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COMBO REUNION 2003!
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By Betty Brooks (Yarbrough), Co-Chairman
Pleasant Valley Country Club
On Friday April 25, 26, 27, 2003 -- or any of these days -- if you were not at the Combo Reunion, you missed a great time!
Each time "they" say, these reunions cannot be topped, but each time it's better. Also, "they" said, no way can a Combo Reunion take place, but LRHS Grads can do anything. I remember in school someone saying that. And, I guess the more lost Tigers are found, they just decided to come!
Some classmates I had not seen in 53 years, and it was wonderful to have the time to visit as long as we like. Others, I had not seen since the year 2000. On Friday we could visit from 9 AM until 3 PM. We took a break for lunch. I should say in between bites of a delicious Breakfast/Brunch, we just visited some more.
We took pictures of our white hair, bald heads with fringe, or just bald, wrinkles, little tummy, big tummy, tall, short, canes, walkers, wheel chairs, stooped shoulder, glasses, some almost blind, singles, couples -- they drove from Washington DC, Maryland, Ohio, California, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. All over the US, they flew into LR to be together for this event! Pictures were taken of ESJH, WSJH, PJH, Kramer, Bloody Mary Girls, 1950, 1948 and Band. Light flashing from all camers .... digital cameras were being snapped for computers, too. They filled the Best Western Governors Inn and surrounding hotels. They visited at The Governors Inn all morning and night.
In fact, the Pulaski Heights Junior High Football team of yester years got together, and lied about who did what, and when, at Julie Restaurant Friday night. Oh, well, they visited with Coach Bob Fulton, Cayce, So. Carolina. He looked younger than some of them. Maybe it's the football tales of woe that keeps them young. He flew in for the special event and was right at home. Coach Fulton is the voice of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. The Men turned into boys and had a great time.
We found classmates that had united since the year 2000 -- I guess those are the right words! Anyway, Wanda Duncan Eckhardt (Orville is deceased) and John Moore (Martha Higgason is deceased of class 1950) have found that life begins at 70. They've been dating for about a year and half. John had a stroke, and is doing great with a cane. Wanda recently had some back problems, and she is taking therapy. Give them a call. They will tell you all about starting at 70 years. Then, we have Mabian Cooke Sloan (Jim, divorced) and Don Wardlaw (Ruth is deceased) are tieing the knot on November 22, 2003 in Little Rock. They need congratulations. Life is great at 70, and as Maybian said, "I am in love".
I think our greatest thrill was to finally see O. Raymond Hudson (1948). His beautiful wife, Clara, a graduate of NLRHS, whom Ray found out could keep a secret for many months! They drove from Ohio. He had been a lost TIGER all these years, moving here and there in his job, and had never attended one of his class reunions. Yes, the mystery man that has all our LRHS communications on the Web was front and center. He was trying to connect names and faces. They would say, I am so and so. Ray would say -- Oh yes, I e-mailed you.
Saturday the tour started down Memory Lane. In fact, two buses went down Memory Lane. It was not as long as we wished -- like 9 AM until 1 PM, and 45 minutes for lunch at the River Market (downtown). I thought the buses went too fast, but we had to see everything on the run because of so many things to see. I bet you all didn't know the old Baptist Hospital is still there. I could not believe it was so small. West Side Junior High is under construction. Did you know it had a swimming pool? Yep, after we graduated. they put a pool in.
We went into East Side Junior High (not nearly long enough because I wanted a couple of hours). Look at the back of the 2003 Reunion Book -- buy a brick)! I will go back. Mixup at Kramer! A guide was supposed to have been there, but no show. We saw the outside of the old school, anyway ... Frances Louise Smith Busch (1948) said, "The reason they would not let us go in Kramer was that they heard Betty Brooks was on the bus". I would bet Frances phoned them! Now to the Waterworks -- did not get to stay there long enough. Of course, I will try to remember to go back to some of our memories later. We stopped at LRHS. Across the street, cater-cornered from Mobil gas station, they have built an Archway. It has a walkway to the Archway. And, as Bill Wright said, "I cannot go to see it. I cannot handle it". He was right. LRHS has very little there, it is all Central. All in all is was a neat tour. It was enough to wet your appetite. We also had great laughs and fellowship. All day we got to be together and visited some more. Also, gave us a reason to improve the tour next time.
Saturday Night -- what can I say. It doesn't get any better! The food was great. The Program: started off with 1950, the DVD of times past with the "Ramblers" singing and the DVD screen showed the boys as they were in 1950. They had not changed. Remember, Little Pat Hogan (now a big Pat Hogan), Don Wardlaw, skinny, (now got meat on the bones), Ted Keel, (tall, good looking), Phil "Bubba" Dixon (that smile is just better). They still sound good. Next the Band had DVD of the year 2000 from the Robinson Auditorium. When "The Fightum Tigers was played, we all stood and clapped, just like school.
