october-december 2014 - Gladewater Former Students Association

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Gladewater Former Students’ Association
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A TEXAS NOT-FOR-PROFIT DEDICATED TO GHS ALUMNI
P.O. Box 1425, Gladewater, TX 75647
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Phone/Fax: 903-845-2631 Email: [email protected]
www.gladewaterformerstudents.com
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Top Photos L-R: Wes Ray, Class of 64 presents Spirit Stick to Danny Strickland, Class of 65; Jack Jones, Class of 64 emcee; Dean Victory ’64 accepts
Outstanding Alumnus plaque from Wes Ray ‘64. Bottom Photos L-R: Gloria Cockerell ‘64 & Jack Jones ‘64 sing alongside Betty J. Thomas Stegall ‘62; Rex
Copeland ‘65 & Danny Strickland ‘65, take a look at the ‘64 yearbook with Patti McJilton Batis ’64; Larry Sorrells’64 and Mike Formby ’64 still “clowning” fifty
years later!
Class of 1964 Celebrates 50th at the All-School Reunion
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The Gladewater Former Students’ Annual All -School Reunion 2014 is now in the history books, but the memories
linger with all that attended. A special thank you to the Class of 1964 for the hard work and planning that went
into making it a super reunion for all of us.
Alumni began arriving early Saturday morning and the visiting and hugging was in full force when President John
Paul Tallent called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. During a great barbeque lunch, there was a lot
of table hopping and more visiting. After lunch, President Tallent brought the audience up -to-date on the
business of the Association (building renovation projects, Veterans’ War Memorial, scholarship awards, etc.) and
then he took the time to recognize the GFSA Board of Di rectors thanking each for their service before turning the
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program over to Jack Jones, Class of 64, for a 50 Reunion Class Welcome. Jack introduced Dr. Syntha Traughber
West ’56 who presented the first Outstanding Alumnus, Ronald Williams, Class of 1956 . Ronald’s acceptance
speech brought back memories of his parents, Herman and Mary Williams, both of whom were former GISD
teachers. Dr. Dean Victory, Class of 1964, the second Outstanding Alumnus was introduced by Wesley Ray and had
all of us laughing out loud with his acceptance speech which thanked a lot of people, especially GHS teachers, for
preparing him for college and his 35 years as a college professor at Texas Tech University. Afterwards, President
Tallent announced that the Gladewater Museum had invited all the Alumni to a special open house at the
museum. Most took them up on their offer and it was exciting to “relive” Gladewater as some of us remember it.
After resting up from the day’s activities, we began arriving for the Saturday night festiv ities and after a great
dinner, we were entertained by “Shake Rattle and Roll” and then music to dance the night away. But before the
music began the Spirit Stick was passed to Danny Strickland , Class of 1965, with the challenge to make next year’s
reunion an even greater event. We all left with more memories and “See you next year”, but everyone left with
smiles and the thought that they were glad they came. Again, a special thanks to the class of 1964 for making
this reunion so special for all of us!
A
Message from GFSA President, John Paul Tallent ‘62
How thankful we are to have had our beautiful Gladewater Former Students’ Association building for the
past 20 years! In August, we celebrated 20 years since the completion and ribbon cutting of the GFSA
building. During that time, we have had thousands of GHS alumni, family, and friends enjoy the benefits of
something that many communities do not have. A massive remodeling has been done during the past two
years. Most recently, we have added a beautiful wood floor to the kitchen, serving area, and bathrooms.
One of my goals as president of GFSA has been to keep ongoing activities between the schools and our
association. Early in this school year, GFSA members purchased and delivered school supplies to all the
campuses in Gladewater. Trays of cookies were presented to the faculty at each campus.
As the class of ’64 celebrated their 50th class reunion during our annual all-school reunion on September 27,
we are reminded of how blessed we are to have had such a good school system to attend during our young
years. As an organization, we will continue to strive to work side by side with our schools to help make
Gladewater ISD the best it can be.
How proud we are to have joined with all five Gladewater ISD campuses in presenting the Veterans program
on the evening of Veterans Day! Many young voices sang songs which celebrated our freedom, along with
members of our association taking part in the program. GFSA members served refreshments to those in
attendance at the Ken Bennett Auditorium at Gladewater High School on November 11. All who attended
were presented with a 6 “American Flag.
How we appreciate the unselfish volunteers who have served on the board of directors, held an office,
helped with events, or stepped up to do one of the many jobs that are necessary to keep our association
going! New directors were elected by acclamation at the October 13 board meeting. Congratulations to Lois
Lindsey Reed ’66, Steve Scurlock ’68, Cheryl Moore Copeland ’69, and Dale Lange ’69. These directors will
begin serving three-year terms on January 1, 2015. We are looking forward to serving with each of them.
