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45th Annual Ward Family Reunion Held at Beech Mountain This Year

Story by Corinne Saunders The Ward family assembled for a photograph at their 2007 reunion in Idaho. This year marked the 45th Ward Family Reunion, and 52 people from nine states are gathering for the first time in the High Country. Photo courtesy of Ken Ward

“I hope it lasts forever,” said Stan Ward, his family’s 45th Family Reunion chair. “I’ve never missed one and never intend to.”

Fifty-two people are expected to attend this year’s family reunion at Beech Mountain from July 13 to 21.

The family members have come from nine states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, Texas, Florida and Tennessee.
“For most of us, other than [our] immediate family, it’s the only time we see the extended family,” Ward said.

The loved ones that have passed away over the years are dearly missed, but part of the joy of the reunions is getting to see the new family members, Ward said.
This year’s itinerary includes a trip to Grandfather Mountain, horseback riding or golf, a tubing adventure down the New River, a day at Scream Time Zipline and a shopping or golf day. Not everyone participates in every activity, but usually about 20 people will go to each, Ward said.

Ward was 10 years old when his late grandfather Charles A. Ward, a Houston, Texas native, organized the first family reunion in 1964 in Sea Isle City, N.J.
The annual weeklong event is held in a new location every year, chosen by that year’s elected chair.

“This year, we’ll elect the chairman for 2011,” Ward said, adding that the chair always has three years to do the planning.

In addition to choosing the reunion location, the chair is also responsible for securing facilities, putting together the entertainment agenda and planning the menu, Ward said.

“Most of the time, we prepare all our own meals. The chairman must take into consideration if the facility has a kitchen big enough,” Ward said.

The group shares meal preparations and cleanup. Everyone picks a meal, makes it and cleans up afterward, he said.

Ward chose Beech Mountain after searching a vacation rentals by owner website and narrowing down the choices according to budget.

The lodge he chose sleeps 40 people and they are also renting a smaller property nearby, he said.

“[Beech Mountain] is a central location for many of us, and it has been a number of years since we were in North Carolina,” Ward said, adding that the family reunited on North Carolina’s coast 15 to 20 years ago.

“We’ve been in at least 30 of the continental U.S. states and Ontario, Canada,” Ward said.

Previous reunions have been held in the Shenandoah Valley, Colorado mountains, New York’s Adirondacks and the Poconos.

“Mountains are our favorite venue, I guess we could say,” Ward said.
The fun and festivities create a positive atmosphere at every reunion. “I look forward to it every year,” Ward said. “Because it’s only one week a year, there are never any animosities. There is a lot of card playing and staying up late.”

The family members share the cost of the reunion; each pays a “man day rate” determined by dividing the week’s expenses by the number of family members and how many days they stayed.

“Forty dollars per man day is what it costs any one of the family to come to the reunion,” Ward said, adding that travel expenses are not included in the calculation. Elementary school children cost half the adult rate and preschool kids are free.

After 45 years of reunion experience, the organization for the weeklong event is excellent, Ward said.