October 2014 Edition. President s Brief. From the Editorial Staff

Transcription

1 The Hornet Review October 2014 Edition Clear Run High School Alumni Association Founded in 2009 P. O. Box Clinton, North Carolina President s Brief Clear Run High School Alumni: This year s reunion was outstanding with over 115 Clear Run High School (CRHS) alumni, family, and friends in attendance. We were also honored to have six of our CRHS faculty members present to celebrate the occasion with us. Our program was dedicated to recognizing and paying tribute to former CRHS principals, teachers, and administrators. We gave a Salute To The Stars and thanked them for their sacrifice and service to the students of Dear Ole Clear Run High. During the banquet, we awarded another $1, scholarship. The 2014 Clear Run High School Alumni Association (CRHSAA) scholarship recipient was Mr. Michael J. Smith. He is the grandson of one of our very own CRHS alumni, Mr. Ned Highsmith, Class of 66. Congratulations Mr. Smith!!! Finally, we are looking forward to another great reunion next year. As most of you know, we are doing things a little differently and taking the 2015 reunion to Maryland. We ll see you all there! Glenn Washington, CM, Class of 69 President and Chairman of the Board, CRHSAA To view pictures of the 2014 Reunion, visit Classmates.com or the Clear Run High School Alumni Association Facebook page. In this Edition President s Brief Editorial Staff Brief Reunion 2015 Update Scholarship Information Birthdates & Anniversaries Memorial Quarterly Meeting Schedule Membership Update 1 From the Editorial Staff The Sixteenth Clear Run High School Reunion was an exceptional event. "Salute to The Stars" was the 2014 reunion theme honoring the former faculty of the school from 1958 to More than 115 classmates, guests and friends were in attendance during the celebration. The CRHS classes of 1959, 1964 and 1969 hosted this momentous occasion at the Holiday Inn, Cedar Creek Road, Fayetteville, NC. Excitement filled the Dogwood Room as former teachers entered the room for the special night. CRHS alumni gathered around them - each person touching, hugging and shaking hands with their former instructors. I witnessed smiles, tears and laughter among the teachers and alumni and was emotionally moved by the experience. In the grand scheme of things, honoring these exceptional people, who impacted our lives in so many ways, was the best of the best accolades we could bestow on them. Not only did our former faculty teach us the curriculum; they taught us how to succeed in life, even during the turmoil of segregation (without access to new books, needed instructional supplies and extracurricular activity equipment), low salaries, the Civil Rights Movement, and the deaths of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We were taught by the best and we have succeeded in life under the direction of the beloved former faculty at CRHS. Without their tireless support, enthusiasm and encouragement, where would we be now? They gave us the tools to move into the real world and accomplish whatever endeavor we desired. And the faculty prepared us even without the amenities the non-black schools received during segregation. This reunion was one of the greatest. Expressions, comments from guests and friends alike gave the reunion committee kudos for a wellplanned weekend of enjoyment. The Clear Run High School Alumni Association, Inc. continues to move forward with the availability of

