Marshall High alumni implement MHS Reunion Association
By NormSchultz
Marshall High alumni implement MHS Reunion Association
Perhaps no better description fits the historical Marshall High School alumni event taking place on the afternoon of 7 June 2008 in the Marshall Ruritan Building other than that offered by the old song, "There's Gonna be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." Over a total of 400 persons gathered when alumni renewed old acquaintances and shared life experiences, family stories, and, of course, recalled school memories. Only the fourth reunion of the entire school's student body alumni in 45 years, this celebration featured a celebration of a coming together of not just graduates but anyone who attended Marshall High. Since the last had been held June 2000, eight passing years had created a yearning to see one another again. For many others who attended Reunion 2008, a gathering was no longer possible.
MHS Reunion 2008 actually had its roots as a Class of '54 reunion being planned by Shirley (Cameron) Embrey of Rectortown and Norm Schulze of Clifton early in 2007. At the time, being advised then that only two school reunions had transpired since the school closed, June 1963, due to the Supreme Court ruling to desegregate, the thought occurred, why should Marshall High alumni, too, not have the capability to enjoy regularly scheduled school reunions? Following an announcement in the Fauquier Times-Democrat on 28 September 2007 for an exploratory meeting to form an organization whereby we would be able to continually enjoy regularly scheduled events, the first meeting took place on 1 October 2007. A sufficient number of interested people showed up that Shirley and Norm were encouraged to proceed with a reunion taking place on the following June and, more importantly, to form an organization now to keep reunions going. One key participant in that first meeting was Jim Lawrence who had initiated and managed the last, Reunion 2000 and had a played a major role in the implementation of the preceding reunion, 1997.
A MHS Reunion Association was, thus, born, eventually consisting of 12 members. We were fortunate to have one person, Sally (Glascock) Wyne, join us who had a great personal interest in keeping track, as a sort of hobby, of as many alumni as possible, thereby making the task of quickly assembling a legible list and addresses, much easier than trying to read handwriting from the prior event. Together, we have an impressive record of having only 44 graduates with whom we have lost track since the tracking began, 1936, when the first school annual was published. The earliest class members attending today were from the Class of '36: Lou Berry O'Bannon, Thomas Bishop, and Harold Woodward. Although not MHS, but Fauquier High School, graduates, we included as invitees, the class of '64. During February 2008 over 660 invitees were sent letters through a "Class Captain" concept. These went to 30 different states, DC, and even beyond. Of those, a total of 291 Marshall High alumni responded by registering, bringing the total registered to 446, which included spouses and other persons accompanying.
Attending were persons as far away as California, Texas, and Florida. Some of us had not seen each other in 55 years, so recognition was somewhat of a problem.
The is no better example of the enthusiasm shown as that exhibited by Robert "Rob" E. Lee, Jr., '54, who took a train from St. Petersburg, FL, arriving just in time for the beginning at 4 PM and departing early on the following morning.
Rob Lee being just greeted by classmates Bobby Williams and Doris (Carter) Russell, Class of '54.
[An option:]
Rob Lee and Doris (Grimsley) Duncan ('54) first seeing each in 54 years.
Music of our era, 40's-60's, was played by DJ, Donna Campbell. A continuously running pre-dinner slide show of teachers, assembled by Norm, reminded us of whom we once had to face to help us succeed in the future. Hors d'orderves quelled appetites. Immediately preceding dinner we rose to sing our lovely old Alma Mater, words to which we could still recall. Hunter Payne, Class of '39, played the keyboard, while Judy Scheuble, Class of '62, led.
Hunter Payne, class of '39, at the keyboard for playing the MHS Alma Mater.
Alumni singing the MHS Alma Mater.
We even attempted to sing for the first time at our reunions, the first "Marshall School Song," composed by Nicholas Kadick, Class of '32, the son of a guard of the Russian Czar then living in The Plains area. Tom Beavers, '56, gave grace and thanks to the Lord for our gathering, especially remembering our deceased classmates and veterans. A buffet-styled dinner, prepared by Holder Trumbo, arrived for serving shortly after 6PM.
