Some of the stories coming out of the reunion experience are as fun and entertaining as the photos. Our class is blessed with a bunch of happy folks. There was a lot of joy and laughter at each of the events, along with stirring and inspiring happenings that just can't be captured on film.
Here's where you can post your recounting of the things that made you laugh, the things that touched your heart and the things that made you proud to be a member of The Class of 1956 during our Golden Reunion.
One of the funniest stories of the reunion came about before we even got together for the celebration. Carole Driskell, our classmate Wallace Driskell's sister-in-law and secretary to Billy Don Anderson, Mayor of Sheffield, contacted your webmaster for help in getting the word out on the website that Mayor Anderson was looking for pictures of 7 of the early Sheffield mayors to complete the collection that hangs in the conference room of the Mayor's office.
That afforded me the opportunity to make a pitch to Carole for getting the Mayor to proclaim the days of our reunion official "SHS Class of 1956 Days" in Sheffield. She ran the proposal by Mayor Anderson, and he reacted favorably, telling us to have a contingent of Fifty-sixers at the May 1 meeting of the City Council to receive the proclamation. Sandra Foreman Morris acted as our representative at that meeting.
But, little did we or she know that we already have a classmate who attends virtually every Sheffield City Council meeting, seriously acting as a feisty, outspoken citizen ombudsman pointing out all the opportunities the Council has to improve the city--from fixing potholes to improving their public behavior. When it came time for Mayor Anderson to announce his mayoral proclamation, he asked if there were any members of the Sheffield High School Class of 1956 in attendance at the meeting. Sandra stood, and so did Margie Gargis. I am told that Margie had no idea what was about to transpire, but she must have been pleasantly surprised to observe the Mayor doing such a nice thing for our class instead of rolling his eyes at her complaints.
I wonder if that proclamation will mellow her.
Louis
They Still Make 'em Like They Used To
It was a pleasant, inspiring thing to see some of the youngsters contributing to make us oldsters have a great reunion.
Peggy Forsythe Hammack gets around very slowly and deliberately, but she was at every one of the events of our reunion. Her grandson, Bobby, was her constant escort for the entire two days, and the joy on her face told us all that she was enjoying every minute of the reunion. Bobby not only saw to every need she had--transportation, assistance in getting around, fetching for her--but he also found time to take a wonderful collection of photos with his cell phone camera and to share them with us.
Jim Holland's home and grounds were impeccable, and Jim was the well-rested gracious host, largely due to the fact that many of the headaches of hosting such an important event were assumed by his daughter and grandchildren. Karen hovered in the background, taking care of the many organizing and cleaning chores. She even enforced June Holms' prescription that Jim take a mid-afternoon nap so he would be alert and ready to perform the duties of host in the evening. Two of Jim's grandsons, Trey, Jim Junior's son, and Hunter, Karen's son, provided the golf cart ferry service from our parked cars to the front door of the reunion banquet. Jim Junior located the 1956 rust and cream Chevrolet Bel-Air that graced the lawn behind the dining tent.
Lisa King is a young lady friend of Patsy Bell Congleton who could have been anywhere else having fun in the glorious weather that we experienced on Saturday. Instead, she was busy helping Patsy gather and decorate the cafeteria at Sheffield High for our Sock Hop all morning, and she stayed to film the event and the reunion banquet later that evening--after having done the same for the event on the evening before at Jean Gardner Estes' home. I had been disappointed to learn that we wouldn't have the videographers we expected to have from the SHS Camera Club, but Lisa stepped up and did the duty on no notice at all. When I told her that this was going to be a "paying job," she demurely declined saying, "I work for food!"
"Little Brothers" got involved, too. Rogers Kimbrell, Jim Kimbrell's little brother, loaned us his ultra-spiffy laptop to do the demonstrations of the website CD at the evening events. Little (ha!) "Billy" Bundy, who lives in North Carolina, squired his big sister Barbara Bundy Occhipinti to the reunion when she started making noises like she might not attend. That's over a thousand miles of driving, just to ensure Barbara's having a good time.
Kudos to the younger generation!
Louis
Reunion memories......as you know I have prided myself on recognizing our classmates; well, boy did I get surprised. I walked all around Ann Shook ( I reckon I thought she was a classmate's wife) until finally I looked her right in the face. It got away with me so bad. But, she didn't know me either. Some of the folks I have not seen since we graduated. I am already looking forward to our next reunion. Again, thank you and all the people who worked making our 50th Reunion so wonderful.
Barbara Laughlin South
Reunions Renew Friendships
Louis,
You will remember from earlier email correspondence that you said you had been to see Farley Vaughn about the old pictures he had. You said how much you enjoyed your visit.
That got me thinking about Farley, and I couldn't get him off my mind. My stepson, who lives in the suburbs of Huntsville, had saved me the front page article on Farley's retirement due to health reasons.
My wife, Pat, and I were planning to go to Huntsville and visit with the grandsons. I told her I would like to visit Farley while we were down there. I called him and told him when I would be in town and made arrangements to meet him near his house.