2 scholarships to deserving CRHS attendees descendants. CRHS Alumni acknowledge classmates who go the second mile to maintain the financial viability of the association. Thank you classes of 1959, 1964, 1969 for the magnificent sixteenth reunion -- "You are the best". Brenda B. Gale Buchanon Co-editor Spotlight on Javon Graham A Rising Star trying to find a place to hold it. It s a lot of fun. Nathan Detroit will be doing his best to set the game up while Miss Adelaide chases him for marriage, and Sky Matterson will concoct schemes to elope to Havana with Sarah Brown. Trailblazer Award Once again, the Trailblazer Award was presented as a team award. This year s recipients were awarded and recognized based on their contribution in the area of finance and record keeping. Their dedication of maintaining good financial records and documentation of our efforts contributed to the fact we maintained our alliance until the Clear Run High School Alumni Association was established. Photo by Marc Vasconcellos-The Enterprise Javon Graham, grandson of Robert Graham, Class of 66; starred in the classic Broadway show Guys and Dolls opening of the annual spring theater production at Brockton High School. According to the school s Drama Club Director, the show was lively, colorful and fun. He also stated that the school was very excited and always wanted to try to do a show to fit the kids they work with and this show fitted the cast. The show was a fun comedy and a classic that never goes out of style. The production was the culmination of eight weeks of hard work and long practices. The music and art departments of Brockton High School came together for this show with over 150 kids participating. The Drama Club do four shows a year with this production as the grand finale. Javon Graham, a senior and in his first musical appearance had the lead for this production. Graham was very excited, adding; The sets are beautiful, the musical numbers are engaging, the costumes are lively. It s a lot of fun to be a part of. Graham, who has been participating in theater for a year, said he was excited for the opportunity to play Nathan Detroit in the show. He s a middle-aged gambler in New York, he explained. He runs a floating craps game and he s Join us in congratulating( LR) Janice Boykin accepting for Sandra B. Spearman, Lethia Lee and Alice Fay Gray These three individuals continue to support the CRHSAA, in all of its endeavors. Recap - Clear Run High School Alumni Reunion of 2014 Congrats to alumni who attended the 2014 Reunion in Fayetteville, NC on August 29 - August 31, 2014! And we look to see you in Maryland in 2015! 2

3 After much consternation and sometimes sheer panic on the part of some, members of the 2014 Reunion got under way to plan the annual event. They were: Helen Bronson 64, Chair; Audrey Crenshaw Drake 59, Robert Newkirk 59, Patricia Bennett Green 64, and Glenn Washington 69. Place, date and time were pretty much set. A theme was chosen, Salute To The Stars, where former teachers and administrators would be honored for their hard work and dedication to the task of educating the sons and daughters of mostly farm workers and other manual laborers. Recalling to mind teachers whom many of us had not seen since leaving Ole Clear Run High was both joyful and sad at the same time. As you can imagine, we wanted to include as many teachers as would be able to attend. Those who were able to attend were Ms. Annette Billie, Mrs. Blanche Caldwell Boone, Mr. James Hall, Mr. Ed Mason, Mr. Marion McLaurin, and Ms. Janet Spaulding. We enjoyed seeing them as much as they enjoyed seeing us. Can you believe it s been 55 years for some of us? A beautifully framed print of Clear Run High School was presented to each of the invited teachers. The Committee wanted to do something that would be both lasting and meaningful to Clear Run Alumni. The Class Pictures Restoration Project fit the bill. Some of the class pictures were in pretty bad shape. The goal was to get all pictures cleaned up and reframed so that all looked the same. Lethia Robinson Lee 67 was invaluable in getting work done on this project. Not all pictures were completed by the Reunion date, but we hope that all will be done and beautifully displayed in Maryland next year. Don t miss them! Robert Graham worked tirelessly in getting invitations out on time and to the right address. Didn t the magnetic name tags work wonderfully? Thank Glenn Washington for getting those for us. Audrey Drake did an excellent job setting up and coordinating our Silent Auction. I m sure everyone was pleased with the variety of items in the auction. Audrey was also our keynote speaker for the evening. The Scholarship Committee presented a scholarship to Michael Smith, grandson of Ned and Elaine Highsmith. For those who missed the Friday Fellowship - you missed a treat. Jackie Parker Arango 63 provided the food; it was superb! Owen Thomas McNeil 64 was our DJ for the night. Donald Vann 68 created the memorable video loop of the sponsoring classes of 59, 64 and 69. An angel was depicted in the corner of the photo of departed classmates. Mary Boykin Brown, Vivian West, class of 59, Brenda Buchanon, class of 69 and yours truly remembered them in the brief memorial service. The 50/50 drawing, door prizes give away, and of course the BATTLE OF THE CLASSES is always big hits. From the first hello on Friday night to the last good-bye on Sunday morning, our reunions are events to look forward to and to remember long after they are over. It s seldom we get to reconnect with so many of those we spent so many hours with in our youth. I encourage you to make plans to attend next year s reunion in Southern Maryland. The committee has been on the job for some time now planning to make it a memorable occasion. See you there! Helen Bronson, Class of 64 Reunion 2014 Chair The 2014 CRHSAA Scholarship Recipient Michael JaQuan Smith was the recipient of the 2014 Clear Run High School Alumni Association Scholarship. Michael is the son of Michael Harper and Beline Smith of Clinton and the grandson of Ned and Elaine Highsmith. Michael graduated from Clinton High School with a 3.9 GPA, and attended Cape Fear Community College for 2 years. Michael is attending The Parsons New School for Design in New York City. Michael has already started a business in graphic design. Michael acknowledges his scholarship by writing: August 30, 2014 Dear Clear Run High School Alumni, I was very happy to learn that I was a recipient of the Clear Run High School Alumni Scholarship. I am writing to thank you for your generous financial support towards my education. I am a Communication Design major at Parsons the New School for Design and plan to pursue a career in the world of art and design. I am currently a first-year student and plan to graduate in the spring of I will seek employment and internships at different 3

