AHS class of 1959 cherishes 50 years of memories

Published 11:50 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Andalusia High School Class of ’59 celebrated its moment in time, “Our Time,” on May 15 -17, with a weekend filled with memory moments and good times. Fifty years ago, on May 25, 70-something Andalusia graduates walked down the aisle to accept their ticket to the rest of their lives … a high school diploma.

Now 50 years later, they gathered to fill the missing moments of time gone-by with their former classmates. The reunion theme, “Our Time,” resonated throughout the weekend as the group participated in a variety of activities.

Friday night, the group met at the Andalusia County Club for “A Time for Friends Revisited.” The club was decorated in traditional AHS red, white and black with a black-tie touch to the event. The mantel in the Ball Room spotlighted class happenings such as the Southeast Football Championship held by the undefeated ’59 football team and the “Who’s Who in the Class.” Each participant saw a “former self” in the photo tents lining the centerpieces of the tables.

A welcome from Glen Kendrick, classmate and president of the Andalusia Country Club board of directors and words from class president, Johnny Jacobs, set the evening mood for dining and catch up conversations.

Saturday morning, 10 of the classmates joined Kendrick on the Andalusia Country Club golf course for “A Time To Scramble.” Tee-off began at 8 a.m. and the game pursued until the winners emerged. Nick Nichols, husband of classmate Barbara Meredith Nichols; Don Aucoin, husband of classmate Janice Turner; Dick Vaughn, husband of Margaret Jean Vaughn; and classmate Bobby Campbell walked away with the low score and an ACC golf hat.

While the golfers were “serving” their best balls, the rest of the attendees were served breakfast in the Club House during “Memory Time”

Later Saturday morning, the reunion goers gathered at the Andalusia City Hall for “ A Trip Down Memory Lane.” Andalusia city employee Amanda Peek guided the group on a tour of the historic city hall. Many of the classmates were students at the site when it was an elementary school. After leaving the city hall, the participants met at the Three Notch Museum for a journey into Andalusia’s past, presented by Sue Bass Wilson. Then the reunion group met on the square for a treat at Sugar Rush and a view of the three downtown murals by artist Wes Hardin.

Late afternoon, “the ’59-ers,” as they dubbed themselves, assembled at Tom and classmate, Mary Snowden Kanaley’s lake home, for “A Time for a PIT Stop”The band, “Kenny Heard and Friends” played old and new tunes as the group literally faded into the night.

Sunday morning, a special “A Time to Say Good Bye” was held at the First Baptist Church chapel. The program was designed as a remembrance service for 11 classmates who have died: Kenneth Barton, Mary Anne McCraw Cowhan, Wayne Donaldson, George Hooper, Huey Hiers, Carole Hassell Sasser, Linda Powell Shreve, Jimmy Sutton, Joe Mack Thaxton, Marlon Thomas and Gail Wiggins.

Reunion planners included Barbara Meredith Nichols (Nick) , Mary Snowden Kanaley (Tom), Glen Kendrick, Jean Enzor Riley, Diana Pelham Bledsoe (Kenny), Lana Sue Tyson Rose ( Tony Warner), Corrie Mae Owens (John), Marianne Merrill Moates Weber (Al), Bill Hansford (Gerrie) and Tommy O’Neal(Lucy). Other members and spouses of the class who attended the reunion were: Janice Turner and husband, Don Aucoin; Eugene and Sue Barnes; Martha Hornsby Brennan; Bobby and Gloria Campbell; Don Cargill; Allen and Dorothy Cook; Bobby and Bobbie Grimes; Tracy Hattaway; Johnny and Nori Jacobs; Dwight (Jim) King; Wayne and Elaine King; Joy Straughn and husband, John Macon; Dan Martin; Betty Andress and husband, John Pearson; Robert Sanders; Barbara Rawls and husband; Bill Thaxton; Margaret Jean Prestwood and husband, Dick Vaughn; Charles and Julianne Ward; and Ashton and Katy Sue Wells.