Thanks to all of you who have attended and supported our events this past year.
JPT ‘62
A PERMANENT PARKING SPACE FOR DOROTHY!
It is with much appreciation that we want to thank Dorothy
Anderson for her continued generosity to the Gladewater Former
Students’ Association. Not only do we owe her thanks for our
wonderful building, but she continues to help us keep the
building upgraded and beautiful! We recently purchased a
permanent parking space sign for Dorothy.
THANK YOU, DOROTHY DAKE ANDERSON, CLASS OF 1943, FOR
YOUR CONTINUED LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE GFSA!
Sam Rankin ’56 visits with Bobbie
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Milliron Modisette ’46 & husband Charles
Congratulations! Outstanding Alumni Dean Victory ‘63
and Ronald Williams ’56 pose after receiving their
awards at the All-School Reunion Luncheon.
1953 classmates & longtime friends
Jerry Lancaster & Jimmy Williams
’64 Classmates Gloria Cockerell, Tom
Sawyer & Pat Swearingen McCleskey
Retired GHS teachers Jimmy Rowe and
Larry Osborne visiting before the
reunion luncheon.
Former GHS teacher & administrator Sam
Slaydon and wife Billie attended the reunion with
former teacher Roy Brown & wife Mary Helen.
Elizabeth Osteen Ferguson ’70 and
Cathy Johnson McHenry ‘68
Lucinda Moore ’72 with Rex Copeland ’65
and Cheryl Moore Copeland ‘69
Margaret Liddell Pevehouse’66 & Linda
Jean Carrington ‘61
Merle Bell Cariker &
Class of ’56 friends
Lots of Class of ’56 friends attended in
support of classmate & one of the 2014
Outstanding Alumni Ronald Williams.
GFSA Board Members & longtime
friends Cathy Phillips Shipp ’65 &
Steve Scurlock ‘68
Class of ’57 friends Kay Moody Townsend,
Madelyn Holloway Kennedy & Bruce Welborn
More photos online
www.holcombehouseofphotos.com
Gary Henry ’64 & wife Sandy celebrating
his 50th class reunion.
The Class of ’64 did a great job of contacting former
Gladewater ISD administrators & teachers. Those
accepting the invitation and attending were:
Roy & Mary Helen Brown
Billy Dean
Georgia Ruth Johnston
Larry Osborne
Jimmy & Jean Rowe
Sam & Billie Slaydon
Sherrill Walker
Pictured L-R: Roy Brown, Billy Dean, Mary H. Brown
Sending regrets, James T. Ogg, former Superintendent
HALLOWEEN
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR GISD CAMPUSES
At the end of the first six-weeks of school, the GFSA
voted to donate needed school supplies to each of the
five campuses. Betty Jean Thomas Stegall ‘62, Lois
Lindsey Reed ‘66, and John Paul Tallent ‘62 delivered
these for Gladewater students and also delivered a tray
of cookies for each school's faculty.
FUN
2014:
Costumes, Halloween
decorations, a feast of foods, and competitive games
were the main attractions at the GFSA building on
Monday night, October 27. Guests arrived to a festive
display of ghosts, goblins, spiders, and other creepy
creatures, thanks to Barbara Mackey, Betty Jean Stegall
Roy T. and Linda Van Houten. After a buffet dinner,
guests took pictures and had a difficult time choosing
the costume winners. By a round of votes, Lois Reed,
Barbara Mackey, Roy T. Van Houten, and James Smith
were awarded prizes. The competition was tense as
various games were played, with prizes going to the
competitors and winners.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR KODIAK BEAR DONATIONS!
The GFSA would like to recognize and thank the
following for their 2014 KODIAK BEAR donations:
Renee Byers, the principal of Broadway, was excited to
receive both supplies and cookies and is pictured above
with the GFSA delivery team, Betty Jean, Lois and John
Paul.
The GFSA encourages all graduates of Gladewater to join
our group. Helping the schools and students are a main
project. And, each year scholarships are awarded by the
GFSA to deserving seniors.
The GFSA Board would like to take this opportunity to
thank Maxine Stein, Class of ’53, for spotting this group
at work and immediately making a donation toward the
supplies. If you would to donate toward this or other
projects benefiting our Gladewater schools, just mail
your donation to the GFSA, P.O. Box 1425, Gladewater,
TX 75647 and include a note letting us know to which
project to credit your donation.
The GENERAL FUND received a KODIAK donation
from Don and Mary Shepperd Ford ’61
IN MEMORY OF JOHN SHEPPERD ’62.
The VETERANS’ MEMORIAL received KODIAK
donations from HOMER BECK ’57 and
ALLA BURAGO ‘63.