4 companies as a Creative Director for their media, art and graphic departments. Junior Class of 69 By awarding me this scholarship; I am able to concentrate on what is important for me, my education. Your financial support has allowed me to take one step closer to achieving my goal. I hope one day to be able to help other students achieve their goals just as you have helped me. Again, I say thank you. Yours, Michael J. Smith Ned Highsmith accepts scholarship for grandson Thelma V. Gray, Class of 68 Scholarship Chair Happy Reunion 2105 Plans are being made for Reunion 2015 to be held in Maryland. All details are forthcoming, so please continue to make plans to come. For those traveling from North Carolina, we are looking into chartering a bus for your travel convenience. We are still awaiting participation on the Reunion Committee from the classes of 60 and the Jr. Class of 69 so please contact Faye Faison You are co-host with the Class of 65. Looking forward to your attendance for Reunion New Year 4

5 Celebrating With the Stars Former Faculty Members Mrs. Janet Spaulding, Music, English, and Civics Teacher Mr. James Hall, Vocational Agriculture Teacher Mr. Marion McLaurin, Mathematics Teacher & Varsity Coach Mr. Edward Mason, Biology and Chemistry Teacher and JV Coach Dr. Annette Billie, Mathematics Teacher Mrs. Blanche Boone, Librarian 5

6 Reunion Snap Shots Oh, What a Weekend of Reminiscing and Fun!! 6

7 Battle of the Classes 7

8 Membership Update Quarterly Meeting Schedule The Clear Run High School Alumni Association membership continues to increase with the addition of 10 new members. The organization now stands strong with a total of 83 members: Regular/Annual: 33 Regular/Four-year: 18 Regular/Lifetime: 23 Honorary/Lifetime: 9 Please join me in welcoming our newest members: David Boykin, Joanne Peterson Boykin, Leon Fryar, Louis Highsmith, Owen McNeil, Roy Richardson, Sidney Gray III, Thelma Vann Gray, Calvin Johnson, and Martha Faison Oates Additionally, I would like to remind our annual members that their membership dues for FY2015 were due and payable October 1, I would also ask those members that are delinquent on their dues to please make a payment at your earliest convenience. Just fill out and mail in the attached application form along with your check or money order. As a valued member of the Clear Run High School Alumni Association, we look forward to you continuing your membership and maintaining a good financial standing. Glenn Washington, CM, Class of 69 President and Chairman of the Board, CRHSAA Chairman, CRHSAA Membership Committee Remembering our Loved Ones Doris Kenan Bullock, Class of 64 Elbert (Pistol) Crenshaw, Junior Class of 69 James Devante, Class of 66 Juanita Johnson, Class of 66 Naomi Highsmith Peterson, Class of 64 Phil Powell, Class of 68 Martha Highsmith Williams, Class of 63 Prayer of Comfort Sick We offer our prayers for any of our members that maybe enduring sickness. The meetings for the next quarters are scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2015 and Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 7:30 PM EDT. These meetings will be conducted as telephone conference calls by dialing (862) This is not a toll free number-normal long distance charges by each caller s carrier may apply. All callers must call the same dial-in number and use the same access code, followed by the # key as specified below: Participant Access Code: # After you have entered the access code and # key, follow the recorded prompts to enter the conference. Once you are connected to the conference, please put your phone on mute until you want to ask a question or make a statement. All CRHS Alumni are welcome to attend. Birthday Celebrations Constance Washington 11/15 Valarie Merritt 11/21 Glenn Washington 11/21 Brenda Buchanon 11/30 Mr. Ed Mason 12/30 Henry L. Treadwell 1/15 Yvonne Melvin Russ 1/17 Faye Faison 1/25 Edgar K. Matthews 1/29 Janet Powell Barber 2/3 Jesse Wright 2/20 Ella Mainor 2/23 Joyce Matthews 3/14 Robert Graham 3/17 Maxine Stokes 4/12 Anniversary Celebrations Carter & Edna M. Jones 10/15 (Please continue to submit your birthdates and anniversaries. We would like to acknowledge all of our readers special dates, therefore, make sure your special dates are submitted by the next edition of the Hornet Review.) =========================================== Town of Garland on the Move Mayor Winfrey Hill Murphy is doing great things for the Town of Garland. Please check out the website and keep abreast of happenings in Garland. 8

