Class of “66”

Dear Classmates,

Our time is coming!  I don’t mean the big one, but a big event in our lives is just around the corner.  I am referring to the 50^th Anniversary of our graduation from Valley Springs High School.  

As most of you know, the Valley Springs Alumni Association host the Annual Alumni Reunion on the 1^st Saturday of August.  For 2016, that date is August 6^th.  During this event, the Class whose 50^th year is passing, is honored by inducting the members into the Alumni Half Century Club.  It is a great time for all to come together and catch up with old friends and classmates.

A core group of Class of “66” met at the school following this year’s event.  The decision of this group was to have a gathering of some type on August 5^th, 2016 in Harrison, or surrounding area.  I need some input from the overall group as to their thoughts on this matter.  The current line of thinking is to find a business serving food and beverage that will set aside an area large enough to accommodate up to 50 people.  The Brick Oven Pizza Company, Harrison, AR has been recommended. I am soliciting input from any and all that plan to be there.

Another concern for preparing for the Induction Ceremony includes getting input from each person attending, to include the exact name they want on their certificate.  The school staff prepares these for us and we must coordinate as early as possible.

Example:  “Linda Greenhaw” or “Linda Chatterton Greenhaw.”  Please respond to this message with the correct information. Or send it to jrmethvin@aol.com

Some of you have visited our Blogspot page on the web and noted many pieces of interesting memorabilia have been posted or linked to the page.  Please visit it often to see what is happening there. If you have old photos of the class that you are willing to share, mail them to me to be added to the Blogspot.  (599 W. Hwy 14, Lead Hill, AR 72644).

I need help in locating many of the classmates.  I have emails for about 13, so that helps.  (Additional emails would be great.)  But there are 19 that require snail mail for contact.  I have valid snail mail addresses on 4, and old addresses (30 years) for the remaining 15.

John Blakenship                     Pat Cooper Irwin                   Barbara Crosswhite Cash

Betty Drewry Hight                Joyce Harmon Titus              Judy Harris Gilliam

Kathy Johnson Smith             Betty Keele Lewis                 Lewis Lowery

Ron Lowery                            Jack Massengale                   Lotis Hancock Young

Pat Renfroe Burdine               Jerry Rushin                           Betty Stratton Pliler

Shirley Wainwright                Darlene West Milks               Jessica Womack

Jim Methvin

Class of 66, Vice President

August 11, 2015 Addition of Memorabilia links

Several items have been added since the last post was written.  At the bottom of the page are links to different memorabilia for the Class of "66".  A link has been added under Tom White's memorial post that takes you to several pictures of Tom during his deployment to the Republic of Vietnam.  Please take time to review and leave comments on the Blog page of things you would like to see posted.  If possible they will be added.  Remember to mark your calendars for 5 & 6 August,  2016.  That is the scheduled time for our induction into the Half Century Club by the Valley Springs Alumni Association.

March 12, 2015 Addition of Class Poem and Class Will to Blog

Today  the Class Poem and Class Will were added to the Blog.  They were scanned in and attached as separate pages.  There is a link at the lower left corner of the Blog page titled as such.  If you click on the link, the documents are displayed at the bottom of the Blog.  They appear small and unreadable, however, if you right click on a  document, a drop down list appears with several options.  One of the options is to open the document in a new tab.  Make this selection.  Once the document opens in the new tab there will be a magnifying symbol, click on the symbol and make the document larger. Enjoy reading and reminiscing.  Once you complete viewing the documents, click on the "Home" link just above the Class Poem & Will link to return to the Blog postings.  For those viewing the Blog with a tablet or smart phone, use the procedures required by the device system to make the documents readable.

March 8, 2015 Update information

I don't know the exact date of this years' Valley Springs Alumni banquet, but it is normally the first weekend of August.  The Valley Springs High School graduating class of "65" will be inducted into the Half Century Club during this banquet.  Please notify everyone you know who graduated in 1965 of this activity, and plan on attending in support of their event.  Next year at this time we will be approaching our induction, and much planning must be accomplished in order for it to be a success.  I know Darlene and I plan on being there for both.

March 6, 2015 Announcing the Class of "66" Blogspot

This is the first post for the Class of "66" Blog spot.  As new information about our classmates or events for the 50th Reunion approach, they will be posted here.  At the bottom of this page is a block where you can type in your email address.  You will receive a subscription verification message to your email inbox.  In the message will be a link.  Click on the link to activate your subscription.  Once you complete this action you will receive an email of the update to the blog.

                                         Memorial to Deceased Class Mates from 1966                            

Jean David Martin:  Born Sep 10, 1947 – Passed Mar 11, 1969.  Army Veteran.  Died of injuries following a mortar attack in Vietnam. Awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Buried at the Maple Wood Cemetery, Harrison, Arkansas
Jean David Martin

Shirley Fillingham Young: Born Feb 11, 1948 – Passed Sep 5, 1984.  Buried at the Maple Wood Cemetery, Harrison, Arkansas.
Shirley Fillingham  

                           

George "Skip" Brokaw:  Born  Dec 9, 1947 – Passed Nov 10, 2000. Army Veteran.  Vietnam service, awarded the Purple Heart.  Buried in the Rule Cemetery in Carroll County, Arkansas.
George "Skip" Brokaw

Tommy K. White:   Born July 27, 1948 – Passed Feb 12, 2001.  Buried in Bidville Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas   Navy Veteran with service in Vietnam.
Tom during his Navy days

Diane Cochran Woodell:  Born May 1, 1948 – Passed Dec 22, 2002.  Buried at the Western Grove Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
Diane Cochran

Alan Connolly:  Born Aug 29, 1948 – Passed Apr 17, 2011.  Buried in the Sand Hill Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
Alan Connolly

Terry Wells:  Born Jan 6, 1948 – Passed Jun 22, 2013.  Army Veteran.  Machine Gunner on an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) in Vietnam.  Cremated.
Terry Wells

 Freddy Joe Potter:  Born Jul 8, 1948 – Passed Jan 27, 2014. Buried in the Western Grove Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.
Freddy Joe Potter