HOLLIS (OK) HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

                    
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HOLLIS (OK) HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Across the Fence 



By Alvord Abernethy 


We recently got back from Hollis, Oklahoma, where attended the 52nd Annual High School Alumni Reunion. This has always been a very pleasant occasion, but this year it was a little special as it was the 60th anniversary of my class, the class of 1923. 

Of the original 41 in the class, 10 or 11 were there this year. Several in the class got to attend the reunions frequently, but one of the group who lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, got to attend this year, the first time in many years. 

The day started off about 9 0’clock with registration and a mixer in the Civic Building. This is where one gets to meet and visit with old friends and classmates. It’s a good thing that everyone wears a name tag as some of them don’t look like they did 50 or 60 years ago. I’m not the only one who had to peep at a name. 

The three remaining Keys Quadruplets were there this year and I got to have a nice visit with them. Their late sister, Jacquelin, was a member of my class, and I worked one winter in their dad’s hardware store, so I knew them really well. In former years they would nearly always sing as a quartet at the reunion. They were members of the class of 1933, so were there for their 50th anniversary. 

At this meeting they had the old and new high school annuals out on the tables for people to look through and recall old friends and happenings. Some bring their old scrapbook of pictures and clippings that certainly stir up some memories. 

After the mixer, our class went to a café where we all got around one large table and ate lunch together. A parade is held at 2:30 p.m. At one time many of the classes would decorate attractive floats, but now they are either too old or too busy to do much decorating. 

Over three hundred were in attendance that night to feast on a fine catered dinner, and to enjoy a well prepared program. Henry McBrayer, of the class of ’64, was the Master of Ceremonies, and he kept things going in a masterful way. Jim white, of the class of ’52, was the main speaker and he told of the things that Hollis and its schools had given to him. Jim has been a missionary for several years. 

After the banquet, everyone had an opportunity to go to the high school for another time of visiting and refreshments. Miss Carolyn Speigle was my second grade teacher, and was one of the sweetest, ladies one could ever meet. She married Elmer Edwards, a local insurance man. They lived out their lives there in Hollis, rearing a family and being very active in civic and church activities. 

In 1932 they decided that they wanted to do something special for Hollis, so they started the Alumni Reunion. Seldom do I attend that function that someone does not mention the Edwards and give them credit for starting such an interesting meeting. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone here got such an interesting affair going here? 

Shared by Roy Ables

ACROSS THE FENCE 


 
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People and Places: Gazetteer of Hamilton County, TX
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Copyright © March, 1998
by Elreeta Crain Weathers, B.A., M.Ed.,  
(also Mrs.,  Mom, and Ph. T.)

A Work In Progress