BSHS CLASS OF 1958
It was a wonderful reunion. Classmates began arriving on Thursday, September 11. That evening about 25 had dinner at the Spanish Inn to kick things off. They got their copies of the memory book that evening, and some sat up until three in the morning reading all the biographies and obituaries. We are thankful that we had 140 stories to read about our classmates and wish that everyone had sent one to be included in the book. More about the memory book later.
Registration continued Friday morning. I've placed photos of folks at registration on this website. Click on this link to see them. To return to this page, just close the registration pictures window. By the way if you can identify some of our classmates or their spouses that I was unable to, let me know.
Registration Snapshots
Avery Falkner brought three watercolor pictures he painted that were variations of the cover he did for our memory book. He donated them for a silent auction to raise money for the class. The winning buyers would be announced at the dinner-dance. About 2:00 pm we headed out to the pep rally. Boy, was the gym shaking and rattling with the music blaring and the kids all screaming and cheering the team. The cheerleaders were great. I will say that if Valjean, Sammie or Carlene had done some of those "bumps and grinds" at our pep rallies, they would have been arrested! Just kidding! The guest speaker was Colonel Matthew Burrow (nephew to our own Lynda Mason Mills) who was very inspirational. He is a graduate of BSHS and West Point, playing football at both institutions. He had just returned from Iraq the night before and truly inspired the kids. He pointed out that there was physical preparation for a game but also mental -- that you have to get in the proper mindset to play well. The football team must have listened well because they went out and played their hearts out. The coach recognized all of the classes that were represented at the pep rally. Our class of 1958 was the largest! We all looked great in our matching tee shirts that Wes Grigsby arranged for us to have.
After the pep rally, we all went to 14th and Main to get on the float that Larry Nix had gotten for us to use for the Homecoming Parade. We had quite a crowd on the float. Every so often we would chant "We're still here, we're still great! We're the class of '58". It was great fun. The weather cooperated better than last year when it was about 102 degrees in the shade. There had been quite a bit of rain in the past couple of days and the day was partly cloudy with an occational breeze. We would have made a better impact on the crowd if the folks on the float in front of us hadn't been throwing candy to the crowd. Oh, well!
I've placed photos of parade activities on this website. Click on this link to see them. To return to this page, just close the parade pictures window. Again, if I've misidentified anyone, let me know.
Parade
After the parade, everyone headed out to dinner and most went to the game. Glenda Watkins Brasel had purchased a bunch of reserved tickets so we bought them from her and all sat together and cheered our favorite team to victory! It was looking pretty bad at first when Pampa scored two TDs and our Steers hadn't done anything. Then they got to hustling and just before the half, it was 21-19 and we had just scored a TD. Our team went for the 2 points and tied it 21-21. Pampa was very out-played in the second half. They made no more points. The half-time show was very nice as was the "Coming Home" Queen coronation before the game and the Homecoming Queen coronation at halftime. There were quite a few people in the Queen's court. Unfortunately, your reporter had a hard time understanding the announcer so we don't know who was crowned Homecoming Queen. It'll be on the BSHS Exes website before too long.
After the game, we went to the after-game party at Howard College Student Union Building. Some who didn't go to the game were already there. We had some nice lemonade, tea, chicken wings, and veggie trays. The spread was very good. We got to visit and renew old friendships there. Your reporter left a bit before midnight - don't know when the party broke up. Shirley Lee was instrumental in getting things set up for us at the SUB. If anyone took pictures at the after-game party at the SUB and wish to share, send them to me and I'll add them to our reunion activities page.
About 12 classmates and some spouses played golf on Saturday morning, arranged by Lane Edwards Reynolds. Your reporter understands that Brenda Patton Leonard was heard several times about the 12th hole and later asking plaintively "Are we there yet?" But she did finish the game! Many of the class ate hamburgers at the Country Club after the golf game. If anyone took pictures at the golf game and activities at the country club and wish to share, send them to me and I'll put them on our website.
Some of our classmates went to the BSHS Open House and Hall of Fame induction ceremony that was held Saturday afternoon. Two BSHS bands were inducted - the 2001 marching band that won the state marching band contest and the 2006 band that played in Carnegie Hall.
The dinner-dance at the La Vadera Club was just lovely. The club was decorated beautifully in our black and gold colors. The emcee was our very own Billy Bob Satterwhite, the man who needs no microphone. We sang our alma mater and there were tears in a few eyes! We had so many for the class picture that we almost couldn't get everyone in! The best and most poignant event that evening was the remembrance of our classmates who're already gone. Billy Bob arranged a "muster" like the ones that are held at Texas A&M. A muster is a roll call of those present at the gathering. They read the names of any Aggies who've died during the past year. Those in attendance who remember them answer "present" when their names are called. Billy Bob and 3 other classmates read the names of our 49 classmates who are no longer with us. "Present" was answered for all of them. We then had a moment of silence for them. The bar-be-cue dinner was very good (thanks to Shirley Lee again). The music was entertaining, and a whole lotta dancin' went on! Alas, it was over too soon and we had to say goodbye until the next reunion.
To see some photos of the dinner/dance activities, click on this link. To return to this page, just close the parade pictures window. Again, if I've misidentified anyone, let me know.
Dance
Click on this link to see the official class picture. We all look pretty good 50 years after!
Over $400 was raised at the silent auction for Avery's paintings. Class leaders decided to use that along with other monies left after reunion expenses are paid to endow a scholarship for a BSHS student athlete to attend Howard College. We should have about $1900 to contribute. Our thanks to Glenda Watkins Brasel for being our banker. She was assisted by Wynona Duke Payte.
The company that printed our memory book as indicated they would be willing to print and mail one to anyone wanting a copy for $40. To get that price, we have to have a minimum of 10 orders. If you didn't get one and would like to order one, contact Donnie Mabe Rupp at DonnieR1@att.net.