News

A Reunion to Remember

By DANNY REAGAN / Class Scribe

The 45th reunion of the Class of 1966 in June 2011 will be remembered
as the "best ever."

The festivities officially got under way on Friday at 1 p.m. at Carlos'
Restaurant for lunch. The tradition, which started with a half dozen
participants 25 years ago, saw almost 60 in attendance this time. Good
food and lots of shocked looks of belated recognition were the order of
the day.

Unofficially, it all started Wednesday night when Darrell Morgan arrived in
his ginormous RV. He celebrated that night by cranking up "Andy
Williams' Greatest Hits" until others in the RV Park told him to put a sock
in it.

Approximately 140 showed up on Friday night at Donnie and Norma
Reagan's house for the third straight opening night party. Many
classmates, led by "Private" Bobby Kernell, had "practiced" for the party
by spending Thursday at the American Legion post.

Norma, Linda Ann Taylor, Susan Collier, Linda Appleton and guest chef
Patsy Bedwell outdid themselves preparing the gourmet feast for the
party, while a margarita machine and ice-cold keg helped many cope
with the 108-plus temperatures. The house, patio, backyard, front yard
and sometimes streets were packed. Best story of the night? How Simon
Terrazas' wife got the nickname "Crazy Mary." At 2 a.m. Donnie had to
dynamite the last few out of their chairs (yep, Gregg Pate and Sam
Mims).

Everyone (130 total registered, with 85 classmates) gathered the next
day at the Dora Roberts Center for a class photo and lunch. Lynn Heith's
mother, Patricia (P.D.), looking like she'll outlive us all, was in attendance.
Terry Fields, Mack Frazier, Gary Earhart, Danny Kirby, Barry King and
Donnie Baker were seen sitting at the same table during lunch. All of
them were talking at the same time (as usual). Fortunately, they all wore
their "B.S.(H.S.) Ear Protectors."

Cowboys Restaurant and Just Peachy Cafe catered Saturday's eats.
Surprisingly, everyone survived the afternoon tour of the refurbished
Settles Hotel. No one fell off the service elevator or came down with heat
stroke. Temperatures were at 113 in the heat of the day.

That night, the program and dance at the Roberts Center featured a little
something for everyone.

The decorating committee of Linda Appleton, Johnny and Ceil Pachall
Bedell, Susan Collier, Jacque Jones Mauch, and Gene and Freddie Kay
Woods Shuler had the place hopping this year.

Donnie Reagan, who helped throw the program together 5 minutes
before it started, made opening remarks and introduced Class President
for Life Robert Gossett who emceed the remainder of the night.

Don Hal Haney led everyone in the school song, and that was followed by
Daphna Jackson Smith reading the memorial list of those classmates no
longer with us - 44 at last count. Ceil then sang a beautiful rendition of
"Precious Memories."

Dr. Gary Fish recounted his experiences during the Haiti earthquake of
2010. He had helped start a clinic there 30 years ago and was working in
it the day of the tragedy. Gary's son escaped injury, but everyone else -
including Gary - was injured, trapped or both. An American mining crew
eventually helped rescue many of them. Some of our classmates
remember seeing Gary on the CNN earthquake coverage at the
temporary hospital as he stayed by a badly injured nurse's side and
comforted her as they waited two days for a medical flight out of the
country.

Don Hal then sang his version of "On the Streets Where We Lived" with
his own humorous lyrics such as: "I have often dragged down Gregg
Street before ..." and "Oh, the towering feeling, just to place a name with
a face." His voice hasn't lost its punch after all these years.

Chrome-domes Pate and Mims sat together again, but no one cracked a
Dolly Parton joke this time.

Luckily, as unofficial class historian, I was able again to "find" appropriate
archives. This year it was principal John Smith's "personal journal" from
our senior year.

