A Review of the 55TH Reunon by Barbara Crandall Sapp
The day finally arrived for our Reunion after nearly a year of planning and what a beautiful
sunny warm day it was!
First was our morning narrated tour of the beautiful restored Gillioz Theatre for about 80 of
our group. There was plenty of time for welcoming hugs followed by attempting recognition,
without the benefit of Name Tags, and then excited conversations.
Most of us had a story to tell about the Gillioz in the 50’s. Many of us remember having
someone letting us slip in without paying or opening the side door for us. We remembered
attending movies with certain dates, guys or girls, and when Ronald Reagan & Nancy
appeared on stage for the premiere of “The Winning Team”. What a crowd there was for
that occasion! A few commented on sitting in the balcony so no one could see them
smooching. It was very nostalgic!!
Some made plans to lunch together and experience the many changes in downtown
Springfield. How wonderful this transformation is and it really comes alive at night on the
Square and surrounding streets with all the new restaurants and shops.
It seems the day went so fast and soon it was time for the big event at Wellington Place.
The Committee all arrived early to check things out and set up for Registration and Name
Tags for our Classmates and others. We had learned from past experience that older people
always come early and that was very true. As it turned out lots of people came early and
then left an hour early shortly after dinner. Some of us didn’t get around to greeting all that
attended. The Committee wished people would have stayed and visited longer but we know
that it was a real effort for many of them to just attend. Our paid attendance was for 184
people but we did have some last minute cancellations due to health issues.
I guess my most memorable experience was when I first entered the Ballroom after greeting
in the Gillioz Lobby. Carole Don Tidmore Wensel & I greeted people,standing by the
“Bulldog Banner”, as they entered. We kept wondering where all the people were as we just
had a trickle of people coming in and it was 20 minutes until dinner would be served. We
decided to go on up to Wellington Place and I was a little concerned about the turn-out of
people I was expecting. When we opened the door to go into the Ballroom I cried. There
were people everywhere hugging, laughing, talking and my thought was “All these names I
have been typing in my computer to be attending have come alive!!!” As it was, most of them
had come in by cutting through the Bar on the street next door to the Gillioz entrance.
I was amazed at how many Classmates I recognized. I think the eyes are the giveaway, but I
still had to peek at a lot of Name Tags. Everyone was so jovial and I really believe they were
enjoying themselves. Some admitted they were so happy to be there even though they knew so
few while at SHS. Naturally, names came up that were not attending with questions about
them and hopefully these people got answers. I brought “Regrets” letters & e-mails that I
received from about 20 Classmates and placed them on the “Photo Exchange”Table (a
popular idea) for Classmates to read.
It was thrilling to announce our Class President, lost since the 20th Reunion (for 35 years) –
Joe Breshears. He and his wife, Marilyn, came from Hurst, Texas to join us. He was found
by Janet Dowell Rodgers who was unable to attend this time. Joe is a retired minister and
offered our Invocation preceding dinner. He later made the statement “I wish I hadn’t been
lost and missed all the other Reunions.”
After a delicious dinner was served I took the scary Mike and welcomed everyone
enthusiastically, then saying “With all the expense of traveling, other special events, and our
aging bodies, we did not know what our turn-out might be but you far surpassed our
expectations!!
I then said about our Committee “We worked as one Committee on all aspects of planning
this. We each did what we do best and were so fortunate to have a variety of talents to get
the job done. I want to introduce our Committee who all worked hard and shared the load:
Tom Bingaman, Jan Bischoff Carroll, Marty Drummond Close, June Martin Williams,
Carolyn McLemore Myers, Pansy Nelson Bingham, Leona Potter Snider, Charlotte Smith
Northrip, Carole Don Tidmore Wensel, Jack Wensel, Anita Wheeler Henry – they each stood
and were applauded.”
About Bob Osterloh I said : “We wish a big applause for our Webmaster, Bob Osterloh!!
(and there was one!!)
Bob along with Tom Bingaman created our great Class Website and Bob was diligent in
keeping all this Reunion News up to date on the Website and encouraging everyone to attend.
We are saddened that he and his wife, Muriel, were unable to make the trip from Idaho at this
time. Bob truly cares to keep this Class close and calls the Website the “Virtual Home for
the SHS Class of ‘53”. His “Regrets” Letter said “I hate to miss our Reunion - fifteen
hundred miles, $4 fuel and family commitments will keep me here in Idaho. However, I plan
on attending in spirit and with the help of our fine Staff and Barbara and her Committee, I
am sure that I will enjoy the Reunion when I receive pictures and comments for the Website.”
