The class of '56 has decided to meet at the Holiday Inn, just off 2nd street.

The date has been set and it's July six.  Now that's a reunion I don't want to miss!!

 When I heard about this special occasion, It brought to mind the years of my raisin'.

I'm thankful my life was shared with the rest of you.  My days at SHS were some of my best and I hope yours were too!

 Well, I pondered and pondered about what to wear.  I could sure stand to lose some weight!  And should I dye my hair?

 After all the decisions were made, thoughts of days gone by set in.  So I jotted down some thoughts I had about things that happened "way back when".

 We began our high school days in September of '52.  The motto above the door read "Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve", but we were hoping to have some fun too!

There were classes and study halls throughout the days, And there were opportunities now and then to take part in a play.

 Our teachers tried their very best to teach us a thing or two.  We tried their patience many times,

But they didn't give up on us 'til we were through.

 Mrs. Murray's typing class was one that was fun, and Miss Mary Ella Hammond's class was always searching for some chemical unknown.

 Mr. Adair led the Glee Club and the Band and Mrs. Berryman ran the library with a firm hand.

 Coach Curry watched over an afternoon Study Hall.  He thought we were studying but we were passing notes and having a ball!

 Now Miss Sallie Daves got us ready for college.  She filled our heads with English knowledge.

 Remember Algebra I and Coach Wright's crooked finger?  Was he pointing at you?  I feared it was me and the memory still lingers.

 Miss Sherrod dozed through her Latin class and Miss Hester made us dress out for P.E. if we expected to pass.

 Mrs. Caddell taught some to sew and some to bake.  Her Home Ec class took the cake.

 Mr. Boley came and grew along with us.  He made it to the Principal's office and no one made a fuss.  We loved him and he loved us, of that one thing I'm sure.  It was with our class that he learned to endure.

 In Shangri la we reached great heights and Mr. Ruby was thrilled with opening night.

 There were lots of clubs and activities to keep us busy.  Like Friday night football games and the sock hops after where we danced 'til we were dizzy.         

 We started to date; some were going steady.  There were homecoming bonfires and parades...lots to do to get things ready.

 We worked, we played, we knew fun and frustration. We had a goal.  It was finally reached and that was graduation.

 There were tears of joy and tears of sorrow as the glee club began to sing.  We knew we would never walk those hallowed halls again.

Gone were the days of starched petticoats and poodle skirts, of saddle shoes , ducktails and see through shirts.

No more senior proms, no more skipping school.  Now it is time to get out in the world and apply the golden rule.

 Those days are past and tonight we're looking back.  We each had a dream of how our life would be and that's a fact.

 We stepped out into the world not knowing what to expect.  But each of us was at a fork in the road and a path did select.

 We have all experienced a bit of life since then, through good times and bad.  We have known joy and sorrow.  But the past is behind us and now we look to tomorrow.

 Let's leave here tonight and set new goals, ambitions and dreams and get into our eyes that youthful gleam.  Work, watch, and you will see:  "the best of life is yet to be."

 Peggy Wynne Taylor

1991

Peggy delivering her poem at Reunion35

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