The SCHOLARSHIP FUND received a KODIAK
donation from the CLASS OF 1968 and three
KODIAK donations from the WILLIAMS family:
IN MEMORY OF DONALD WILLIAMS ‘56,
IN HONOR OF RONALD WILLIAMS ‘56 and
MARTHA WILLIAMS SQUIBB ’54.
Honoring Our Veterans 2014
The Gladewater High School Auditorium was filled to
near capacity of 925 seats on Tuesday, Nov. 11, as the
GFSA joined with the Gladewater ISD to pay respect and
honor the veterans of our area. The Gladewater Former
Students’ Association president, John Paul Tallent
collaborated with GHS Asst. Principal Darren Richardson
to plan and carry out the event.
Many students participated in the program singing
patriotic songs, high-kicking, and playing patriotic music
as part of a band ensemble. Students from Gay Avenue
Primary, Broadway Elementary, Weldon Intermediate,
Gladewater Middle School, and Gladewater High School
sang in combined choirs, some singing solos, some
playing an instrument, while others helped pass out
programs and small American flags. GFSA members
were on the program, highlighted by the reciting of the
poem, “I Am A Veteran”. Enthusiastic cheers were
heard after each group’s performance. Veterans were
recognized and honored throughout the evening,
standing as band members played the songs from each
branch of service, and again later in the program as the
GHS Choir sang “Tribute to the Armed Forces”.
Refreshments were served in the foyer of the
auditorium by directors of the Gladewater Former
Students’ Association. Adjacent to the refreshment
table was a display of art work by the GHS art
department.
What an uplifting event to honor and recognize our
veterans!
ANNOUNCING THE GFSA SPORTING CLAY SHOOT
Plans are going well for an Annual Sporting Clay Shoot to
be held at the Prairie Creek Ranch, Gladewater on May
30th, 2015. The committee began work on this project
months ago and is very excited about the support
already generated from our community of friends and
former students. For more information, call our building
903-845-2631 and leave your contact information and
we will get back with you and answer your questions.
Also, keep a watch on our website for updates and
information. At this time, the GFSA would like to
recognize and thank the following donors for raffle
items:
Cathy & Glenn Shipp, Shipp’s Marine, BOAT RAFFLE
2014 Weldbilt boat & Mid-American trailer
Blane & John Linder, GUN RAFFLE
Beretta A-300 Outlander 12-guage shotgun
Beverly & John Paul Tallent, TV RAFFLE
Sony BRAVIA 48” LED, 1080p, 60 Hz Smart HDTV
Class of 1964
Apple IPad Air
Raffle tickets are available from any board member and
quite possibly will be available for purchase online soon!
A special “thank you” also goes out to Christian Allen,
Class of ’98 for designing our “Sporting Clay Shootout
Banner”.
Sending Our
sincerest Sympathy
TO THE FAMILIES OF:
Dr. Robert Brutsche, Class of 1941
Virginia Lee Sanford Kidd, Class of 1941
Clarice Skelton Chambliss, Class of 1944
Madelyn Nixon Wagner, Class of 1944
Robert Stokes, Class of 1944
Bennie Lee Best McDowell, Class of 1949
Joy Chambers Hallette, Class of 1952
Shirley Hammer Armstrong, Class of 1953
Craig Keoun, Class of 1957
Ronald Formby, Class of 1962
Deara Dawne Stages Williams, Class of 1965
Tommy Morse, Class of 1968
Jill Dees Cureton, Class of 1977
’43 Dorothy Dake Anderson
‘30 George Wilkins (Dec’d)
’38 C.W. Williams, Jr.