I could hear disappointment expressed by several Classmates that Bob would not be attending.
Marty Drummond Close had the idea to surprise Bob with “Thank You” Cards on each table
which were to be sent to him. The response to this was great!! We know he will be thrilled to
receive all the wonderful appreciative compliments on his talents and the Website!
I then turned the Mike over to Pansy Nelson Bingham to introduce the Website Staff and relay
a neat message from Bob.
Following this, Marty Drummond Close presented me with a beautiful dozen Roses for being
the Leader of the Planning Committee, plus a very sentimental card saying “Thanks and
appreciation for a job Well Done – From the Class of ‘53”
The Registration Team, Anita, Carolyn, Charlotte, & Pansy, had handed out Comment Cards
as well as Name Tags and Handbooks; and Classmates were asked to write a message on
these about the Reunion and were told we would attempt to match these with pictures being
taken to go on the Website. Watch for these soon!!
Finally it was free time to circulate among those present. It was neat to watch the animation
between old friends from SHS days with more hugging and everyone talking at once. It was
great to see Pat Cox Loveland and Patty Thomason Love together bringing back memories to
me of those days with them jitterbugging together at every dance. They were really good!
Tom Bingaman was so pleased that these 2 Pat’s entertained his wife, Polly, while he was
busy demonstrating the Website and being a photographer. Marty Drummond Close was
excited to be reunited with Nancy Smith Grimm after 48 years. Jan Bischoff Carroll and
Barbara Dulin Love who lived near each other growing up and practiced for “Kilties”
together were thrilled to be together again! Carole Don Tidmore Wensel was so happy to
visit with Tony Young, Charlie Duncan, and Sally Day Stewart. Carole recalls, while
attending SMS Sally stayed with her and had a date with Carole’s husband, Jack Wensel,
before they were married naturally!
Now, I hope that some of you attending, will be willing to share something similar as
the above. I’m sure those who could not be there would enjoy your thoughts and
comments.
Also many of you were taking pictures that morning and night. Bob and Tom would
really appreciate your sharing these pictures with those visiting the website.
Yes, I believe our 55th Reunion was a huge success. We had so many compliments on the
planning, the meal, the Handbook and the number of Classmates attending. I certainly hope
that everyone that attended enjoyed themselves. Lots of us wished it could have lasted longer,
but the time we had was unforgettable!
Many Classmates stated “We’ll see you at the “60th” so I guess there will certainly be
another Reunion!! I pray that all of us will be able to attend including those of you who
missed this one. Until then “Take Care and God Bless You and Yours!”
The day finally arrived for our Reunion after nearly a year of planning and what a beautiful
sunny warm day it was!
First was our morning narrated tour of the beautiful restored Gillioz Theatre for about 80 of
our group. There was plenty of time for welcoming hugs followed by attempting recognition,
without the benefit of Name Tags, and then excited conversations.
Most of us had a story to tell about the Gillioz in the 50’s. Many of us remember having
someone letting us slip in without paying or opening the side door for us. We remembered
attending movies with certain dates, guys or girls, and when Ronald Reagan & Nancy
appeared on stage for the premiere of “The Winning Team”. What a crowd there was for
that occasion! A few commented on sitting in the balcony so no one could see them
smooching. It was very nostalgic!!
Some made plans to lunch together and experience the many changes in downtown
Springfield. How wonderful this transformation is and it really comes alive at night on the
Square and surrounding streets with all the new restaurants and shops.
It seems the day went so fast and soon it was time for the big event at Wellington Place.
The Committee all arrived early to check things out and set up for Registration and Name
Tags for our Classmates and others. We had learned from past experience that older people
always come early and that was very true. As it turned out lots of people came early and
then left an hour early shortly after dinner. Some of us didn’t get around to greeting all that
attended. The Committee wished people would have stayed and visited longer but we know
that it was a real effort for many of them to just attend. Our paid attendance was for 184
people but we did have some last minute cancellations due to health issues.
