By Staff
Special to the Enquirer
Recently, the class of 1964 from Morgan County High School met at the Mill Creek RV Park in Elkmont for the first of several events planned from June to June 2009 for its 45th reunion. In 1964, the class numbered 104. Today, they have increased in number to include 168 children, 234 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. They went out into the world, gave service to our country and became a lawyer, nurse, rocket scientist, lobbyist, business entrepreneurs, undercover agent, teachers and preachers.
They have traveled the world, but each still considers Hartselle to be their home.
Attending were classmates and their families; Gary Bentley and wife Sheila from Collierville, Tenn., Hazel BentleyKine from Moulton and daughter Glenda from Somerville, Margie Long McCary and husband Mason from Elkmont and their friend Ivy Walsh Eskridge from Decatur, Ga., Edwin Black and wife Carolyn from Falkville, Joyce Bridges Dudley from Chattanooga, Tenn., Edwina Cox Tapscott from Jacksonville, Fla., Frances Holt from Hartselle, Linda Roy Drane from Hartselle, Maxine Ballew Franklin from Danville, Gail Griffith Sides and husband Roger and granddaughter Kaysi from Falkville, Mike Wiggins and wife Jennifer from Hartselle, Wendell Blankenship and wife Trish from Decatur, Wayne Adams and wife Debbie from Hartselle, Randy Blevins and wife Shirlee and grandson Ian Sidly from Decatur, Jerry Moore and wife Judy and children from Birmingham, Buddy Glasscock and wife Jannice from Decatur, Tommy Hobbie and wife Linda from Crane Hill, Larry Lemmond from Hartselle, Wayne White and wife Dottie from Decatur, Lewis Wright and wife Megan from Somerville,Ray Collins and wife Mary Jane Proctor Collins from Ozark, Helen Crow Tischer and husband Pete from Danville, Dot Crow Hampton from Hartselle, Paul Parker from Rogersville, Carolyn Ledlow and great grandchildren from Adrmore, Linda Johnson Compton and husband Gary from Elkmont, Freddie Glasgow from Decatur, Mike Simpson from Arlington, VA, and Butch Waldrop and wife Pat from Prattville. Honorary guests included Coach J.P. Cain and his wife Ruth from Hartselle and photographer Tommy Putman from Hartselle.
By the time the crowd started arriving with hugs and smiles at 11 a.m. Margie, Edwina, Joyce and Hazel had the tables decorated with tablecloths and streamers in the school colors of red and white.
When Frances arrived, she placed beautiful red and white carnation bouquets on the tables and a vase with long stem red rose next to the memorial of the deceased classmates. Miniature paper folded fans with stars and strips adorned tables without bouquets and a large American flag was displayed to honor Flag Day.
A display table was filled with memorial pictures of school days from 1956-1964, the memorial to the 13 lost classmates, a ceramic replica of the old school building, yearbooks and much more.
The nostalgic pictures of classmates from 1959, Mrs. Horton’s first grade class, and several teachers from high school drew lots of attention. The picture of Coach Cain blowing his whistle and holding up his hand indicating “one more lap” brought lots of painful memories to the boys. The 45th edition of the class paper, The Riddle, containing bios from 87 classmates and additional school year memories was available for all to read. The table drew a crowd and you could hear people guessing names of classmates from their childhood pictures. If it had not been for the name badges, many would have had to guess who was who as well.
After all, 45 years does change one’s appearance a little. The classmate that stunned everyone with his youthfulness was Jerry Moore. He still has as much hair today as he did in high school and it is still just as black! He was examined for “plugs” and hair dye, but none were found. So many cameras were flashing that at times it looked like a Hollywood premier.
When Edwin Black arrived, he set up his laptop and began the slide show of over 100 pictures sent in from many classmates. There was a constant group of viewers watching the slide show. Everyone enjoyed visiting, seeing each other, reading the Riddle and watching the slide show while waiting for the main course to arrive. Buddy Glasscock arrived at 1:30 p.m. with the barbecue.
All classmates were ushered outside for a group picture while the spouses went to the kitchen to cut up the chicken and set the table. Promptly at 1:55 p.m., Freddie Glasgow gave the blessing and the feast began.
Class President Gary Bentley welcomed everyone and stated how wonderful it was to be together again. He then began presenting pictures and certificates. Wayne Adams received an 8×10 glossy picture of the fifth grade class he and Hazel Bentley Kine attended together in Holly, Mich. Margie Long McCary and Mason McCary were presented a certificate of appreciation for their generosity in donating the pavilion for the picnic. Margie also received a miniature bale of cotton that symbolized “King Cotton” of Limestone County and the agricultural department where she worked for several years.
A certificate of appreciation was given to Edwin Black for his hard work as editor of the Riddle. Another certificate of appreciate was given to Buddy Glasscock for his cooking the barbecue which was delicious and really did melt off the bone and in your mouth. A certificate of excellence in photography was presented to Tommy Putman for his many years of support and dedication to MCHS. Coach J. P. Cain received a standing ovation when he was presented his certificate of excellence for his many years of support and dedication in coaching at MCHS. Not attending to accept her certificate of appreciation was Mary Entrekin Rodgers, it was delivered to her later that day by Joyce Bridges Dudley and Edwina Cox Tapscott. A beautiful framed graphic was created by Carol Patterson Jarrett and later delivered to Diane Tapscott Segars and husband, Billy, recognizing them as “Cupid’s Champions” of the class with the longest marriage of 45 years. Gary made another presentation of a plaque to Hazel Bentley Kine for dedication, hard work and service for the Class of ‘64. Surprised and deeply humbled, Hazel accepted it and gave thanks and spread the recognition to Gail, Buddy, Frances and others who have worked hard as well. She stated it was at the first meeting in August 2007 when she met with Gail, Linda, Roy Drane, Frances Holt, Wayne Adams and Donnie Gilbert and they discussed getting bios and pictures from all classmates. She also stated that the Riddle and the picnic were the results of all their efforts. With presentations done, Gary then turned the meeting over to Hazel and began flying around the room without the need of a 747.
The next order of business was to draw for the door prizes. Carolyn Ledlow’s great grandchildren drew the numbers. The first drawn was “Carolyn Ledlow”.
A total of nine were drawn; seven flower arrangements and two gift baskets were given away. Everyone enjoyed the picnic and agreed to meet again Sept. 9 to discuss the next event that is planned to be at the homecoming game in October. There were many hugs of goodbye and promises to see each other again when the picnic ended at 5 p.m.