Class of 1953 (49th) Reunion
For 2002

by Donald Roark

The Huntingdon High School Class of 1953 held their 49th class reunion this past Friday and Saturday, April 19th and 20th, 2002. The event was again held at the Pin Oak Lodge at Natchez Trace State Park in Wildersville, Tn. This has been an annual affair for the class since our 40th anniversary reunion held back in 1993.

The two day event drew classmates from as far away as Macon, Georgia, which is approximately 450 miles away, in order to attend. For instance, Damon King and his wife, Janet, traveled from Macon to Natchez Trace. They also brought their eldest son, David King, along with his wife, Kim.

During this two day event, there were twelve (12) classmates who attended Friday night's affair, along with ten (10) spouses and friends. This brought Friday night's total to twenty-two (22).

Then on Saturday night, twenty (20) classmates assembled - with spouses and friends bringing the total upward to thirty-six (36).

The reunion's attendance figures may be seen by clicking here.

On Friday afternoon, many of those attending gathered early enough to enjoy a time of "catch-up" either in their rooms or while gathering in the lobby of the Lodge and other places. Then, they all descended upon the Pin Oak Lodge Restaurant at 6:00 o'clock p.m. Most all of us ate together around a large table in the dining room - continuing to relive a lot of our lives for the past year for the benefit of our other classmates. After dinner, all classmates, wives and friends re-assembled in Pin Oak Room #2 to continue our togetherness. Again, most of these informal activities consisted of renewing old school ties. There in Pin Oak Room #2, the ladies and the men gathered together and enjoyed tall tales along with some serious informal discussion.

Most of the serious discussion centered around classmates and spouses who were not in attendance. Of course, everyone continues to wish for the best in all cases where a classmate or loved one is recovering from some malady. Music from the 50's, 60's and 70's was played using CD's while we fellowshipped.

Then, on Saturday, those who stayed overnight at the Pin Oak Lodge scattered in different directions for the day. Butch went to his brother's (Claude Reams) farm outside of Huntingdon and there he killed his first turkey of the season; Billy and Colette Jarrett went to visit relatives in Carroll County and also visited in and around Jackson; Virginia Roark and Mavis (Barnes) Johnson went to Lexington where they were almost hauled in by the police (see explanation*** below) ~chuckle~; Damon and Janet King, Lamon and Peggy King along with David and Kim ventured to their old stomping ground in and around Huntingdon and Holladay, Tn; Earl Jarrett, Harvey Leon Turner and Donald Roark just went sightseeing around the area then on to Huntingdon for a few hours.

Upon returning from our adventures for the day, several other classmates had already arrived or were continuing to arrive at the Pine Oak Lodge to finish out the day's activities. Many relaxed in their own hotel rooms then later began to gather later that afternoon around 4 o'clock p.m.

It was so wonderful to see that Lamon King and Charles Wooters were able to make it to the reunion with Lamon there for both nights and Charles for Saturday night only. As most of the classmates know, Lamon is recovering from a bout with some kind of colon problem and Charles has had to have at least two operations on his back. Of course, all of us missed Harvey Turner's wife, Shirley. Shirley had to remain at their daughter's (Cindy) home in Tuscaloosa, Ala., due to a heart problem and other complications.

At about 6 o'clock p.m., everyone began to descend, with a hearty appetite, upon the restaurant at the Lodge. Full (very full) plates of food were once again carried from the buffet into the Pin Oak Room #2 where we enjoyed our meal together. After dinner, our President, James "Butch" Reams, called the meeting to order where only new business was found to be in order.

Mavis Johnson and Joyce (Conyers) Shanks explained that some had been informally discussing a trip to New Orleans to celebrate our 50th Anniversary in a special way. The two of them had even checked many details about logistics for the trip. Interest or even a commitment for a minimum of thirty (30) classmates/spouses/friends was thought to be most realistic due to the expense these two had found that would be required. For instance, the trip via a chartered Greyhound bus from Huntingdon to New Orleans and return was quoted as being $3000 and rooms at the Hampton Inn in New Orleans would cost $80 per night. Food and other needs/wants would have to be at each individual's expense.

Only eighteen (18) people indicated a desire to go on the trip. After full discussion, it was decided that due to the fairly low commitments, the idea for the trip will either be postponed until later or else completely discarded. However, future planning could take place, depending upon how much some future group, at that time, really does want to go indeed.

The date for our 50th Anniversary came up for discussion. First the date was again established as being April 11th and 12th, 2003, and again the place would be the Pin Oak Lodge. Then the potential and desire for us to celebrate it in some special way, since the New Orleans trip is suspended, began to be discussed.

It was decided that to do something special that on Saturday of April 12th, we will make it more memorable by the class hosting an open house in Huntingdon from 1 pm to 3 pm. Right now, the open house is tentatively scheduled to be held at the Bank of Huntingdon Community Room. Refreshments will be served and all friends of our class will be invited to come by and help us celebrate. The Open House will be publicized widely and Bertie (Holmes) Douglas, Peggy (Woodard) Brandon and Brooksie (Dill) Parham were assigned the task of publicity and refreshments - plus decorating the Community Room.

It was suggested that the Carroll County News Leader be contacted and that they be requested to send a photographer/reporter to the open house - in order to cover part or all of the event, as needed.

After no further business was presented, the class adjourned and continued in fun and fellowship. Unlike the Friday night event - where everyone stayed in Pin Oak Room #2; tonight, only the ladies continued there while all the men congregated outside the room in the hallway. Music from the "Big Band Era" was played in the room, using cassette tapes, during the time the ladies congregated.

Of course, the men were too bashful to go in and ask the ladies to dance so the ladies just continued to talk and have a good time. Oh, well! The men were too busy catching up on what had been happening in each other's lives. Plus, many world problems were solved by the guys, don't you know?

Socializing continued until late and goodbyes were said to those who did not spend the night at the lodge.

The next morning, those who did stay the night in the hotel gathered for breakfast at various times. Those who gathered around the breakfast table in the hotel restaurant enjoyed the food and the fellowship and yet realized that all would be leaving shortly. Not too sad, really, though, since we knew we had planned another great event in 2003.

In recapping, some of the things we learned during this reunion:

1) Names NOT on the list of those in attendence at reunion seem to be more conspicuous than the names that do appear there.

2) Butch Reams snores - but loud and this from the lips of the "one and only" Earl Jarrett. Earl and Butch roomed together.

3) We had two ladies among us whose MOD or MOO seems to be to give the Wal-Mart security system a workout. (Again, see explanation below)

4) A room full of the Class of '53 ladies seemed to may need a chaperone. Wow! Was that room loud with all our ladies in it!!!! ~chuckle~ (Just kidding ladies, please don't hit me.)

5) A management change at the Pin Oak Lodge can be so devastating: It resulted in:
o a slow-down in getting checked in
o a let-down when the staff can't find one's reservations and o a melt-down in quality of food and service received in the restaurant. Hmmm! Enough said.

So, how better to end this write-up than to say, "A good time was had by ALLLLLL".

Oops! One more thing: Did anyone look to see if Mavis and Virginia made headlines in the Lexington newspaper?