6/14/07

MHS Class of 1957 meets for 50th reunion
By Cathy Gilbert

Submitted Photo

The women of the Class of 1957: (seated) Julie Ann Jackson Floyd, Iva Jean Wallace de Oliveira, Ann Rush Cole, Bobbie Jo Carter Reaves, June McKnight Davis, Ruby Spigner Sullivan, Edna DuRant Ellis, Ann Taylor Alderman, Laverne Thigpen Morris; (standing) Kathleen Dennis Bailey, Cecile Mae Morris Haley, Dorothy Fleming Garnett, mary Rose Geddings Hodge, mary Moore McNair, Laura DuRant Phillips, Kitty Sue Langston Robinson and Gayle Overby Holliday. (Not pictured: Joanne Barwick Keels.)

1957 was a momentuous year.

Wham-O produced the first Frisbee and Dr. Seuss published his Cat in the Hat.
The Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and “American Bandstand,” “Howdy Doody” and “Dragnet” ruled the fledgling television airwaves.

Movie theaters were packed with fans of “The Ten Commandments,” “Oklahoma!” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” The world said hello to a newborn Spike Lee, but said goodbye to Humphrey Bogart.

Manning’s own Marian McKnight was Miss America. And though an entire community swelled with pride over her crowning, 65 families were just as proud of the Manning High Class of 1957.

Fifty years later, the class is still feeling that sense of pride and comraderie as they gathered to celebrate their fiftieth class reunion.

Held at the Bassard Pond House on June 2, 39 of the 54 surviving class members gathered to recall great memories and reignite fond friendships.

Submitted Photo

The men of the Class of 1957: (seated) Billy Sugg, Travis Brown, C.W. Ard, Marion “Brother” Eadon, Bobby McKinney, Edward Harrington, Jimmy Brunson, Joe Bryant, Aubrey Johnson, Charles Haley, Murray Geddings; (standing) Lee Reaves, Penny Jones, Ervin Duggan, Bill Gardner, Phil Kennedy, Joe Thompson, Jimmy Flowers, Jake Ross and Jack Holladay. (Not pictured: Francis Barwick.)

“We had a very limited program,” said Reunion Chairman Travis “Brownie” Brown. “Ervin Duggan shared some memories of growing up in Manning, but mostly we just wanted to visit.”

Brown said that he believed his class had gathered every five years since 1967 when they celebrated their tenth reunion.

The reunion also recognized those 11 classmates who are no longer with them: Franklin Brewer, Roy Brewer, Jimmy Burgess, Howard Garnett, Beverly Hodge, Marian Holladay, Bill Hook, Heyward Mitchum, Sherwood Morris, Arnold Richburg and Annette Stewart.

Committee members Ann Cole, Laverne Morris, Julie Ann Floyd, Iva Jean de Oliveira, Bobbie Reaves, Ann Alderman and Jim Flowers worked for months, contacting their classmates and preparing for the event.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without their hard work,” Brown said.