Laredo, Spickard Alumni Reunions Held

(in the social column under laredo and spickard alumni banquets. you can put the title on it)

Alumni from the Laredo and Spickard R-2 schools held their annual banquets on Saturday night.
Laredo
The 75th annual Laredo banquet was held in the school with the theme, “Seasons in the Sun.” The gym was decorated with all four season themes. The evening began with hospitality and visiting, followed with a catered dinner. Bob Graham of the 50-year class welcomed the 103 alumni and guests. It was followed by the pledge to the U.S. flag and the invocation by Bill Meeker.
During the business meeting, roll call was conducted by Pam Woods Sager of the 50-year class. The oldest graduate was Marjorie Mallett Olson from the Class of 1939. The next oldest were Loma Cooper Hurst and Marian Pollock Campbell from the 75-year honor class of 1943.
Others present were Mary Jackson Freeman, Class of 1944; Payton Woods and Edgar Ishmael, Class of 1947; Lillian Vandevender Eaton, Class of 1948; Delores Davis Cummings, Class of 1950; Betty Barnett Peterie and Dale Gardner, Class of 1951; Bonnie Elliott Peterie, Class of 1952; Bill Meeker, Class of 1954; Joe Bethards, Class of 1956; Ron Funk and Lena Mantlo Cooksey, Class of 1957; Phyllis Triplett Bethards, Bob Rains, Sharon Little Allen, W.R. Urton and JoAnn Bishop Mantlo, Class of 1958; Clarence Hess, Class of 1959; Linda Tolson Urich, Class of 1960; Lila McCully Neil, Evelyn Molloy Faubion, Jerry Souder, George Holloway, Frances Sheppard Engleman, Sharon Rose Sheppard Hess, Bev Emmons and Charles Bowe, Class of 1963; Sharon Spencer Marnin, Kay Holden Thomas, Jackie Sue Gardner Owens and Shila Williams Childs, Class of 1964; Linda Donoho May, John Dunkin and Donita Little, Class of 1965; Janet Broyles Heirs and Junior Ishmael, Class of 1966; Bill Koetting, Jerry Engleman and Connie Gardner Miller, Class of 1967; Ron Searcy, Bob Graham, Pam Woods Sager, Sue Donoho Morris, Bonnie Reeder Midgett, Stanley Dudley, Jim Ishmael, and Dean Holloway, Class of 1968; Milton Harrington, Class of 1969; Jeanie Boone Woods, Sandy Graham and Philip Woods, Class of 1970; Marlene Broyles Engleman, Class of 1974; Mike Peterie, Class of 1975; Debbie Graham Davies, Class of 1976; and Lora Peterie Jackson, Class of 1985. Special recognition was given to the oldest graduate present. Marjorie Mallett Olson from the class of 1939. The alumni travelling the farthest was Sharon Rose Sheppard Hess from Colorado. Betty Barnett Peterie was recognized for never missing a banquet (66 years). Payton Woods has only missed one. The largest family present was the Peterie family with seven. First-time attendees were Ronnie Sawyer, Stanley Dudley, J. Harris and Debbie Graham Davies.
The Murphy Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Madyson Williams and the Alumni Scholarship was awarded to Cayden Bowe. A barn quilt block donated by Dan Maxey was won by J. Harris.
Kerry Peterie provided the entertainment telling hunting and fishing tales and a poem about the Grundy County Conservation Agent Carl Rude’s 30-year pursuit of the Peterie family. He also brought a rare sedimentary nodule about the size of a basketball weighing 27 pounds that he had found in a creek bed.
A memorial was read by Loma Hurst for the seven deceased alumni, Emogene Elliott Jackson, Class of 1943; Mary Mantlo Gorman, Class of 1948; Gracie Peterie, Class of 1950; Buddy Burtch and Franklin Cartright, Class of 1960; Forrest Hess Jr., Class of 1964; and David Shafer, Class of 1967.
The benediction was given by Jerry Sowder.
Spickard
Alumni from Spickard R-2 School held their 100th celebration in the school gym. The event was hosted by the Class of 1967 along with three members from the Class of 1964.
Danny Wood served as the emcee and gave the welcome as well as leading those present in the pledge to the U.S. flag. A brief history of the school and achievements by the ball team was given.
Henry Brush gave the invocation before the meal. There were 111 members and guests present.
Special recognition was given to the five graduates from the 2018 class at Spickard, Vivian Allen, Ivy Blozvich, Riley Howe, Colton Youngs and Tiffany Youngs. Also recognized was the Class of 1968 (50-year class). Those attending were Jorry Browning, Wes Cunningham, Jackie Tharp Marrs, Marquetta Rhea Riggs, Cheryl Howe Ranes and Kay Tharp Crawford. The Class of 1958 (60-year class) had five in attendance.
Patsy Bryant Holt and the 2018 graduating class were voted into the R-2 Alumni Association.
Memorial services for seven deceased alumni, as reported by Dixie Yates and Margaret Chapman Griffin, were conducted by Bruce Lenhardt. Remembered were Fred Brewer, Class of 1954; Danny Wolf and Virgil Bain, Class of 1958; Sharon Berry and Dick Frisbie, Class of 1960; June Tharp Blacksmith, Class of 1965; and Randal Chapman, Class of 1974.
Prizes were awarded to Karen Frisbie Lemaster of New York, coming the farthest; Class of 1958, largest class in attendance; and the Class of 1949 (represented by Pauline Smith Stamper), the oldest class present.
Recognition was given to the school janitor and to Sue Robbins McIntosh and her three granddaughters, Haven, Kenzie and Chandler, for putting up class pictures, chairs and tables.
Alumni present sang the school song and Henry Brush gave the benediction to end the evening.