SHS Class of 1956

Bette looks on approvingly as Don escorted June to the reunion.

A little over a year since our memorable gathering in June 2006 for the celebration of our 50th year since we graduated from Sheffield High, the Class of '56 got together for a "mini-reunion" at George's Steak Pit on Jackson Highway in Sheffield.  Thus we celebrated REUNION51.  

When it was time to make the reservations, the committee consulted our host, Frank Vafinis, proprietor of George's, and he designated his big dining room that would hold 40 diners comfortably--a number based on the RSVPs that Peggy Bishop had received by then.  Well now, when the date arrived, there were 65 classmates and spouses or dates who crowded into that "big" dining room.  Nonetheless, the closeness of the reunion setting was a metaphor for the closeness of the members of our class--a fact that Stan Brook brought out in his opening remarks as emcee for the occasion.

George's Steakhouse, the site of our 2007 reunion banquet

Plans called for a 1-day, single event reunion--a great steak banquet at George's Steak Pit in Sheffield out near the Helen Keller Hospital and The Southland--1206 Jackson Highway.  When I arrived at 6:00 p.m., the banquet hall was full to overflowing--classmates, anxious to get started, had been assembling for some time.   This was a purely social occasion.  No fanfare.  No search lights.  No skits or games.   Stan recognized our two classmates who passed away since our last reunion, Harold Fell and Charles ("Duck") Douthit, and we took a moment for personal reflection on their lives and their families they left behind.  

A very friendly, competent wait staff efficiently served our every need--except they apparently didn't anticipate the run on that delicious French onion soup and ran out of soup spoons.  The beef must have been Triple-A prime aged Angus, because it was melt-in-your mouth good, lightly marinated and cooked to perfection.  The only problem for this 68-year old guy was the enormity of the cuts of beef.  My wife solved the problem by ordering the combination plate--grilled chicken and a 5.5 oz. filet mignon--just to get the "reasonable sized" cut of beef.  But, of course, she ended up consuming the chicken AND the beef, proclaiming both of them "Gooooooood!"  For a while there, there was little table-hopping by the gastronomically enthusiastic crowd. 

Much of the evening was dedicated to table-hopping as friends spent time together catching up.  A minor subtopic arose about who traveled the farthest to attend.  The usual winners of this title, Buck Locke of Massachusetts and Helen Holman Lutes of Tempe, Arizons were not in attendance, so many contenders were allowed a chance.  Jim Kimbrell from Charleston, June Holmes Holland from Johnson City, Tennessee, Bette Anderson Pickin and Peggy Wynne Taylor were long-distance travelers to the reunion.  

Jim Holland introduced us to his "Sweetie," Joyce Cochran, relating a heart-wrenching tale of advice about his future relationships that he had gotten from the first (and we thought "only") love of his life, Mary Katherine just before she died.  In his remarks, he emphasized with great fervor the need for all of us to make sure that we have everything in order, as life is such a fleeting thing.

Patsy Bell Congleton and her committee of party favors collectors and dispensers presented the lucky winners in her lottery with goodies provided by the SHS Cheerleader Squad and SHS--namely 2007 Bulldog tee shirts and gold 2006 Play-Off footballs.  A tender moment occurred at our table when Peggy Forsythe Hammack heard her friend, Rebecca Malone Ford, comment how much she wanted one of those footballs.  Peggy had just been announced as a recipient, and she gave her football to Rebecca.  As Rebecca, overcome by the generosity of her friend, was profusely thanking Peggy, her name was called as a winner, too.  How's that for providential "things working out?"

Why was this "off-year" reunion such a success?  Many references were made to Jim Kimbrell's frequent cute rhyming, tuneful reminders sent to us by e-mail.  The hard work and strategic planning of Peggy King Bishop, Joann Marsh Gargis, Sandra Foreman Morris, Joyce Horton Johnson, Patsy Bell Congleton and others was not forgotten.  The committee's choice of meeting place was also mentioned as a positive attraction.  Most of all, though, as Stan and Rebecca Malone Floyd and Jim Holland emphasized, we have become a close-knit group because of our commonly-held belief that our values and our faiths and our morals and our ethics tell us that friends are important--if not the most important--assets we have and that we should treasure them.

We all looked on approvingly as Jim and Joyce Cochran attended together.

Now, here's the REAL lowdown on old So-And-So!

Come on, Y'all.  It can't be all that difficult to order from the menu.  The restaurant is called the Steak Pit.

I heard and overheard so many clever, interesting comments from mates that night...one that really sticks in my mind, Jim Holland was sitting across from me eating his steak and he looked up and announced..."see how much fun I am having?"   I quote Jim, "I've sat here and eaten my whole steak using the wrong side of the knife,"    a real compliment to our host Frank Vafinis for  quality beef in quantity, huh?

                         From Linda Methvin Smith

Table-hoppers and hopees.

More of the same!

Frank Vafinis, our host for the reunion

Most of these photos are candid shots sometimes depicting many classmates in the background.  I will try to identify the main subjects of each of the photos, but I will miss some in the background.  If  you see errors in identification or significant omissions, please let me know so I can keep the record straight.

