FHS Class of 1969 Celebrates 50-year Reunion
The 1969 Friona High School class celebrated a 50-year reunion at the Holiday Inn West in Amarillo on August 16-17. Approximately 55 graduates and spouses attended the festivities. Phyllis Renner Murphree was the coordinator of the event, assisted by Becky Elliott Riethmayer, Shirley Johnson Womble, Brenda Blackburn Howard, Pat Roberts Shirley, Kathy Bandy Adams and Debra Baxter.
The introductory party on Friday evening in the hospitality room featured sandwiches, fruit plates, dips and desserts, and at least 40 class members and spouses were present. There was a great deal of guessing as class members sought to recognize friends they had not seen in years, all without the aide of name tags.
Saturday morning additional class members registered, had photos made, and gathered in the banquet room. Tables in the banquet room were decorated with red/white carnation centerpieces designed by Phyllis and memorabilia including old yearbooks, photos, red coffee cups with the Chieftain logo, decorated cookies, chocolates in red foil, pixie sticks and small jars of toothpicks soaked in cinnamon oil---a fad from the 1950s. Guests also had the opportunity to purchase Class of 1969 t-shirts.
Becky Elliott Riethmayer opened the assembly with humorous accounts of the class from 1st-12th grades: teachers, principals, dragging Main Street, class romances, etc. Phyllis and Becky took turns calling roll and asking classmates for a summary of their school memories and the last 50 years of their lives. Our class is proud to boast of doctors, nurses, counselors, teachers, principals, legal secretaries, realtors, contractors, farmers and others who have “given back” to society in positive ways. Brenda Blackburn Howard, Shirley Johnson Womble and Danny Carthel treated the audience to a “Remember When?” presentation and also handed out prizes to those married the longest, ones with the most grandchildren, longest beard, etc. Later in the day, Lowery Harper followed with a selection of musical hits from 1969 and asked classmates to name the tune and the group, and the music brought back many memories. All the class enjoyed a lunch buffet of fajitas and desserts.
Later, Pat Roberts Shirley explained the tribute display for the 13 deceased classmates, and gave a brief history of their lives. Those deceased classmates honored: Freddie Williams, Ricky Don Davis, Sandra Glover, Gary Crump, Linda Smith, Molly Seright, Linda McVey, Billy Ray Nazworth, Joe Garcia, Gary Shirley, Jody Fallwell, Roger Fields and Jimmy White.
Several classmates traveled long distances to attend the reunion: Bern Binger (Indiana), Bennie Hannold Wunsch (Arizona), Shirley Johnson Womble (Virginia), Brenda Blackburn Howard (Kentucky), Lark Jarrell Dale & Mary Ellen Scales Gardner (Oklahoma), Joe Rando (CO).
As the event drew to a close, classmates were reminded that we have actually been friends much longer than 50 years; we began our acquaintances at least 62 years ago, and we will always share recollections that connect us in a unique way. We may have been apart for many years, but the love and respect among the 1969 classmates is deep and lasting. Singing our school song reminded us that “Chieftains Fight never die!”
Those attending: Kathy Bandy Adams, Connie Stone Baccus, John & Missy Renner, Debbie Baxter, Darla Perkins Bracken, Ramey & Michelle Beene, Bernard Binger, Steve & Vicki Buckley, Linda Carson Chapman & Rick Jennings, Dan & Harletta Carthel, Janice Clark Connally, Lark Jarrell Dale, Mary Ellen Scales Gardner & George Lindsey, Donna Carter Grissom, Lowery & Rhonda Harper, Brenda Blackburn Howard & Craig, Barbara Latham Huggins & Arthur, Pam Hartwick Jones & Joe Bill, Larry & Jeannie Martin, Phyllis Renner Murphree & Gary, Joel & Carlene Greeson Osborn, Joe & Terrie Rando, Mary Rando, Deloris Phipps, Becky Elliott Riethmayer and Mike, Jim Schlenker, Shirley Schueler, Pat Roberts Shirley & Richard, Connie Whaley Slagle & Dennis, Doris Ferguson, Paula Fortenberry Sturm & Jay, Carolyn Hudson Stevick, Shirley Johnson Womble, Scott & Gretta Wooley, Bennie Hannold Wunsch, Hazel Fallwell Yavari.
Front: Paula Fortenberry Strum, Missy Renner Barker, Debbie Baxter, Phyllis Renner Murphree, Brenda Blackburn Howard, 2nd Row: Scott Wooley, Bennie Howard Wunsch, Shirley Johnson Womble, Doris Ferguson Smith, Carolyn Hutson Stevick, Janice Clark Connally, Barbara Latham Huggins, 3rd Row: Mary Rando, Hazel Fallwell Yavari, Donna Carter Grissom, Joel Osborn, John Barker, Dan Carthel, Ramey Beene, Deloris Phipps, Kathy Bandy Adams, Shirley Schueler, Connie Whaley Slagle, Lowery Harper, Larry Martin, Joe Rando, Jim Schlenker, Becky Elliott Riethmayer, and Bernard Binger. Not pictured: Steve Buckley, Lark Jarrell Dale, Pam Hartwick Jones, Linda Carson Chapman
Brenda Blackburn Howard & Dan Carthel
Michelle & Ramey Beene
Lowery Harper & Joel Osborn
Mike & Becky Riethmayer
Phyllis Renner Murphree & Brenda Blackburn Howard
Mary Rando and brother Joe & his wife, Terrie
Carolyn Hudson Stevick, Debbie Baxter, & Kathy Bandy Adams
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Senior Girl Scouts
These girls started out together as Brownies. Some of them finished their Senior year as Girl Scouts. Several in the picture had moved away before graduating. All of the senior scouts were at the reunion. Lark Jarrell Dale did not graduate with the class but she started out as a Brownie and she was at the reunion.
Top Row: Bennie Hannold Wunsch, Deloris Phipps, Debbie Baxter, Connie Whaley Slagle, Brenda Blackburn Howard
Kathy Bandy Adams, Janice Clark Connally, Doris Ferguson Smith
Mary Ellen Scales Gardner, Shirley Johnson Womble, Pat Roberts Shirley pictured with Leader Lillie Mae Baxter. Other Leaders though the years were Thelma Johnson, Alice Whaley, Marie Perkins and Mary Bandy.
Top Row: Deloris Phipps, Debbie Baxter, Connie Whaley Slagle, Brenda Blackburn Howard
2nd Row: Doris Ferguson Smith, Kathy Bandy Adams, Janice Clark
Front Row: Mary Ellen Scales Gardner, Shirley Johnson Womble, Pat Roberts Shirley
Top Row: Vicki Payne, Linda Carson Chapman, Missey Renner Barker, Pam Turner Moore, Darla Perkins Bracken, Doris Ferguson Smith.
2nd Row: Rhonda Awtrey, Debbie Baxter, Deloris Phipps, Janice Clark Connally, Kathy Bandy Adams
3rd Row: Bennie Hannold Wunsch, Connie Whaley Slagle, Hazel Fallwell Yavari, Brenda Blackburn Howard, Shirley Johnson Womble, unknown
Front Row: Kathleen Sheehan, Linda Esquivel, Lark Jarrell Dale