Then, 1948 topped everything with a 2 act skit, written by Bill Wright (now author and playwright). The Queen of Homecoming was me, Betty Brooks. Let me explain, the real queen, Majorie Maxwell, could not make it to the reunion because of bad health. Then, the sub was Martha Lawhon. As she was entering the Pleasant Valley CC, she fell and jammed her elbow into her shoulder and was taken to the hospital. Bill thought for sure she would get to return and be his queen. Needless to say the stand in, Me, was called upon.... So, Playwright Bill Wright, asked if I would wing it just 5 minutes before going on stage. Now I had always heard the show must go on sooooo. Another reason I consented, I've always wanted to be "a QUEEN FOR A DAY". As Johnny Walker said to me, needless to say, a star was born. I have been waiting for the call from Hollywood!
Now, the second act was Ken Carter and Mary Louise Heiman. If you missed the kiss -- I will tell you he is good as Michael Dougles in 'Fatal Attraction". Now we know why the marriage has lasted this long.
Then, the great moments and these presentations:
Hollis Wreyford received a picture in "pen & ink" drawing of LRHS with swimming pool. This was drawn by D. Spain of Little Rock. It is 299/500 print. I will say Hollis was speechless. This was presented to him for the many hours he sat at the computer making the year book (novel, 325 pages.) He also got a Reunion Book with all the Steering Committee signing Thank You notes.
There was the surprise and secret that Clara kept from Ray. He was presented a LRHS Water Color with a fade in background of a Tiger. The Water Color of the LRHS was painted by Arkansas noted Water Color Artist "Will Roger Parker'. Ray was speechless, and really choked up. I had told the story of how David Powell and I had found this lost Tiger. Ray was a grad of 1948. We wanted a Web site so I mailed our 2000 Reunion book, and David mailed a copy of 1949 Reunion Book and Tiger issue. I also explained how I had two dates with him. I met him in Edna Middlebrook class, last hour. He took me to Max and Jimmys' for a footlong hot dog and coke. If you can remember it was on Broadway, maybe 6th, 7th or 8th street.. . The reason for the only two dates. Ray was too old (he was a senior & I was a sophmore) and had a car. My mother said "too old and he has a car"..... Ruined my life. A beautiful NLR girl got him. Then the best part of the show and the best laugh. Ray answered as I presented him the picture, "Thank You, but I do not remember dating you." Now can I impress those LRHS boys!!!!! The story of my life.
frances L. Smith Busch, gave a presentation to Dr. Bill Wright. She had asked him some questions (joke). Like how you put an Elephant into the refrigerator? Well he could not answer any of the questions. After she stumped Dr. Bill Wright, she gave him a poster with the old write-ups, pictures of football days. Hero's when Bill and Kermit Tracy were items on the Wilson Tiger field. Needless to say, for once, Dr. Bill Wright, Author of the "Wilson Tiger Book", playwright of 2 act skit, was speechless. His wife, Mary, loved it.
Then, the great BLUE VELVETS band, Al Binder playing our kind of music, Big band. The best was Ben Wright who brought his horn and played all night with the band. They started at 8 PM and stopped at 11 PM. No breaks. Ben played and Archie Senn was really upset because his sax was at home. Next time, we want Al Binders Band with Ben and Archie. If you all have never heard Ben Wright play, you do not remember Al Hirt of New Orleans. He can make that horn cry. Sweeter than honey ---
Sunday was a day of peace and sadness. The Oasis was a great place to honor our beloved classmates who have gone to a better place. I know they are having a Reunion with everyone and all classes joining together. One day we will be there with them. The Amazing Grace song was played by a group 1948 Grads. Grace Kirpatrick Johnson, 1948, minister, gave an outstanding service. I just cannot say enough about her presentation. In fact I want a copy of it. Maybe we can include it in our Tiger news. We then took flowers to the lake. Each 1950 Grad chose a name that had rejoined the "celebration of a different reunion" since Reunion 2000. As we threw the flower in the lake we called out our friends name. We said a silent prayer. We had a peace about us, but sadness. It seemed we did not want to leave. No one said anything, but we knew that some of us would be missing the next time we would meet. Everyone departed until next time, saying our "goodbys" to our friends -- tomorrow which never comes and today is mine as Oley Rooker said "if you are waiting on tomorrow, it is to late".
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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Some LRHS classmates might want to know who's coming
to the Combo's Reunion for the respective classes. The
list follows below! Last name is listed first, then some school name or maiden
name for married ladies, given or first name next, and spouse/guest name.