’38 Gladys Browning Best
’39 Dr. John Heit (Dec’d)
’39 Helen Adams Thomas
’40 June Strawn Gelvin (Dec’d)
’41 Dr. John Artie & Arra Browning (Dec’d)
’41 Gladys Williams Dreeson
’33 Gwendolyn Hamilton Hogue (Dec’d)
’38 Lee Fisher (Dec’d)
’39 Jane Neal Sellers (Dec’d)
’40 Truman Wilson (Dec’d)
’41 Johnnie Pace Brown
’41 Dr. Robert Brutsche ‘Dec’d)
’41 Emma Dean Hinton Fetzer
’41 Jean Clark Hughes (Dec’d)
’41 Dr. Helen Chapman Williamson(Dec’d)
’41 Charles Gilpin (Dec’d)
’41 Dr. Harold McDowell (Dec’d)
’41 Patricia Nichols Summer
’42 Ann Ruth Stone Gentry
’44 Lafon Dorrough (Dec’d)
’44 Georgia Waters Dorrough
’44 Jo Nell Adams Lucky (Dec’d)
’44 Robert H. Schmidt
’44 Roy A. Tallent (Dec’d)
’45 Lawanna Lee Ballard
’46 Billy C. Dale (Dec’d)
’46 Gladys Ronita Dillard
‘46 Bobbie Milliorn Modisette
’46 Dr. Jack “Spot” Collins (Dec’d)
’46 B.M. “Mack” Rankin (Dec’d)
’46 Virginia Henley Mankins (Dec’d)
‘41 Margie Brewer Morrison
’42 Jack Phillips
’42 Ralph Weiser
’43 Juanita Bagley Dusse`
’50 Janet Burnett Hill (Dec’d)
’56 Leland Stracener
’62 John Paul Tallent
’63 Alla Burago
’48 William “Billy Bob” Green
’48 Nelda Jean Barr Young
’49 Jack Foshee (Dec’d)
’49 Bill Looney
’49 T. E. “Ed” Maxwell
’49 Richard D. Tallent
’51 Colleen Tallent Coffman (Dec’d)
’52 Frances Ann Brown Shanks
’52 Beverly Hutson Lancaster
’53 Alice Ruth Wallace Cater
’53 Jerry Don Lancaster
’53 Sherman Kennedy (Dec’d)
’54 Barbara Smith Mackey
’54 Dr. Calvin N. McKaig
’54 Martha Williams Squibb
’54 Jimmy A. Tallent (Dec’d)
’56 Travis Stanley
’56 Donald Williams (Dec’d)
’56 Ronald Williams
’57 Homer Beck
’59 Mary Barr Price
‘59 Grace Ann Rose Shore (Dec’d)
‘62 Betty Jean Thomas Stegall
’62 Kay Pothoff Wallace
’62 John Shepperd (Dec’d)
PAST PRESIDENTS, LIFE MEMBERS:
‘38 Nauty Byrd Pelphrey Mayer 1989-1990
’38 Hulon Broyles 1991-1992, 1996
’40 Truman Wilson 1995
’61 Sherry Waggoner Beall 1993-94, 2011-12
’63 Melvin A. Tallent (Dec’d)
’67 Jerry D. Tallent (Dec’d)
’68 Mark Abernathy
’71 Sue Clifton Moore
’76 James Hugman
’76 Sharon Scurlock Berryman
‘77 Jayson Wynn (Dec’d)
’85 Cindy Tallent Rowe
’85 Jon Rowe
’89 Johnny Tallent
’90 Andrea Slover Tallent
2011 Alyssa Rowe
2013 Leslie Rowe
2015 Rebecca Rowe
Class of 1943
Class of 1945
Class of 1961
Class of 1962
Class of 1968
Beverly Brunson Tallent
‘57 Dr. Syntha Traughber West 2004-2006
’59 Leon Watson 2002-2003, 2008-2009
’68 Barry Cook, 2007
’60 Roy T. Van Houten, 2010
’62 John Paul Tallent 1997-2001, 2013-14
NOTE: Membership dues are important and help cover the cost of our newsletter. Check your
PAID THRU date on your address label. If your dues are past due, please consider renewing them
using the form below or pay by credit card online www.gladewaterformerstudents.com.
Price per brick, $65.00
Happy Holidays
from the 2014 GFSA Board
OFFICERS:
John Paul Tallent ’62, President
Mike Formby ’64, Vice President
Shirley Elliott Willet ‘68, Recording Secretary
Barbara Brooking Henderson ’62, Correspond Sec.
Cathy Phillips Shipp ’65, Treasurer
Steve Scurlock ’68, Parliamentarian
UPCOMING EVENTS
Gladewater Former Students are invited to attend
any of our events. The following events have been
scheduled (with more to come):
Tues., Dec. 9, 2014:
6:30 PM
Mon., Jan. 12, 2015:
6:30 PM
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Bring a covered dish
BOARD MEETING
Election & Installation of
2015 Officers
Mon., Feb. 9, 2015: VALENTINE PARTY
6:30 PM Bring a covered dish
March, 2015: CELEBRATING THE
(exact date & time to GHS BANDS OF THE
be posted in next 60’S
DIRECTORS:
Dale Lange ’69, Building Manager
Mark Armstrong ‘84
Larry Clemens ‘68
Barry Cook ‘68
Lois Lindsey Reed ‘66
Paula Jones Smith ‘62
newsletter)
Sat., May 30, 2015: GFSA SPORTING CLAY
8:00 AM SHOOT (Join us for a fun
ASSOCIATES: Page Gay, Eddie Lange, Barbara Smith
Mackey, Janetta Jones Owens, Ernestine Wilson Sawyer,
Betty Jean Thomas Stegall, Leon and Pat Martin Watson,
Mary Jane Wood Williams, Roy T and Linda Van Houten
fundraising day. See
information inside this
newsletter)
Sat., Sept. 26, 2015: All-School Reunion
Gladewater Former Students' Association
P. O. Box 1425
Gladewater, TX 75647
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
OCT- DEC 2014 NEWSLETTER
hosted by Class of ‘65