Story Photos
 Members of Kelso High's class of 1958 applaud Satruday as Terry Sillik marches to receive the diploma he earned but never received 50 years ago. Bill Wagner / The Daily News
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Kelso man gets diploma 50 years after graduating
Sunday, October 12, 2008 5:05 AM PDT
By Tony Lystra
Printable version
E-mail this articleTerry Sillik was in San Diego, learning to be a Navy electrician when his Kelso High School classmates donned their caps and gowns and celebrated their graduation in 1958.
Sillik had finished the requirements for his degree but couldn't get home for graduation.
50 years later, Sillik, now 69, was handed his high school diploma Saturday evening at Kelso High School's class of '58 reunion. "Pomp and circumstance" played as he approached the front of a room, wearing a cap and gown, at the Kelso Elks building.
Sillik said his classmates tracked down his diploma for him, and he's grateful.
"All these years. Fifty years," he marveled before Saturday night's event. "To know that I'm going to finally get it is kind of a relief."
Sillik, who still lives in Kelso, said he joined the Navy in 1958, just after finishing his courses because he couldn't find work. He spent four years in the Navy, including about six months sailing off of Vietnam in 1961. After that, he spent more than a year in the Army and was stationed for a time in Nuremberg, Germany.
Over the years, he said, he'd mention to his wife, Anna, who died in 2005, that he'd like to finally get his diploma. But he never pursued it.
"Thank God there's some lovely people in my class that went to bat and got it for me," he said.
banana hammock wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:13 AM:
Three Cheers for his Class mates
Hip Hip Heray
Hip Hip Heray
Hip Hip Heray "
viper wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:07 AM:
It might have taken 50 years to graduate
but you did it ! bet all the kids thought you were a teacher : Viper "
Bounder wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:24 AM:
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