Subtitle: Milby Class of 1959 Golden 50th Reunion
Posted October 31, 2009 by Karla Lofgren Davis,
Milby 1960 Blogmeister
It's a funny thing how significant one year can be when you are a teenager. Of course, nowadays being 65-66-67-68-69 ... what difference does that make??? The significance of our ages long ago leveled out (were obliterated!). We now have so much in common with kids, g'kids, and even gg'kids, our jobs and travels, as well as our various physical limitations - aches, pains, and illnesess. But as a teenager those upper classmen were imbued with "status" simply because they were a year (or two) older.
Even now as I create a new photo album with pictures from the class of '59 Golden Reunion I have an initial response of awe just reading the names - Mary Ruth, Betty, Sally, Sandra, Diane, Martha and on and on. Going through my '58 and '59 annuals is a real walk down Memory Lane. Some "kids" I knew at Park Place Elementary and Park Place Baptist Church, others I did not meet until Deady or Milby. But all had a significant impact on my life as they were my heroes. Those '59 girls were my ideal of how to look and act (quite a responsibliity, huh?) And I won't even mention the guys ~ I'll let someone else comment on the impact the guys of '59 had on our lives!
Through this blog I have had the opportunity to catch up with a few of those '59ers and what they have been up to through the years. Some have been mentioned here by others, some have contributed comments of their own, all welcome. But now we have a great opportunity to SEE them in a new photo album with pictures from their golden 50th Reunion that took place October 16-18, 2009.
Below are some excerpts from e-mail messages that were either addressed to me (promoting this idea for a photo album) or contained within several forwarded messages. These e-mail messages will give you a little taste of events and the afterglow of their reunion.
To get theings started, Sandra Wilks Honea ('59) graciously sent me photos from the reunion with indentification info and commentary. Sandra is one of my all-time heroes from a later time, when she was Secretary at Park Place Baptist Church and she and husband Boyce Honea ('59) were in the Sunday School class my father taught. They have said gracious things about my Mom and Dad's teaching and mentoring, but the truth is my folks thought the world of Sandra and Boyce and talked about them often. During Mom and Dad's last years, when Randy and I were living everywhere BUT Houston, they did a LOT to help my parents (and us) during our folk's decline and passing.We are forever grateful to them for their kindness and for being our family's lifeline.
Now read the e-mail messages below and follow this link to the Milby Class of '59 Reunion photo album. Click Here , then come back and write your comments. BTW, Margie Edwards Knight, Marilyn Schrader Mehaffey, and Irene Celis Adame have sent more photos since Sandra's initial submission. And now '59ers - please send me some more ID info and stories for captions (reminiscences as well as responses to the reunion events) at [email protected]. I'll get them posted "post haste".
From Clyde “Sonny” Jones, Milby 1960
Karla
I don't know if you've heard about the '59 reunion last weekend, but it must have really been something. Everyone I've talked to said they just hit it out of the park. I mean I've been copied on a dozen e-mails by GUYS saying how touched they were moved by the entire presentation. Anyway, I got to thinking... maybe sweet Karla would like to post pics and a write-up of some kind about the class before us. They really were special too! Your pal, Sonny
From Joe Simmons, Milby ‘59
Karla,
The 50th Reunion for Milby '59 was truly a special night. It was a page in history that can never be duplicated. If it could, all that were there would do it once a week to just feel better. However, as we know, yesterday is gone and we can never get it back. But this night was almost surreal. It was like all of our class left Milby for a typical weekend and we came back together again. Bem Allen said it right. "There was a lot of love in that room tonight.
As we know, history has shown that those of us who grew up in the 50's and first two years of the 60's, were born under a lucky star. Things were different. No teenagers carried guns and shot each other. We left our doors open sometimes. No Mom worried why we were not home, when we rode our bikes around the neighborhood. Friends were made and we became more than that - we became family. Milby was the place, but the people were the reason.
It is so special to hear the comments that are coming back to all of us. Heroes is a word that has been used. We are just Pecan Park, Meadowbrook, Park Place, Meadowcreek, and East End channel kids who learned to love one another. Your own reunion in 2010 can be that special. Don't try to be like us. Be like you. Our Committee will all enjoy being a part of yours, as many of '60 and '61 enjoyed being with us.
The defining moment came at the end, in two ways. First, we all stood up and sang "Fair Milby". (Words were printed on back of Program.) When "And Fight for these Golden Buffaloes" came, there were tears.