Everything worked out, and we spent a great afternoon talking about old times. We talked about making model airplanes and developing contact prints from old photo negatives. I told him the story about Johnny Williams and the bow and arrow he got for Christmas. We laughed the afternoon away. Since my visit was before the reunion, I asked him to sit at our table during the banquet on Saturday night.
It was during this visit that I realized that Farley had been my friend longer than anybody else I can remember. He lived two doors down from me in Village 2 until our dads built houses across the alley from each other.
Farley, Tommie, Pat, and I enjoyed the day together during the reunion. We plan on getting together again, as soon as we can. We have gone our separate ways for long enough. It's time we spent time with those who are such an important part of our lives. I encourage my '56 classmates to do the same.
I have you to thank, too, for suggesting I contact Farley. I appreciate it.
Sam Malone
A part of going back to your roots--especially for us out of towners--involves riding around the old hometown and seeing how things have changed. Sometimes it is exciting; sometimes it saddens us. Farley and I stopped by the Mayor's office to visit Carole Driskell who had contacted us to make an appeal to help locate missing photos of former Sheffield mayors. While there we were graciously received by Mayor Billy Don Anderson who doubled as valet during the Friday night event at Jean Gardner Estes' home.
I'll bet you, too, drove by your old homesite. When I visited 1412 - 30th Street, however, I was saddened at the condition of the beautiful little brick home where I grew up. Click here to see why my Dad is probably rolling over in his grave and other stories from classmates who visited the homes of their youth.
Louis Buettner
Here's some space that I've saved just for your story! Get busy and send me an e-mail telling us about something that made you smile, feel good or surprised you at our Golden Reunion.
Bob Proctor, I especially want you to tell us your "It's a Small World" story!
POST-REUNION GUSHING COMMENTS
Many of you took the time after the reunion to sit down and write out your accolades to members of the reunion planning committee. Here are a few that came my way--reproduced here just to show the enthusiasm of classmates who attended the reunion. Take the hyperbole directed at the recipient with a grain of salt; I'm sure each of the reunion committee was similarly lauded for their role in making this Golden Reunion, the best one yet.
It was volunteers and teamwork that made this reunion the memorable weekend that it was. The "regular" reunion committee was supplemented by many volunteers, and each and every classmate who was asked to perform a role in the reunion did so graciously and with such perfection that we all appreciated.
PATSY
Louis,
Just a few words to say how much Judy and I enjoyed our
50th reunion.
It was just great and I didn't want it to end Saturday night. I guess I
wanted
it to go on and on. We both enjoyed the fellowship with all the
classmates
and it's amazing how many I recognized after all these years not seeing
most of
them. We couldn't have had a better M.C. than you. You Louis
were great as a
speaker. You have done a great job as our Webmaster and I hope the
others
will continue to send you materials about our class. Just wanted to let
you
know how Judy and I feel. Great job, well done and God Bless you and
your
family.
Talk to you later........BUD '56
We can never thank you enough for all you did to make our reunion so successful. I believe your website was instrumental in creating interest, encouraging us to remember (a huge feat in itself!), and inspiring people to come. Everybody I talked with had something very complimentary to say about you and the site! Also, I appreciate you maintaining it and have enjoyed the pictures made during the events. Georgia must be as beautiful inwardly as outwardly to allow you the hours you had to spend on all of this. We do appreciate her sharing you with us but it is now time for her to reclaim her husband! Ha! Looking forward to seeing you and the committee on the 20th.
Joann
It was wonderful to see the website being continued as I guess I've become addicted to checking it out. We returned home yesterday (Wed.) so I've had a few days to come down from flying high. Every minute spent seeing old friends and classmates produced a nostalgic glow on everyone's face. I even heard spouses remark it was the best reunion they had ever attended (mine included). My husband of two years was very serious when he thanked me for inviting him to go. All talked about how we seem to care about one another; the fact there was no liquor and no wild behavior and actually a spiritual kind of atmosphere. That says so much about the character of our class especially when those remarks were made by spouses.
Bette Anderson Pickin
Thanks for all your efforts with the reunion. It really was a sucess. You are a natural M.C. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Ron Pace
Thanks so much for keeping us informed about the pictures.
Jack and I had a great time at the reunion also. We appreciate what all you have done to make it so much fun.
Gayle Steverson Kent
We are (receiving the e-mails), and thanks for all of your updates. We really enjoy them. The class reunion was so much fun. Bob's foot kept him from visiting as many people as he wanted to do...next time! He is down to one crutch and soon, hopefully, he will be "footloose." Thanks for all you do!
Janelle and Bob
Sure sorry to have missed it (the reunion). Glad it was a huge success.
Carol Cahoon
Thanks for including me.
, but
it's fun to hear from people.
[Contact Information removed for Internet privacy reasons. Kitty is listed correctly in the reunion directory, and those of you who are on Jim Kimbrell's e-mail list will be getting all classmates' updated working e-mail addresses soon.]
If you email me, please put "SHS" in the subject line, so you
don't fall into my "unknown" category and get sent to SPAM
I don't know how you do it. The article on your reunion is great and seems
to be complete. Where do you get the time ? The
coke & moon pie takes me back to the old days when we could get a R C
Cola & Moon pie for a nickel each.
Regards,
Austin
