Blytheville High School Class of '67 Our 40th Reunion |
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Ms. Red Pen Tells It Like It Was |
| BHS Reunion signs led the way to the BHS cafeteria on Friday, Oct. 5th, 2007 where we all joined to begin the long awaited weekend of festivities. After we checked in at the front desk, we were given a BHS imprinted tote bag filled with goodies, a directory filled with our bios, and a schedule of the weekend. We were led in a blessing by Father Ernie Hardesty, our classmate. Then the buffet line began where we were served Harry Meyer's chicken, ribs, chopped BBQ, potatoes, rolls, baked beans and cobbler. The tables were decorated with beautiful fall mums, and the tables soon filled up with hungry former students and their spouses. Our special guests included, Donna Mosley, PE and Health teacher and cheerleader coach; Coach and Mrs. Dwight |
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Williams(basketball); and Virginia Harpole, Ginger's mother visiting from Jonesboro as well as the wooden Chickasaw Indian from" back in the day". A really special young guest was Eddie Pharo's daughter, Jennifer Pharo, BHS cheerleader, who performed the old standard, "Two Bits" with great ability and charm. Plus, she is a doll. Made us old cheerleaders feel very proud, especially since there were no sequins on the outfits. Roger Oldham,Reunion treasurer, handed out tickets to the BHS Chickasaw football game. We played Greene County Tech for our Homecoming-that seemed strange to us as we never ever played them in football, just basketball. Most everyone attended the game, which we won easily and our class was also recognized at the half-time over the PA system. Unfortunately, 95% of the class had just left to retire to the Holiday Inn Lounge/Bar, but the three who remained, cheered loudly when the PA system blared, |
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"Welcome back, Class of '67-once a Chickasaw, always a Chickasaw! Right?" then 3 voices yelled, Wha-who, Yippee, Woo-e. Most re-convened at the H. Inn Lounge, where rumor was there was some heavy duty twisting going on to the "Peppermint Twist"(Joey Dee and the Starlighters). Then there was a wonderful karaoke of "I will Survive" with the BHS girls singing their heart out, led by our ever-perky Suzie Stallings. She's so good at karaoke, complete with the hand and body movements to go along with it. What a treat! |
On Saturday morning, a few went to That Bookstore In Blytheville for a shopping spree at the most famous bookstore in the South. The class of 1962 had met there the night before for their BBQ fix. Some gathered even earlier for a golf tournament at Bly Country Club, chaired by Eddie Pharo and Mike Guillot. Then at 11 o'clock, 54 of us piled in The Dixie Pig for the sandwich of our dreams and the BBQ sauce of our fantasy life. It was a blast with all of us crammed in the booths and the tables-with cameras flashing constantly. Laurie Ritchey passed the tip basket for the wonderful job that our two waitresses did.A special treat was Terri Rainwater, Morgan's |
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sister, who was in town for her Reunion, visited with us and we all exchanged Morgan stories..it was a sweet time. After the pig sandwiches were consumed, we went outside where Rena and Harley had their fabulous white motorcycles parked and we rookies did photo shoots..then Niki Hoke rode off into the sunset with Harley, Rena's husband!
There was an hour to kill before the BHS tour of the school at 2pm, so we all did different activities-some just took a tour of the town or their old homes-others got a free impromptu tour of the forever hallowed Ritz Theater This was not planned. The adventuresome 4some just banged on the door and the nice man who runs it, opened it and gave us the GRAND, and I mean Grand tour of every part of the historic building..highlights included sitting in the famed telephone booth where we called daddy to pick us up after the movie and lounging on the circular, Hollywood ottoman in the Ladies Lounge. It wasn't the original but that was OK. It just wasn't big enough for a real good fantasy but we made it work! Another photo op was |
standing behind the concession stand..that was a first! The seats looked the same in the theater but now it is used for live performances, so of course, the stage has been modified. The manager gave us a CD of the Ritz through the ages, so Em will post parts of it so our fantasy life can continue. After all, some of you got your first kiss there.