It was packed with many interesting entries regarding our class,
including: "Mrs. Smith came in and said Mack Frazier got to first base
with Marilee Carr between classes. Told her the kids shouldn't be playing
baseball in the halls" and "James Dunne just poked his head in my office
and yelled, 'Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.' Lord, I hate that
kid."

Garland Rudd and Mary Elaine Hall Jennings showed up for their first
reunion, and at various functions we had guests from previous or later
classes, early grads and "move-aways" such as Roosevelt Brown, Rick
Hamby, Tommy Newsome, Bob Moore, Hank Pope, Guy Talbott, Don
White, Tom McCann, Tonsia Kilgore (Marc's wife), Mary Ann Williams
and Richard Cauley.

Cheryl Click was made an honorary member of the class. She and
Norma Reagan, who was given honorary status 10 years ago, received
certificates and standing ovations for their contributions. Reg Cranford,
regarded as the main catalyst for keeping our reunion the biggest and
best through all these years, was also recognized.

Speaking of Cheryl, her main squeeze, Barney Hise (who received an
upgrade of his lone bullet from a .22 to a .44), passed his hat (wearing it
as well between donations) and collected $1,055 to be used as seed
money for the 50th Reunion. The total would have been more, but some
of the bills stuck to his bald head and couldn't be removed. Still, the great
success earned him the title of "Class Hat Passer for Life" - which goes
along with his other esteemed title of "Class Gas Passer for Life."
Linda Appleton, another program organizer, presented Rita Saunders
Gray and Jerry Lewis some "long overdue payback" for "childhood
shenanigans." With Jerry, it was something about her lake house
bedroom not having curtains. Don't ask.

Paul Solden also offered bricks from the recently demolished College
Heights Elementary to alumni. More than a dozen classmates took him
up on his offer. No word if any of those bricks later turned up through
Donnie's windshield.

D.J. Johnny De Leon presented a great mix of music and a dance
partner (his 18-year-old son) for Susan "Flash" Collier, who was, of
course, sporting a new tattoo.

Gossett commanded everyone in attendance (Presidents for Life can do
that) to form a giant circle on the dance floor and we "danced" - albeit
strangely and creakily - to "Big Balls in Cowtown."

Other memorable moments that night included the teeth of those
classmates who ate the cupcakes with black icing (at least that's what I
think it was), Wayne Nail - looking as youthful as ever - flexing his dancing
muscles, Gossett picking up Sarah Kelley and twirling her over his head
during a line dance, and an unnamed wild woman (Patty Haralson)
dancing on a table.

The planning committee would also like to thank James Dunne, Mark
Cook, Hank Pope and Patricia Murdock for helping Susan, Linda and
others take down the decorations and clean up.

Gossett, looking ahead to the next reunion (as any President For Life
should), will do something about getting a pole at the Roberts Center "so
Haralson won't be forced to dance on a table again." He'll also see about
getting an ATM installed nearby. He's offered to help me look for Mr.
Talmadge's (our school counselor) personal journal, or at least the BSPD
booking log from that time period. Gossett also thinks it would be a good
idea to have some spare walkers at the 2016 gathering (he'll bring the
tennis balls). But he nixed the idea of holding the next reunion in the
Settles new ballroom because "after 10 p.m. the stairs would become a
problem." Understatement.

It was a reunion to remember, with more mingling, participation and
laughter than any of the others. A "Keeping Konnected" booklet was
handed out with contact and profile information. There are 46 names in
there will no contact information at all. If you can help with any of those,
please let Reggie know at rsc@crcom.net or the equally hard-working
Cheri Bunch Shoup at jcshoup@suddenlink.net.

"Keep us all as one through years to come" is not just a song lyric
anymore as those years become fewer and more precious the older we
get.

See you all at the 50th!

P.S. I'm reserving my walker ahead of time.

I, Robin Gossett, by the powers invest(igat)ed in me as
"President for Life of the Class of '66" do proclaim Danny
Reagan to be the "Class of 1966 Historian for Life".