I guess my most memorable experience was when I first entered the Ballroom after greeting
in the Gillioz Lobby. Carole Don Tidmore Wensel & I greeted people,standing by the
“Bulldog Banner”, as they entered. We kept wondering where all the people were as we just
had a trickle of people coming in and it was 20 minutes until dinner would be served. We
decided to go on up to Wellington Place and I was a little concerned about the turn-out of
people I was expecting. When we opened the door to go into the Ballroom I cried. There
were people everywhere hugging, laughing, talking and my thought was “All these names I
have been typing in my computer to be attending have come alive!!!” As it was, most of them
had come in by cutting through the Bar on the street next door to the Gillioz entrance.
I was amazed at how many Classmates I recognized. I think the eyes are the giveaway, but I
still had to peek at a lot of Name Tags. Everyone was so jovial and I really believe they were
enjoying themselves. Some admitted they were so happy to be there even though they knew so
few while at SHS. Naturally, names came up that were not attending with questions about
them and hopefully these people got answers. I brought “Regrets” letters & e-mails that I
received from about 20 Classmates and placed them on the “Photo Exchange”Table (a
popular idea) for Classmates to read.
It was thrilling to announce our Class President, lost since the 20th Reunion (for 35 years) –
Joe Breshears. He and his wife, Marilyn, came from Hurst, Texas to join us. He was found
by Janet Dowell Rodgers who was unable to attend this time. Joe is a retired minister and
offered our Invocation preceding dinner. He later made the statement “I wish I hadn’t been
lost and missed all the other Reunions.”
After a delicious dinner was served I took the scary Mike and welcomed everyone
enthusiastically, then saying “With all the expense of traveling, other special events, and our
aging bodies, we did not know what our turn-out might be but you far surpassed our
expectations!!
I then said about our Committee “We worked as one Committee on all aspects of planning
this. We each did what we do best and were so fortunate to have a variety of talents to get
the job done. I want to introduce our Committee who all worked hard and shared the load:
Tom Bingaman, Jan Bischoff Carroll, Marty Drummond Close, June Martin Williams,
Carolyn McLemore Myers, Pansy Nelson Bingham, Leona Potter Snider, Charlotte Smith
Northrip, Carole Don Tidmore Wensel, Jack Wensel, Anita Wheeler Henry – they each stood
and were applauded.”
About Bob Osterloh I said : “We wish a big applause for our Webmaster, Bob Osterloh!!
(and there was one!!)
Bob along with Tom Bingaman created our great Class Website and Bob was diligent in
keeping all this Reunion News up to date on the Website and encouraging everyone to attend.
We are saddened that he and his wife, Muriel, were unable to make the trip from Idaho at this
time. Bob truly cares to keep this Class close and calls the Website the “Virtual Home for
the SHS Class of ‘53”. His “Regrets” Letter said “I hate to miss our Reunion - fifteen
hundred miles, $4 fuel and family commitments will keep me here in Idaho. However, I plan
on attending in spirit and with the help of our fine Staff and Barbara and her Committee, I
am sure that I will enjoy the Reunion when I receive pictures and comments for the Website.”
I could hear disappointment expressed by several Classmates that Bob would not be attending.
Marty Drummond Close had the idea to surprise Bob with “Thank You” Cards on each table
which were to be sent to him. The response to this was great!! We know he will be thrilled to
receive all the wonderful appreciative compliments on his talents and the Website!
I then turned the Mike over to Pansy Nelson Bingham to introduce the Website Staff and relay
a neat message from Bob.
Following this, Marty Drummond Close presented me with a beautiful dozen Roses for being
the Leader of the Planning Committee, plus a very sentimental card saying “Thanks and
appreciation for a job Well Done – From the Class of ‘53”
The Registration Team, Anita, Carolyn, Charlotte, & Pansy, had handed out Comment Cards
as well as Name Tags and Handbooks; and Classmates were asked to write a message on
these about the Reunion and were told we would attempt to match these with pictures being
taken to go on the Website. Watch for these soon!!
Finally it was free time to circulate among those present. It was neat to watch the animation
between old friends from SHS days with more hugging and everyone talking at once. It was
great to see Pat Cox Loveland and Patty Thomason Love together bringing back memories to
me of those days with them jitterbugging together at every dance. They were really good!
Tom Bingaman was so pleased that these 2 Pat’s entertained his wife, Polly, while he was
busy demonstrating the Website and being a photographer. Marty Drummond Close was
excited to be reunited with Nancy Smith Grimm after 48 years. Jan Bischoff Carroll and
Barbara Dulin Love who lived near each other growing up and practiced for “Kilties”
together were thrilled to be together again! Carole Don Tidmore Wensel was so happy to
visit with Tony Young, Charlie Duncan, and Sally Day Stewart. Carole recalls, while
attending SMS Sally stayed with her and had a date with Carole’s husband, Jack Wensel,
before they were married naturally!
