Don's Thoughts

7/11/06

Dear Classmates:

    After checking the current messages, I wanted to send my greetings to you. I hope this finds you well and happily remembering our last reunion. So many of our classmates contributed to the day. Charlie Plumb did an excellent job being our emcee for all the events. Bob Cathey was cordial as he welcomed us as our ranking class officer. Dick Myers was interesting and impressive as he shared with us and answered questions. Phyllis LaFollette Bell entertained us after dinner with a first-class musical show. They brought back memories of our time at SMN and served as a vivid reminder of the diverse journeys we've traveled since 1960. Saturday morning's events at North began with an opening welcome from Charlie, a greeting from the current principal Tony Lake (Max Jordan's son-in-law), a tour of the school led by members of the Student Congress and featured Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dick Myers, sharing his insights on current events and answering our questions. (Although not the work of the Reunion committee, the afternoon party sponsored by Hocker Grove alums for the Class of 1960 was a huge success, too.) The shelter house at Antioch Park was available for people to congregate in the afternoon.

    A small committee met planning and implementing the design for a mini-reunion. The goal of the committee was to provide time and a place for class members to re-connect; to meet while we still had some living class members; and, to not "outshine" the upcoming 50th Reunion. Although there were several ideas proposed, one more grand than the next, the committee felt a "mini" reunion would be more manageable by a small committee in a short time. We worked hard to create the best possible options for a day-long reunion. We felt using our own classmates in the program was the way to go. Not many classes have the "stars" we have. We continue to work on locating class members. Don has become the Super Sleuth in finding missing classmates. Patty Watt Bays, Sharon Mayes Bagg, Don Davis, Pat Righter Trump and I were on the committee. Larry Newlon, Lydia Paul Hoobery, Ellie Dyke Mowery, Charlie Plumb, Bob Cathey and Phyllis LaFollette were indispensable with advice and support. Many of you sent in addresses for class members.

    If one can judge success as being the opportunity to see old friends and have the time to visit with them, the the Reunion was a success. From the time we gathered in the morning at North to the closing of the Reunion when Ellie led us in singing "God Bless America", it was a day filled with memories, conversation, hugs, smiles and a few tears. Thank you to each of you who attended and added your warmth and friendship to the day. Judging from the responses of our class members, it would seem a 5-year interval between reunions is preferred to a 10-year interval.

    At the 45th Reunion, several classmates signed a list to volunteer to be on the Reunion Committee. In this way we will have a representative group with new ideas planning the events for the 50th Reunion. If you are interested in helping and did not have a chance to sign up at the Reunion, let me know. Some out-of-towners expressed interest in helping. It can be done! (Ellie lives in Oklahoma and did the name tags. Charlie, Bob, Phyllis and Dick all live out-of-state. They communicated by email.) It is a committee made up of friends who wish to remain friends. A lot of discussion, sharing of ideas and compromising takes place.

    Thanks are due Larry Newlon who, in spite of the sorrow of his father's illness and death, has kept the website updated. He kept everyone informed of the Reunion through the planning stages. He continues to bring us messages from one another. Please keep Larry informed of any changing addresses or phone numbers. Also, keep looking for our "Missing" classmates. If anyone has photos of the 45th Reunion to share on the website, would you add them to the ones already there? It would be appreciated. Suanne and Sam were taking lots of pictures. Can you post any? If you contact Larry, he can probably give you instructions.

    Have a beautiful summer. Be watching for a notice of a Reunion Committee social.

Linda (Sell) McConwell