The LIST will be updated, of course, as date gets closer and classmates
pay their money, etc.
BURKHART Don
BUSCH Frances
BUTLER (May) Bettye Marie & Charles
CANELLOS Steve & Joanne
CAMPBELL Grant Jeanette & Sidney
CHANTILIS Angelo & Zoe
CLARK Radine
COLEMAN Dorothy
COOK William & Rachel
CORBETT (Milner) Virginia & Maurice
COX Bobby & Betty
CRAIG Woodson Martha
CRAWFORD Bill & Marilyn
CURRY Tom & Ethel
DABBS Bill & Mary Jean
DAVIS Coy
DENSON Charles
DIFFIE Dale & Wilma
DOBBINS Neil & Regina
DORTCH Mimi
DUNGAN Gibbs Betty & Tom
ELIAS Barney & Carolyn
FINCH Shelton Mary Lee
FISER Poindexter Mary Louise
GALLAGHER Richard
GOAD John Robert & Sue Brown '49
HENNINGER Dorthy
HUDSON Ray & Clara NLRHS '46
ISGRIG Metvin Betty Jo & Chuck Germer
ITTNER Mundo Claudette
JONES Adkins Sue & Ken
KNIGHT L. Roger & Janeal
LEE William "Bill"
LEE Hicks Catherine
LESSENBERRY Jack & Rhonda
MCLAUGHLIN Joy
MITCHELL Shimek Eleanor
NEWTON Kenneth
PIAZZA Gene & Nina
PLANT Snodgrass Nancy
RAGAN Branch Marnette & Bill
ROSS John
ROYER Eleanor
RUCKER Sid & Shirley
SIMMONS Earl & Doris
SIMPKINS Lawhon Margie
SMITH Stanley
SNODGRASS Paul & Florence
SOLOMON Scruggs Dorothy & Marvin
STILES Sam & Carolyn
TEETER Wreyford Dorothy
THOMPSON Branson Jamie
TRACY Kermit
VINSONHALER Keith
WALLER John & Glenna McIver '50
WALPOLE (Dollarhide) Robbie
WALTHALL Jim & Shirley
WARNER Hemphill Betty Anne
WARREN Betty
WILBURNE Madilyn
WILKINS Jim
WILKINS Bill & Joyce
WINBURN Mary
WREYFORD Hollis & Faye
WRIGHT William & Mary NLRHS 49
BLACKLAW Pilcher Betty & Albert
BOWDLE (Crook) Angie
BROOKS Yarbrough Betty
CARMAN Bridges Charlene & Jim
CARTER Ken
CARTER Heiman Mary Lou
CAZORT Fred
CLARK Carter Barbara & Bill
CORBITT Roger & Barbara
DENSON (Newland) Linda
DIXON Phil & Jeanie Carlson
FENT Bunch Mary Ella & John
FULK Bass Anne & Sonny '49
GOULD Logan Patti
GRAHAM Palmer Freda
GREEN Brodnax Edna Lou
HANSON Tull Carolyn
HOGAN Patrick & Sarah
HOLDER Billy
HOLLIMON Milt
HURLEY Yvonne
KELL Ted
LANE Tom
LEDBETTER Williams Brownie & Cal
LUSTER Richard
NORMAN Darby Phoebe & Gene Eberle 47
Maley Brundrett Barbara & Frank
Mayer William "Bill" & Valine
PACK (Barnard) Joyce & Tom
PARKER Sivewright Pat & William
PLASTIRAS George & Kiki
PORTER Jim
POWELL David & Patricia
PURTLE (Davis) Jacklin
ROBERSON Avis
ROOKER Oley & Merideth
RYBURN Green Marilyn
SANDERS Preston
SAUNDERS Edward & Lena
SHELTON (Brown) Joyce
SHIPMAN Timming Wanda
SMITH Rhea Virginia & Clinton
THOMPSON (Crafton) Mary Hope with Daugther for dinner
WALKER Johnny & Elizabeth
WARDLAW Don
WOLFF Waldman Elaine
WORD Norman Betty
DANCY Virginia '49
GRIFFIN Paul '49 & Margrett
HEIMAN Al '49 & Darlene
HERNDON Thommie & Thelma
JOHNSTON Kirkpatrick Grace '48 & William
NEWBERRY Jordan Laura
PRICKETT Meeks Dorothy '50
PRICKETT Leon '48
RHOADS Harold & Betty
SCHWARZ Eddie '50
SENN Archie '51 & Sue
WRIGHT Ben
WYLIE John
49 DHONAU Don
49 FISHER Nunley Ann
49 HORN Betty & Bill
52 ROBERTSON Mashburn Patsy & Gip
MILNER Harvey & Jane
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