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Page Four All of us who were fortunate enough to attend the Centennial Festival in the fall were delighted that Bill Coburn had brought his border collies to entertain us. His dogs, Bud, Joy, and Hope, are so intelligent it is scary and such fun to watch. My favorite was watching them herd the ducks - no the goats. Oh heck I love it all. Thanks Greg, Janie, Kathy – all of you- for bringing them back for us. What a treat! 
The rain finally gave us a break after lunch and we all headed over to the A & T Building for the Alumni meeting. The 50’s group filled up one section and again had the most in attendance. YAH!!! We were delighted when Janie announced that the meeting would start with a poem by Harold Thurmond. Lightbulb!!! 
This is the poem Gail told me Harold composed that morning.
When he started reading his poem, the love and warmth he feels for the
school touched me so. I grabbed Dale’s hand and we sat and cried
in loving friendship and with great pride for our friend and his incredible
talent. Thank you Harold for saying what we try so hard to say about
our school and fall so short. Harold will share this poem
with you later in the report. 
The meeting was called to order and the school honored several people. Dess Oliver was honored for his service to the school. Dess’s devotion to the Tallulah Falls Railroad and his lifetime dream of saving a piece of that history has culminated in his gift to the school of his collection. This is simply overwhelming. Jackie, Dess’s wife, had told me at lunch he was being honored and did not know it and she was having a hard time getting him to stay for the meeting. Well he stayed and he was very touched by the honor and his speech was a highlight of the meeting. 
The next item on the agenda was the installation of the new alumni officers. We were very proud for Dale Denham Shaffield who became our new Treasurer and disappointed that Susan H. Odom was edged out Lydia Towels Hood ‘87 for President. Dr. Kathy Sparks tripped Dale as she started up the stairs to the stage and then Dale stumbled and did a very good impression of Jerry Lewis climbing stairs. Of course, in her usual style, she told everyone “Now you have to admit I know how to make a grand entrance.” 
The rain had caused many changes in the itinerary for the weekend and Bill Kelly’s cookout was no exception. Betty Kelly Wyatt and her husband Leigh were very kind to invite the whole gang to their house and WHAT A HOUSE! A beautiful home, inside and out, and we were all very grateful to Betty and Leigh for having us over. Bruce Hopper and Gene Vinson were grilling burgers and hot dogs and the smell was enticing even to us who had done nothing but eat all day. The food was very good and enjoyed by all. 
The view from the backyard was absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed the magnificent sunset. Yes the rain had finally stopped!!!! Our host Bill visits with Hoyt Hooper who still refuses to believe that he ever ran from Ann Mays Brooker. No way, he says. 
Dale found out Dedrick Cole was inside the house and almost stomped several alums to get inside to see him. Here is a picture of Dale with all her high school sweethearts - Harold Thurmond, Dale, Dedrick Cole and Bob Welden. 
Everyone enjoyed sitting around, visiting and renewing friendships. We were happy to find some of our community alums that we had not seen on campus. Here we have Kathleen Brown Efird and Mildred Burrell Bennett with Ron Ward. You can tell Kathleen was delighted to see Ron. 
Jimmy Moore, Phil Landers, Opal Norton Messer and Bob Page enjoy a visit with each other. They all look soooo good. 
Robbin and I jumped with joy when LaVerne and Ronald Coleman stopped by. We really wanted Ronald in our “class” picture. Both have had many health problems and we counted our blessings that they came by to see us. Here they visit with Dale and Alice Siebert Philp. 
Speaking of Robbin, here she and Mitch relax and wait for those burgers. Robbin, Tim and I tried to round up our classmates for our 45th but maybe the rain kept some of them away. We will keep trying next year. 
Harold and Gail Thurmond visit with Tom Weaver. Tom was enjoying the reunion and we were enjoying Tom. His enthusiasm for renewing friendships with his classmates and his memories have been a breath of fresh air for us. I heard that SOME PEOPLE even received some of his famous bread. 
Without a doubt two people who are still in love and enjoy their life. Aaron and Jo Ann Perry kept my husband, Jim, entertained while I took pictures. Thank you my friends. 
We asked our faculty members, Alice Philp and Thomas Poe to pose with the current faculty members, Dr. Kathy Sparks and her soon to be husband Charlie Breithaupt. 
For those who don’t know, this is the same Kathy that earlier tripped Dale and here she is posing with Charlie who has a standing appointment with his chiropractor. 
We closed the evening with our annual class pictures. 1951 
Bob Ward, Jack Ayers, Elaine Johnson Thacker, Sarah Garner Bondurant and Carolyn Carnes Brewer 1952 
Don Kelly, Cleo Dodson, Carol Coleman McDougal, Bob Philp, Jane Tanner Bridges and Twigg Smith 1953 
Margie Clark Bennett and James Smith 1954 
Beverly Burton Struble, Patsy Rice Cunningham, Fern Dodd Strickland, Edward Dillard, Hazel Guthrie Underwood, Ruth Dickerson Williams, and Mildred Burrell Bennett 1955 
1st row: Shirley Anne Keener Beck, Don Brooks 2nd row: Lexie Justus Scruggs, Wilma Kelly Hoilman, Hoyt Hooper 3rd row: Bob Welden, Gene Vinson, Ron Ward, Bill Kelly, Bruce Hopper and Verlon McDowell 1956 
Linda Means Kelly, Lee Roy Smith, John Rogers, Bill Coleman and Martha Ann Cornette Mann 1957 
1st row: Viola Robbins Starr, Opal Norton Messer, Betty Kelly Wyatt, Susan Houghtaling Odom 2nd row: Ken Ward, Jimmy Moore and Jim Darnell 1958 
Tim Dickerson, Ronald Coleman, Beverly Guthrie Lougher, Aaron Perry, Phil Landers and Robbin Shope Houston 1959 
1st row: LaVerne Grist Coleman, Angie Brack Parkerson, Pat Wright McNulty, Eunice Taylor Billingsley 2nd row: Alice Hempel Kamin, Mary Jane Carver McCoy, Ralph Merrow, Dale Denham Shaffield, Bob Page 3rd: row: Fred Trout, Doyle Smith and Hubert Roper 1960 
Harold Thurmond, George Justus, Gail Means Beisiegel, Jennette Self Lowery and Tom Weaver Former Faculty 
Thomas Poe and Alice Seibert Philp This wonderful day ended with a beautiful sunset. 
Photos
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2003 by Beverly Guthrie Lougher