Linda Methvin Smith and Johnny Neyman

Peggy Forsythe Hammack, Jimmy & Penny Kirsch, Pat & Sam Malone, Rebecca Malone Floyd

Georgia & Louis Buettner

Stan Brook, George Lindsay (Glenda Craft's husband) and Nell Brook

Clockwise, starting in foreground:

Jim & Shirley Kimbrough White, Pat Pace (Ron is hidden), Don & Mary Ann Byars Lenz, Louise Yarbrough Holland, Charlotte & James Brewer

Bobby Glover, Linda Methvin Smith, Johnny & Sue Neyman, Eleanor Todd 

Don Burleson, June Holmes Holland, Bette Anderson Pickin, Nancy Stewart & Royce King

Frank (hidden) & Peggy King Bishop, Barbara Laughlin South, Joann Marsh & Charles Gargis

Neil & Sandra Morris

Shirley Kimbrough White, Ron Pace, James Brewer

Peggy & Clovis Taylor

Clockwise from left:  Jimmy & Penny Kirsch, Pat & Sam Malone, Farley & Tommie Vaughn, Georgia Buettner

Linda Methvin Smith at the front door

Sam Malone, Tommie & Farley Vaughn

Don & Mary Ann Byars Lenz, Louise Yarbrough Holland

Don Burleson & June Holmes Holland

Nancy Stewart & Royce King

Patsy Bell & Jimmy Congleton

Jim Holland & Joyce Cochran, Joyce Ford & Jim Foster

Georgia & Louis Buettner

Don Burleson shaking hands with Winston Carter

Bobby Hammack and his grandmother, Peggy Forsythe Hammack

Stan Brook, Master of Ceremonies.

In the audience:  Winston Carter, Don Burleson, June Holmes Holland, Jimmy Congleton

Jesse & Billie Faye Baker, Jim Holland introducing Joyce Cochran.  In the foreground:  Jimmy & Eleanor Todd

Peggy King Bishop, reading classmate well-wishing letters.

Jim Brewer, Winston Carter and Jesse Baker in the audience

Peggy King Bishop and Patsy Bell Congleton giving away the door prizes.

Winston Carter, Jesse & Billie Faye Baker in the audience

Sam Malone, receiving his tee-shirt door prize

Peggy Wynne Taylor, Don Burleson, June Holmes Holland

Our efficient wait-staff

Sylvia Carter (Winston's bride), Neil & Sandra Foreman Morris, Joyce Horton & Duane Johnson

Back:  Frank & Peggy King Bishop.

Foreground:  Barbara Laughlin South, Joanne Marsh Gargis

Shirley Kimbrough White, Barbara Chambers (Harold's wife), Ron Pace

Don & Mary Ann Byars Lenz showing Linda Methvin Smith new photos of Miriam.  Louise Yarbrough Holland and Charlotte Brewer in the foreground.

Joyce Cochran, Joyce Ford & Jim Foster, Bobby Glover, Jim Kimbrell, Johnny & Sue Neyman

Sandra Maclin Thornton, Jim Holland & Joyce Cochran, Joyce Ford & Jim Foster

George Lindsey (Glenda Craft's husband) greeting Jesse Baker

Louis Buettner, aimlessly wandering with wife, Georgia, Glenda Craft Lindsey, Bette Anderson Pickin and one of our great waitresses in the vicinity.

Louis & Georgia Buettner--he finally found his place at her side.

Ron Pace and Farley Vaughn sharing stories

Neil Morris (Sandra Foreman's husband) doing what he does best--a warm smile and a firm handshake

Sandra Foreman Morris, with June Holmes Holland & Georgia Buettner and Rebecca Malone Floyd & Nancy Stewart King exchanging warm greetings in the background

Tommie Vaughn (Farley's wife), Rebecca Malone Floyd, and Georgia Buettner (Louis' wife)

Pat & Sam Malone

Linda Methvin Smith, cub photographer, at work while Tommie Vaughn (Farley's wife) and Georgia Buettner (Louis' wife) engage in serious discussion and Rebecca Malone Floyd and Sylvia Carter (Winston's wife) are in the background.

Georgia Buettner (Louis' wife) and Stan Brook

On the occasion of the 51^st reunion of The SHS Class of 1956:

                 The Journey

One hundred seventeen proud eager souls paraded across that stage so long ago

And walked out into the world with ambition and fire in their eyes.

Some knew their calling while others had no inkling of the road ahead.

Some strode confident with heads held high; some were timid but willing to try.  

Some were afraid. 

Not that they knew it, all had been prepared. 

The care and challenge their mentors laid before them

Permeated their being and infused their unconscious will to learn.

On the job or in their climb to terminal degrees, they reveled in learning.

Their teachers had excelled.

There were those whose goals were so transfixed by purpose

That they moved swiftly into that bright sunny land of success.

Some trod rocky uphill roads, but pluck and preparation brought them to their goal.

Some faced their epiphany, and doing so changed course to find pure joy.

No journeys are alike.

The dark clouds of a distant war called others of our band.

Some served and returned, while others found their life’s work in that service.

Brief or long, that service changed them.

The aimless found direction, the meek found strength to lead.

The fire refined.

As years rolled by, they built on their firm foundation.

Hard work, that toilsome ethic of their parents, became their rule.

Some reaped rewards tenfold, their labors gaining them their dream.

Some strived and made ends meet—difficult but satisfying.

Fate is fickle.

Grey hair and lively heirs appeared.  Goals changed as goals were gained.

New vocation.  New pleasures.  New service.  New mates.  New horizons.

Their self-image, their desires, their feelings remained those of their youth.

Not one of them felt older than on that day so long ago.

Time is friendly.

Like oil droplets on chicken soup, this class, once separated, has coalesced.

Most found communion with their Lord and follow His command to love.

This love binds them to their brothers and sisters here and in foreign lands.

And so they find each other and gather, finding commonality—

                                                                            Louis