Reunion35

Holiday Inn, Sheffield

Eddie Frost was the master of ceremonies for the evening that consisted of a long, long period of registration and socializing before Eddie announced that it was time to take the "team" picture out in the lobby.  After that was accomplished, the class enjoyed a buffet dinner, followed by entertainment provided by  The Burns Sisters, a harmonizing trio reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters.

Then came what I consider the high point of the evening, the roll call of the class with personal accounts of what has gone on in their lives since high school.  The ground rules were laid down by Eddie:  15 seconds to say everything you want us to know about you.  It started off slow and dry 'til James Brewer broke the ice with his response to his name being called:  "I'm all here, every bit of me, and it's good to see all you old people!" From then on, many provided hilarious commentary and accounts that I will try to report here.  Forgive me if the transcript is faulty, but the sound track on the video tape is less than perfect and the class laughter drowned out some of the punch lines.  If you want to set the record straight on what you actually said, e-mail me and I will be happy to edit this report.

Don Burleson:  "I did real good (at the reunion) til everybody started looking hard at my name tag before they said my name.  Must have something to do with this crew cut. (places hand to balding head)"  Eddie commented that Coach Wright, seeing us tonight, would have made changes in the lineup, moving some from backfield to line (Bob Proctor would be a tackle) and some from line to backfield (Don would be a back today). 

Annette Clark:  "I'm here, and I dare you to place me on the football team!  I enjoy a life better than I deserve."

George Dixon:  "I've had a good life and am still having it.  Had 2 wives, 5 kids and 2 grandkids, and I still haven't overcome those."

Charles Douthit:  "Still live in Sheffield, and I didn't know I graduated till I got this letter."

Eddie Frost:  "Married a little gal from Talledega.  She came up to UNA and asked me several times.  I moved to Florence, got in education and am currently in politics.  In another year you might not know where I'll be."  (Voice from the crowd:  "You might be in jail!"  [Lots of laughter]).

Bobby Glover:  "Somebody didn't dare let on that I was engaged to my wife, Margaret, from Florence, and I was terrified that Coach Wright would find out."

Faye Hand:  "I'm going back to college, now.  I was 2 years younger than you during high school and I resented that until now."  Eddie asked, "What are your grades?"  Answer:  4.0! (Lots of applause)

Jim Holland:  "This is like giving a book report!  I played tailback on the football team more than I played guard, 'cause I kept asking Coach Wright to put me back in, and he kept saying, 'Son, get your tail back on that bench.'  We would'a won more ball games, but the problem we had was Bucky was center and he was ticklish and Ronald Gene was quarterback and he stuttered,. . . ." (There was a third reason, but it was drowned out by the mass laughter.)

Joyce Horton:  "I left Sheffield and went all the way to Muscle Shoals."

Amos Jones:  "I live in Kosciusko, Mississippi.  I didn't know how to pronounce "Kos-ee-ass-ko" 'til 2 days ago.  It's not an Indian town, it's a Polish town.  Didn't know that 'til I saw the statue.  Last time, didn't anyone recognize me;  I didn't recognize anyone this time."

Buck Locke:  "All of the women look just as good as they used to, but the guys got a lot uglier."  (Eddie:  "Anybody remember Bucky talking like that?")

Rebecca Malone:  "Raised 2 kids by myself, and they are my pride and joy.  They've won math and science awards--Annette, I know you think I'm kidding, but I'm not."

Joann Marsh:  "I can't believe so many of you are grandparents!"

Billie Hurst McGlammery:  "I've got the distinction of being married longer than any of you."

Gary Menne:  "I just can't understand why there's so many of us still living in the area, and we don't see one another any more."

Eleanor Morrison:  Halleluiah, the grandbaby's on the way!!  Leave me your address, 'cause I'm gonna send you a picture."

Ronald Gene Pace:  "Changed jobs about 3 times, 'cause they wanted to move me outta town.  ECM Hospital is where I'm kinda stuck now."

Bob Proctor:  "Many of our ages have equaled or surpassed the football numbers you wore--and there weren't any 40's"

Lindsay Nathan: "I live in Birmingham, Alabama!"  (Laughter at the need to clarify which state Birmingham is in.")

Nancy Pugh: "I'm now a Georgia Bulldog.  Want to see you Auburn fans afterwards.  I live in Butler, Georgia.  It's so small, we have no traffic lights.  Just ask anybody, and they'll tell you where to find us."

Gayle Steverson: "I've got a son who's a plastic surgeon.  He'll make you look like you used to look."

Nancy Stewart:  "It seems like we've been putting children through school all our life.  I've just completed 25 years teaching at SHS."

Robert Thrasher: "Moved out of town, too.  I moved to Tuscumbia.  Lots of faces have changed, but me and Buck."

Sara Tidwell:  After 35 years, I finally did it!  I graduated from college (Memphis State), but I did not have a 4.0.

Jimmy Todd:  "I don't know how long I've been married (Southern drawl)."  Eddie:  "Bucky, now, that's the way you're supposed to talk."

Farley Vaughn: "I snuck off across the river to marry Tommie.  I've learned that time sure does fly when you're having fun."

Louise Yarbrough: "Maybe we'll do this again before we get so ancient we can't walk to it."

Many more stood up and told about the latest things in their lives, and most thanked the reunion committee for their hard work in preparation for the reunion that all thought was a wonderful experience.

Registration Desk at Reunion35