Louisville High School’s Class of 1959 enjoyed our now yearly visit Saturday, June 8, 2019, commemorating the passing of 60 years since high school graduation. Jean Sanders shared some of Pat Wicker’s thoughts from the LHS Review, our school Newspaper! A few days before our May graduation, Pat remarked on typical high school happenings and assured us that we will never “forget” high school.
Reading from the 3x5 inch School Handbook of 21 pages, Jean illustrated the positive tenor of our time, grounded in opening each school day with emphasis on developing solid and productive citizens. The LHS School Handbook did not preach. Rather, it asked and answered this question, “What is Character?” And, in positing the positive for each of the eleven situations, we were inspired as we were instructed. Below is the quoted page from the 1959 LHS Student Handbook.
What is Character?
“ In the home, it is kindness;
In business, it is honesty;
In work, it is thoroughness;
In society, it is courtesy;
In play, it is fairness;
Toward the unfortunate, it is sympathy;
Toward the weak, it is help;
Toward the wicked, it is resistance;
Toward the strong, it is trust;
Toward the penitent, it is forgiveness;
And toward God, it is reverence and love. “
Pledge of Allegiance led by military members and calling of the Roll are staples each year.
Memorial candles honored the members now deceased: Lee Roy Anthony, Thaniel Anthony, Wayne Aycock, Shearer Baker, Kenneth Bane, Bettye Black, Lamar Boyd, George Buckner, Sara Childs, Doyle Eaves, Glynnis Greene, Don Hall, Pat Hill, Bettye Lou Holder, Donald Horton, Gayle Hunt, Billy Kilpatrick, Jeff Knight, Joe Lloyd, Jack Pearson, Terry Pearson, Carolyn Peterson, Edward Prisock, Carole Robertson, Marynell Shumaker, George Starks, David Thrasher, Marilyn Upchurch, Billy Watson, and Jeanette Wylie.
Treasurer Dell Johns’ Report always includes her delight in receiving notes from each of us as we mail our checks. Members of the Class of 1959 continue to support the Winston County Library, a source for education and an inspiration across all of Winston County’s citizens. Librarian Beth Edwards reports that our total for 2019 is $2,070.00!
Our Class Reunions focus on developing a support network among members. We are no longer teenagers, town kids, country kids, in the in-group, those out of the in-group! We are not guided by who we were or were not in high school. Nor are we guided by what we may have achieved or lost over these 60 years.
We are 70-plus-year-olds, bonding as we enjoy supper, chat, unite to sing Hail to our high school, hats off to you. Ever you’ll find us loyal and true. Firm and undaunted always we’ll be. All this and more we pledge Louisville High to thee. At LHS, we were guided to develop into who we’ve become! Together each year, we reconsider our past, try to understand our present, and help each other as we face into our future.
Saturday, June 13, 2020 at The Lake, the LHSClass of 1959 will continue to grow in friendship. We are ever thankful each year to Ann Rogers for the beautiful maroon gladiolus and to Mary Carolyn Tranum for the memorial votives!
To each of our class members, we say, “See YOU in 2020!”