And then it was as if it were preordained. At least 30 couples on the dance floor, knowing this special night was ending on the Platters, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". Something that will never be again, happened. Jerry Simmons took the microphone and began to sing with that same voice that we all have heard so often. Every couple stopped and faced him. It was a total shock, unplanned, but truly a very special memory. Time stood still for those moments.
That's why so many of us are still in the moment. We all will never, never forget. Joe Simmons ’59 (Reunion Committee Member) P.S. Suggestion: Use Micky Hobbs for the music.
From Rex Vaughn (’58, married to Sally Outlaw ’59)
Was a very special evening . . . I'm a ‘58 but it really didn’t matter what year you were from. . . .
that was special . . . Jerry ended the night with an exclamation . . . he had no idea that he was gonna do that till the very last second . . . when they started the music (smoke gets in your eyes) he walked to the singer . . . took the mike out of his hand and started singing . . . my how he sang . . . blew everyone away . . . including the group . . . what a wonderful voice he still has . . .
he did my soul . . . Sonny, the band . . . well it was 2 guys with great sound equipment . . .
Mickey Hobbs was the main man . . . great voice . . . he plays the Italian Cafe in Clear Lake every Tues.,Weds, and Thurs . . . this was the epitome of reunion . . . God put his hands on this one . . .
ask anyone there and they will tell you the same thing . . . My goodness . . . Rex Vaughn
Separate Message from Rex
What a wonderful reunion . . . it is the morning after the 59 reunion week-end and wanta tell you guys it was pure delight . . . Great food . . . view of the city atop of the Exxon Bldg . . . and a wonderful band playing the old stuff . . . For me the night was special because I got to slowwwwwwww dance with the honeys - Sandra and Martha and my sweetie . . . and Sandra Sue nearly killed me with the jitterbug . . . And to cap off the night a very enjoyable thing happened . . . the band played many Platter tunes and hit em outta the park . . . they decided to end the night with “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” . . . the dance floor filled and as the band began playing I saw Jerry Simmons on stage with the mike in his hand and he began belting out the Platters . . . he brought the house down . . . I am still enjoying that sound . . .The man can still do it . . . We all finished the night with a great feeling . . . I always loved the ‘59 . . . especially Sandra . . . Martha . . . Pam . . . Linda . . . and my baby . . . Rex
Message from Boyce and Sandra (Wilks) Honea, both ‘59ers
Dear ‘59 Buff friends,
We want to thank the committee one more time for putting on such an awesome reunion. It was perfect in every sense of the word. Everyone had a great time. Two things I have been thinking about today: When Bem and Sandra and I were getting in the truck last nite to head back to the hotel, Bem made a simple and profound statement. He said, "There was a lot of LOVE in that room tonite". I could not agree more.
The other thing I keep thinking about was the ending when Mickey Hobbs started singing "Smoke gets in your eyes" and Jerry Simmons went up and took the mike and started singing. When Jerry took the mike and sang the whole song it reminded me of the movie "From Here to Eternity" When Montgomery Cliff took the Bugle from the young company bugler and played it.
I began to watch Mickey's reaction as he must have thought Jerry would just sing a few amateur notes. But the more Jerry sang and hit every note you could see Mickey looking in amazement at his guitar man in disbelief. None of us where surprised, as we have heard Jerry sing it many times with the famous Milby Mystics. It was a great ending to a great weekend.
"And now these three remain: faith,hope and love. But the greatest of these is LOVE."
1 Corinthians 13:13 Love, Boyce and Sandra (Wilks) Honea
From Les Fullerton, Milby ‘59
Class of '59,
I'll want to thank everyone who organized and participated in the 50th reunion. Everyone added to the enjoyment and love of our entire class. Some of us have known each other for 62 years, beginning in the first grade. There was a great deal of satisfaction in watching classmates have such a good time. It could not have been better from the food to the music. We are all blessed because of the love in the room. All the best to everyone, Les Fullerton
TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE MAIN PAGE CLICK HERE.
Thanks, Karla and Sandra for the wonderful picture spread and for the moving comments.
Bem
Posted by: Bem Allen | October 31, 2009 at 06:24 PM
more pictures, please! brenda burnett
[Hey Brenda! Karla here. Did you access the photo album of pictures from the class of '59 reunion? You'll find the "click here" link just after the red print above. There are lots of photos there. Or you can click on this URL: http://milby1960.typepad.com/photos/milby_class_of_59_reunion/#showToolbar
There are two pages of photos. When you are looking at the thumbnails, you will see an arrow-like thing at the bottom. Click on that and you will go to the second page ]
Posted by: Brenda Collins Burnett | June 13, 2010 at 07:55 AM