9 CLEAR RUN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Membership Application Section I: Applicant s Information Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) Date Spouses Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) Home Address Home Phone City, State, Zip Code Work Phone Year(s) Attended Clear Run High School (CRHS) Year Graduated CRHS Cell Phone Type Membership (Regular, Associate, Honorary, Lineage, or Other) address Section II: Sponsor s Information (required for Associate, Honorary, Lineage, and Other Members; not applicable for Alumni) Sponsor s Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) Year(s) Attended CRHS Section III: Membership Dues (check only one) $ One year membership $ Four year membership (25% discount) $ Lifetime membership N/A For Honorary Members only (Free Lifetime Membership) Section IV: Referral Information [Member referring you to Clear Run High School Alumni Association (CRHSAA)] Member s Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) Section V: Privacy Information (check only one) I authorize the CRHSAA to print my contact information in the Membership Directory. I do not authorize CRHSAA to print my contact information in the Membership Directory. Applicant s Signature: Date: Printed Name: Complete above form; make check or money order payable and mail to: Clear Run High School Alumni Association Post Office Box 413 Clinton, NC Do not complete: For CRHSAA Official Use Only. Application Fee Received: $ Date Received By: Fin. Sec.: Treasurer: Rev C August 2011

10 THE CLEAR RUN HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COUNTRY STORE Order Form Golf Shirt Kelly Green or White. Embroidered circle with Gold Hornet Logo and inscription: Clear Run High School Alumni Reunion Golf Shirt (S, M, L) ea x $28.00 = $ Golf Shirt (XL) ea x $30.00 = $ Golf Shirt (XXL) ea x $31.00 = $ TOTAL $ Enter Golf Shirt Color (White or Green): Make check or money order payable to CRHSAA and mail to: Clear Run High School Alumni Association Post Office Box 413 Clinton, NC Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: NOTES: (1) To insure timely delivery, all orders must be received by July 18, (2) Orders available for pick up at the CRHS Reunion, August 29 thru August 31, (3) All proceeds will go to the CRHSAA Scholarship Fund. (4) Pictures are for illustration only; actual logo/design may differ slightly--see description below shirt. 10

11 Knobs for Scholars We invite you to join our effort in raising dollars for scholars. We ask you to count the number of door knobs within your home and make a tax deductible contribution of $1.00 per Knob To the Clear Run High School Alumni Association Scholarship Program. Have a friend or a family member that would join our efforts? Make sure to pass the information on to them. *************************************************** Make your check payable and mail to: CRHSAA-Scholarship Program P O Box 413 Clinton, NC