eighty years ago in 1945, when Marjorie Smith graduated from THS (she was Marjorie Schendel then), the administrative office was Turlock High School.

The 98-year-old Smith, along with daughter Vicki (Smith) Corgiat (Class of 1973), son-in-law Chuck Corgiat (Class of 1970), and granddaughter Julie (Corgiat) Freeby (Class of 1998), joined great-grandson Oliver Freeby for a photo session marking four generations of Turlock High grads.

Marjorie’s mother, Valesca (Ferguson) Smith, was the family’s first THS graduate, earning her diploma shortly before the U.S. entered World War I.

“It’s definitely nice to carry on the tradition,” said Freeby, who plans on attending Modesto Junior College in the fall where he’ll focus on business studies and competing in track and field. “I love the Turlock High community. It’s a nice environment to be part of.”

A handful of graduates had the same idea Thursday, using the historic administration building as a backdrop for their graduation pictures.

At one point, Mikayla Angle, herself a THS graduate (Class of 2007), approached the group and asked politely if her son Troy Stumpf could squeeze in for a quick photo.

Soon, the families were exchanging pleasantries and discovered that Stumpf, like Freeby, also is a fifth-generation Bulldog.

Angle’s mother, Rachel (Angle) Ayres (Class of 1988), and  grandmother Michelle (Pool) Silva (Class of 1966) complete the four living generations of THS grads in their family. Silva’s father, C. Gordon Pool (Class of 1936), was their family’s first Bulldog. In fact, Stumpf who was wearing his great-great-grandfather’s ring for the photos, was given the middle name Gordon, in honor of his ancestor.

Ayres never thought Turlock would still be her home.

“Oh, heck no,” said Ayres, a labor and delivery nurse at Emanuel Medical Center for 22 years before moving on to Kaiser Permanente in Modesto. “I always figured I’d be outta here after graduation. But I had a baby at 18 and it was great to have family and friends so near to me. I love it.”

Ayres has three siblings, two aunts and another daughter, Parris Ayres (Class of 2013), who all are THS grads.

Freeby and Stumpf, though they’d never met, took time to pose together for a photo.

“It’s so wonderful,” said Julie Freeby. “He’s had a great four years  here and really thrived with his activities — drama, and track and field. 

“I did not have a lot of school spirit when I was in high school, and until my daughter (Violet) started going here, I didn’t realize how significant it was for me to continue the tradition of graduating from Turlock High.” 

Smith, who’s late husband John Smith earned his THS diploma the year before she did, said she’s excited for the family’s most recent grad.

“He’s done so well in school and we’re so proud of him,” said Smith, who plans on being back for great-grandson Ezra’s graduation in 2028 when she’ll be 101. “I remember having a good group of people and a good group of friends. I think we were all friends with everybody in school at that time.”

So, when you get right down it, not all that much has changed.

“Kids are kids,” she said. “No matter what generation.”