Now, I hope that some of you attending, will be willing to share something similar as
the above. I’m sure those who could not be there would enjoy your thoughts and
comments.
Also many of you were taking pictures that morning and night. Bob and Tom would
really appreciate your sharing these pictures with those visiting the website.
Yes, I believe our 55th Reunion was a huge success. We had so many compliments on the
planning, the meal, the Handbook and the number of Classmates attending. I certainly hope
that everyone that attended enjoyed themselves. Lots of us wished it could have lasted longer,
but the time we had was unforgettable!
Many Classmates stated “We’ll see you at the “60th” so I guess there will certainly be
another Reunion!! I pray that all of us will be able to attend including those of you who
missed this one. Until then “Take Care and God Bless You and Yours!”
Barbara kindly shares some of her thoughts after a wonderful evening.
My 7th and 8th grade years were spent at Jarrett where I made good friends. I was very
fortunate to have had been in the first 9th grade class at H. P. Study Jr. High School, where
we had the first indoor gymnasium at that time. We had great teachers there (as well as at
Jarrett). I very much enjoyed working on the school paper at Study.
I was very happy to see a table of others who had also been at Study with me: Ron Davis,
Ron Greenwood (with their wives) and Ada Lee Waddle Copeland.
I did get to speak to them more than any other group or individuals at the reunion. We
were all saddened, though, that Don and Shirley Millard Buffenbarger were unable to be
there, too. Others from Study were scattered throughout the room: Don Duncan and
Gene Nutter. I may have missed another one or two. I hope that any or all of them will
have more to say. Ron Greenwood kept telling me how much he enjoyed both our website
and the reunion. The others agreed, of course. Of course, we also reminisced about our
time at SHS, but time was too short!
Many others kept coming to us on the committee and heaping lots of praise on us. Everyone
is excited about the website, even though we weren't able to get as many comment cards as
we had hoped. They were very vocal, though, so we can take that to the bank! We believe
there will be many pictures offered and we can only hope they took to heart that we
welcome any and all stories.
Pansy
fortunate to have had been in the first 9th grade class at H. P. Study Jr. High School, where
we had the first indoor gymnasium at that time. We had great teachers there (as well as at
Jarrett). I very much enjoyed working on the school paper at Study.
I was very happy to see a table of others who had also been at Study with me: Ron Davis,
Ron Greenwood (with their wives) and Ada Lee Waddle Copeland.
I did get to speak to them more than any other group or individuals at the reunion. We
were all saddened, though, that Don and Shirley Millard Buffenbarger were unable to be
there, too. Others from Study were scattered throughout the room: Don Duncan and
Gene Nutter. I may have missed another one or two. I hope that any or all of them will
have more to say. Ron Greenwood kept telling me how much he enjoyed both our website
and the reunion. The others agreed, of course. Of course, we also reminisced about our
time at SHS, but time was too short!
Many others kept coming to us on the committee and heaping lots of praise on us. Everyone
is excited about the website, even though we weren't able to get as many comment cards as
we had hoped. They were very vocal, though, so we can take that to the bank! We believe
there will be many pictures offered and we can only hope they took to heart that we
welcome any and all stories.
Pansy
| School Days Co-host Pansy shares her thoughts. |
| Share your thoughts and comments with your classmates! |
our School Days Staff would appreciate
your thoughts and comments about our
55th Reunion.
Please use the form on the right to give us
feed back. Where possible we will record
your response and share it with our
classmates in future newsletters.
Thanks...Bob.....
your thoughts and comments about our
55th Reunion.
Please use the form on the right to give us
feed back. Where possible we will record
your response and share it with our
classmates in future newsletters.
Thanks...Bob.....
| Attention Reunion Attendees: Please share your comments, thoughts and experiences at our 55th Reunion with classmates who were unable to attend. Here Barbara and Pansy share their thoughts. |
We have attached a feedback option at the bottom of this page. You may use it to enter
your Reunion comments and send them to us. Your classmates are interested in anything
you have to say so pleae take just a little time and let us hear from you.
your Reunion comments and send them to us. Your classmates are interested in anything
you have to say so pleae take just a little time and let us hear from you.
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