SHS Class of 1956

Forty-Fifth Reunion

June 8-9, 2001

Click Here

to Navigate

About Us

SHS Then

SHS Now

Reunions

Sheffield, AL

The Playroom

Helllllpppppp!

Contact Us

Home

CLICK HERE to go to the Reunion45 Photo Scrapbook

Click here for a large photo

Us, all lined up in the courtyard of the Sheffield Holiday Inn

SHEFFIELD’S MOST FORTUNATE GENERATION

by Buck Locke

Members of the Most Fortunate Generation gathered on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9, 2001, for the 45^th Reunion of Sheffield High School’s Class of 1956.

The weekend included three wonderful and exciting main events, beginning with the first on Friday evening, at the home of Neil and Sandra Morris in Tuscumbia.  Fifty folks enjoyed the outdoor affair which included a delightful barbecue meal.  Lending additional significance to this particular celebration of the reunion was the fact that it was the host and hostess’s 45th wedding anniversary.  What a blessed occasion for Sandra and Neil - and how very nice of them to allow us to share this special time with them! 

Classmate Peggy Bell Congleton said, “The informal social at Neil and Sandra’s was my favorite of all the events.”

Early risers, on Saturday morning enjoyed the second event, Breakfast at the Ponderosa.  Forty attended to get their day started off right by continuing the fellowship from the evening before.

Main event, this got underway on Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn in Sheffield where some 80 alumni and guests gathered for dinner and a 45^th class reunion to always be remembered.  The ladies and the guys looked terrific, and everyone agreed they were certainly glad to be there. (Those unable to attend were certainly missed.)

That theme of all three events was fun and fellowship.  Conversations revolved around events of long-ago, the joys of today, and plans for the future.  The class of  ‘56 has been meeting at five-year intervals.  It was decided the next reunion should be held sooner, and all agreed that the year 2004 would be great.  (All classmates are urged to make note of this and plan accordingly.).

It was noted that out of the class of 117 members, sixteen have passed on to their reward.  The most recent loss from our group was Eddie Frost, who was still the mayor of Florence at the time of his death.  Eddies presence was certainly missed at our 45th reunion.

The 2001 reunion books (made available at registration) included 80 alumni who responded to the invitation.  Only 14 failed to respond.  Everybody appreciated the Reunion Committee for providing the keepsake and for the great job they did in coordinating the reunion.  Those folks included: Peggy King Bishop, Joyce Horton Johnson, Sandra Forman Morris, Patsy Bell Congleton, Shirley Kimbrough White, Joann Marsh Gargis and Rebecca Malone Floyd….Salute!

Summary of Events

The first hurricane of the season in the Gulf, which gave us heavy rains on Thursday, cooperated beautifully by leaving us with clear skies for our evening outside on Friday.

We noted that many of the graduates still live in the Shoals area, and others came in from Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts.  Several were attending their first reunion of the class since graduating in 1956.  The following classmates and spouses attended at least one of the reunion events, and most attended all three.

Sheffield: Frank and Peggy King Bishop, Patsy Congleton and Jimmy, Stanley Brook and Nell, Charles Duck Douthit and Ann, Jean Estes and Ed, Bob Glover and Margaret, Jim Holland and Mary Katherine, Warren Pratt and Gay.

Tuscumbia:  Harold Chambers and Barbara, Sandra Morris and Neil, Shirley White and James, Rebecca Malone floyd, Robert Thrasher and Judy, Jimmy Todd and Eleanor, and Louise Holland.

Muscle Shoals: Jimmy Brewer and Charlotte, Mary Ann Lenz and Don, Peggy Hammock, Joyce Johnson and Duane, Joann Gargis and Charles, Gary Menne and Carolyn, Ron Pace and Pat, and Barbara Roland.

Florence: Mary Lynn Freeman and Bill, Irelle Vann and Donnie, Ralph Emmons, and Don Burleson.

Georgia: Bette Russell, Nancy Wilson; Huntsville: Farley Vaughn and Tommie, Glenda Lindsey and George; Tuscaloosa: Louis Buettner and Georgia; Birminghham: Lindsey Reese and Louie; Fultondale: Edna Blair and Don; MS: John Collins and Betty; FL: Gayle Kent and Jack, Tilman Gargis, Lydia Almand and Warren; TN: Eleanor Herron, Larry Hall and Willard, Sam Malone and Pat, Wallace Driskell and Katie, Peggy Taylor and Clovis, and June Holland; ARK: Sara Mardis; TX: Dot Maloney; VA: Bob Proctor and Janelle, Patricia Laroux, SC: Jimmy Kimbrell and Bette; MA: Buck Locke and Judy.

The Master of Ceremonies on Saturday evening was Ronald Pace, VP of Human Resources, Coffee Health Group.  He kept the group somewhat organized as someone mentioned, “It was like herding cats!”  Ronald reminded us of events that happened in 1956 such as Elvis Presley performing at the Sheffield Community Center before he became world famous. We were a nation at peace but on the threshold of internal turmoil as Dr. Martin Luther King was beginning the Civil Rights revolution.

There were pictures of elementary classes at the old Atlanta Avenue School.  Folks were challenged to identify themselves or their spouse in the photos from 1943 – 1949.  As prizes, gift certificates were awarded to places “long gone” from Sheffield, such as the Pharmacy, Woody-Mac, Colbert Theatre, Brook’s Gulf Station and other 1950 businesses.  Sixteen hands were raised in response to the question of how many started 1^st grade at Atlanta Avenue Elementary and graduated together from Sheffield High.  Five others started at Alabama Avenue school.

John Collins, now retired and residing in Tupelo, MS, gave a summary of Classmate Accomplishments.  A sample of class member occupations includes:  teachers, doctors, nurses, electricians, engineers, various military branches and homemakers.  A cursory search revealed no Candlestick Makers or Indian Chiefs.  John’s research statistics on the number of children and grandchildren indicated the Class had followed Biblical instructions to “…be fruitful and multiply.”

John was responsible for the evening entertainment and furnished the music system and music from the ‘50s by such artists as: Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Platters, Fats Domino and many others.  The music provided a great background for reminiscing about “the way we were.”

A major topic of conversation seemed to be the joy of being grandparents, i.e., how wonderful our grandchildren are and what a pleasure to be with them and then have them go home with their parents.  Travel was also popular and several folks have traveled to many foreign places.  The most popular destination for our age group seems to be Europe.  A strong current in the minds of many people are dreams of future adventures and that “the good Lord will provide.”

Another delightful aspect of the reunion was each one’s attempt to recall names of the others.  Seems Father Time has changed everyone – not only over the past 45 years but also in just the past 5 years!  Many of us are still growing and a fortunate few have lost the baby fat of their youth.  Beards and mustaches have sprouted as well as some thinning of the hair on top.  Turns out that all the ladies have grown more beautiful with the passage of time.