"Precious Memories" for the Class of 1951

Frank Mitchell and Mary Sandy happened to be at the museum at the same time a couple of weeks ago. Frank is a former board member who stops in frequently and Mary, a volunteer attendant --- on Fridays most of the time during the season just ended.

Anyhow, Frank mentioned that his Chariton High School Class of 1951 was planning a get-together on homecoming weekend to mark its 67-year anniversary. Frank is somewhere in his 80s.

Mary, somewhere in her 90s and a member of the Class of 1942, told him --- with only a hint of dismissiveness --- "We observed our 75th anniversary last year." So even class reunions are relative --- and it's kind of neat to remember that during the year Mary was walking across the stage to collect her diploma Frank was still a wet-behind-the-ears country school kid out southwest of town.

I was lucky enough to be invited to share the reunion supper and took this photo of the eight classmates (out of 40-plus living in scattered locations around the country) who turned out --- all men this year. They are (seated from left) Harold Wright of Des Moines, Ken Lee of Chariton, Cliff Phillips of Chariton and Dan Gullion of Ottumwa; (second row) Fred Davis of Elk Grove, California (who drove himself back to Iowa for the occasion), Bob Clark of Chariton, Richard Hobbs of Lucas and Frank Mitchell of Chariton.

Anyhow, the Carpenters Hall meal was great and Tony Irving was on hand to sing "Precious Memories" for the group.

Gloria Lee made note of the fact that there is, stored in the Lee home, a "last classmate standing" bottle of whisky contributed some years ago by another classmate. She tried to convince someone else to take custody of it. No takers.

There was talk of a 70th-year reunion --- but no firm plans were made. So we'll just have to wait and see.