Banquet Grand Vue Park's Banquet Hall
Setup
On Saturday July 21, 2012, a banquet was held at Grand Vue Park's Banquet Hall starting at 5:00 pm and lasted until 10:00 pm. Saturday morning several were at the hall putting the set up together in preparations for the evening event. We all wanted to be ready to accept guest without having to worry about the facility being in the order we wanted. The staff at Grand Vue was very helpful and anxious for us to have everything we needed just the way we needed it.
There were the welcome table, the auction tables, the tables for the memorabilia, a cake table and a table for the sound system. A small table was needed for the lap top to run the power point presentation that ran during the evening. Having the computer and projector connected and functioning properly was accomplished also. Skeeter Anderson and Dave Durbin hung the long banner as well as set up the vertical banner for individual pictures.
Now when everyone arrived and the meal was ready for serving, class Vice President John "Buster" Hummell offered words of welcome. His words reminded us of the days from which we came and well as the fact that we have accomplished much to bring us to where we are today. It was our responsibility to enjoy ourselves during the re-connecting of the evenings reunion and to hold sacred the thoughts and memories of those passed. He encouraged the group to give thanks to those responsible for the organization and presentations of the reunion. Most of all, enjoy each other this evening.
Reverend Rich Baumberger spoke words of blessing on the gathering and on the meal. Richard reminded us of the blessing of seeing one more day that offered a chance to create a wonderful experience in it.
The meal was served for the 100 persons in attendance. Following the meal, the celebratory cake was cut and distributed.
Donna Best Durbin read some emails of those expression condolence to the class for their absence but wanting us all to know how excited they were to connect even from their distance. The emails were from Jane Frohnapfel Barth, Harry Conner, Pam Guthrie Simpson, Darlene Yost Bush, Patty Howell Patterson, and from Terry and Judy Clark Shimp. Donna read a nice long letter from Charles Robert "Bob" Long's widow letting us know of Bob's passing and recognizition of the class reunion. Donna will send her a Tote and ID Badge to allow her to feel she was part of the reunion. Dale and Judy McLaughlin Allen sent an email saying that they could not make the reunion but were coming to the August Picnic. They also said to tell everyone that they were sorry for missing the chance to visit at the reunion.
Donna also learned that our class advisor Ms. Toni Jo Mason is in failing health yet loves to hear of news from home and her former classmates in our class. Her mailing address is Toni Jo Mason -- P.O. Box 180314, Tallahassee FL 32318-0003
After those joyful words, the fund raiser auction began.
Numbers from the events were 46 classmates and a total of 69 at the Guest House Meet -n- Greet on Friday. The banquet numbers were 55 classmates and a grand total of 91 attending. This is pretty good from the expected 61 classmates and 102 registered for the weekend reunion.
Auction Fund Raiser
After Donna read the email messages, Mick served as the auctioneer with Dave Durbin delivering the item to the winner and taking the picture of the winner. Bill Chambers helped Mick by giving him the next item to be auctioned on. Barb Brown Stern and Susan Wilson Burk kept the records and took payments of the items as they were sold.
Mick had lots of help with the description of the items as they came up for bids. It was a good thing because his definition of the item fell short of its significance.
The auction items had been donated by classmates and many were hand made with loving care to be worthy of another classmate's bids. Others were purchased with the same caring intention.
The order of the pictures is not necessarily the order that they were auctioned. Just enjoy the winner's smiles.
Football Game November 10, 1961 Moundsville High vs Union High
The special gift that Walter "Nifty" Wilson offered to the 50th reunion was a game film of the last football game of the senior year for the class of 1962 players that his father Walter "Red" Wilson had filmed as the Athletic Director. The game was played on a cold November 10 th. day on the Moundsville Football Field. Union had no football field at the time and they were scheduled to be the home team for this game. Nifty had the 16 mm film converted to a DVD format so it could be shown on conventional systems at this time. He forwarded a copy of the football DVD to Mick Burk who made copies for all who want this historical event.
Moundsville's football season was not going so well but the team always gets up for the rival in-county games in whatever sport. Union High team had a good season of 6-2 with aspiration for playoff capabilities.
Microfilm searches for newspaper articles of that date revealed some interesting information. Copies of those newspaper articles are given below.