At 2 pm, those that wanted toured the school, starting with the auditorium where the beautiful plaque officially states that our class did give the PA system in 1967 as our gift, listing Jerry Fletcher, Ron Wilson and John Black's names on it. We continued on down the halls, passing the snack room where we would gather, and Miss Effie Lee Terrell's counseling room. |
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| The highlight of that tour was Dr. Gary Taylor , former BHS English teacher, joining us. He is the brother of our own Judy ,and he lives in Atlanta. We went to his classroom, made him pose for a pic in front of his old classroom. Several of us recited part of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales in Middle English to him..hope we made him proud. We also went in the Home Ec room where Virginia |
Robinson taught for 28 years -so many of our class were her students. We toured down the hall to see the trophy case our class donated in Morgan Rainwater's name for the Thespian trophiesto be held..it is beautiful. On a funny note, Buddy Wheat was somehow able to open one of the old lockers just like it wasn't locked! Once a locksmith, always a locksmith. That ended our tour!
Now let the party begin!! Happy Hour began at 5 pm, where hors D'oeuvres were served, and people browsed the Memory '67 table, with some new faces appearing at the door.. Jeanetta Austin Boyd, BHS |
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| Reunion chrm.,welcomed us all home after our group picture was taken.
Fred Porter, spouse of Billie Jean Sharp Porter,
gave our blessing before we began the buffet of
Prime Rib, chicken cordon bleu, baked Italian fish and all the trimmings. The memorial service was led by Marilyn as the 27 names of our deceased classmates were read, and
an individual tea candle was extinguished for each lost classmate
by one of us. Then a pillar candle was lit in their collective memory by Stephan Deen to complete a very moving service for those we loved. Lew "Dago" Walters emceed the rest of the evening and introduced Melinda Guard Carter, Scholarship Chairman, to present what we would like to do for our legacy scholarship. Melinda and Brenda Crews had compiled a beautiful cookbooklet of recipes from the online e-group that were sold and given as you made a scholarship donation. Melinda |
| challenged us all to participate in $40 for the 40th donation, and some gave a lot more to give us a total of $4,000 to be put in a trust fund for BHS scholarships through the years.The online Quiz winner was announced , and the winner was Mike Stallings,
(of course Suzie would like to claim the prize is her's, but she kept stating on the e-group that Mike guessed all but one),
who only missed one face on the entire picture quiz online. Paul Blume won a bottle of treasured Dixie Pig hot sauce
(but no BBQ)
for missing the most on the online quiz. Mike Smith came the most miles from CA, with Mamie Go a close second. Stan Williams graciously accepted the golf award of biggest loser even though he won the golf tournament held that morning. Susie Robinson won changed the least and the OBA(Online |
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| Blabbermouth Award), and David Shaver won "Changed the Most". Reba Warren had the most marriages with 9, and Joyce Ann Hulsey won most grandchildren with 11. Thank-you gifts were |
presented to Emmalyn Sims, for her outstanding web page; David Shaver, for the e-group developer and moderator; and thanks to Rodney George, website developer, all the way in Germany. A special monogrammed gift bag was presented to Jeanetta Austin Boyd for her dedication and work to be the Reunion chairman..in her bag was a sack of Bath and Body products, an engraved maroon , leather photo album and 2 WALMARTS gift cards. A special treat followed with "Jerry and the Jeriatrics playing some songs for us like Peggy Sue and Louie, Louie..the band consisted of Jerry Batey(JB),vocal and guitar; Jimmy Burton on the keyboard; and Mike Davis on what else, the drums. Mike had just flown in |
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from Iraq. Jerry's wife, Debbie,joined in on some of the songs..it was so much fun, and we are so blessed to have such a fun, talented group in our midst. Even though our DJ, Rick Christian, got a late start to the evening, he was a great sport about it, and played some of our favorites from the ' 67 era. Everybody said it was the best reunion ever(we say that every 10 years), and we all just want to thank all the committees that worked so hard..they are all listed in the directory. The evening ended with the doors being opened to the H. Inn bar, and the dancing and drinking and visiting continued until after midnight. Everyone agreed we won't wait until 10 years..we will have the next one in 5 years-2012. So, start planning now. In the meantime,keep in touch and have a mini-reunion..they are fun, too!
Submitted by:Susie Robinson Walker |
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