Following dinner, Master of Ceremony, Norm Schulze, as the first part of a formal program, gave a multi-media presentation on a 12-foot screen in which he, using senior class portraits as the method for visual identification, acknowledged and thanked Association members and assistants for their work.
Next, Charles Ebbets gave special recognition to attending faculty — James Ashwell (54-55), Mark Glascock (55-63), Edward Jefferies (58-63), and Carolyn Wilson (60-63) — and he recognized the various classes. He noted that the furthest came from California.
Norm then presented names of deceased classmates by class, commencing with the Class of '36. For the Class of '54, the first Eighth Grade Class, senior class photos were also shown in memory. Our remembrance of deceased classmates, both by year and by name, attracted great interest. The command, "Go slower!", came from the audience.
Attention was turned next to what one may term as the reunion's defining inspirational moment, recognition of veterans. We commenced with requesting that the WWII veterans stand. Our veterans serving in Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War followed. Two stood when the Purple Hearts recipients from all wars were announced. Parents/grandparents of currently serving servicemen/women – especially those placed in harm's way – were among the last recognized.
It was noted that of the 224 alumni who had served during WWII, we still had several present today. Our small MHS suffered the loss of 12 sons killed in action. Students in 1943 had procured and placed a large service flag at the rear of our auditorium during the 1940's, which hung until some time into the 1950's.
After veteran recognitions, a history of the 3 prior reunions, 1978, 1997, and 2000, was presented, which was then followed by a discussion of the MHS Reunion Association and this reunion. He solicited feedback from all members through a 33-item "Questionnaire" form.
MHS Anecdotes by Bob Sinclair, Class of '62, Marshall Elementary School teacher 1966-69 and Principal of Marshall Junior High, fall 1969, concluded the formal speaker presentation program. The crowd chuckled hearing Bob speak of the [student] cow that some ingenious pranksters had introduced into the inside of this rural, agricultural school. We also received a rare, but humorous, insight into the stoic composure of a teacher when confronted initially with the planned class attendance list.
Bob Sinclair makes a point about life during the earlier days of MHS.
A video documentary of the MHS history by Norm concluded the prepared presentation activity. The video included the period of time from prior to Marshall High being built until its last class graduated, 1963. Norm, school photographer in the early '50's, spent a time-consuming effort that extended over an 8-month interval to develop the MHS history, much time being spent in the Fauquier Times-Democrat archives. The resulting work was displayed in a video, composed to a large degree from his early 1950's still photos, plus photos in the Fauquier Democrat newspapers, and in the 1936-63 MHS yearbooks, called the Marshalite. Our enjoyment of those old still photos was enhanced by an old 8 mm film taken by Russell Tarpy, Class of '53, which he had transferred to digital format. All it needed was the inclusion of our dear old MHS Alma Mater, the musical score for which had never been seen by persons who were questioned of the whereabouts. Now, after extensive research, it was finally found. The Fauquier High School band director, Andrew Paul, was kind enough to provide, along with a Fauquier High School choral group, a heart-warming rendition of our song, which we had never before heard played by a band. That work provided the musical background for the movie, which showed the 13 November 1952 pre-game parade in Marshall, followed by scenes of the game with our main, old adversary, Warrenton High School. By the end of the hour-plus video, an estimated 100 participants or so were standing, glued before the screen to see in some cases their high school images in action, rendering tears from some.
The evening concluded with several participants dancing until around 11 PM.
Per plan, as a follow-up to the reunion, the MHS Reunion Association recently held its 8th Meeting, 8 July 2008, to determine the Association's next step. Norm forwarded 9 pre-prepared motions for a vote. Regarding the first, whether to continue, the overwhelming Alumni consensus was for "More," with some Questionnaire responders expressing a desire to even hold annual reunions. This motion to continue, of course, passed. Association members agreed unanimously on the next 2 motions regarding "When": the Association will commemorate MHS's 100th birthday 1-3 October 2010, followed by another reunion in June 2013 to remember its closure. For subsequent reunions, they voted to continue every two years.
Other important motions were approved: 1.) Commence earlier in the day, ~1:00 PM, thereby fulfilling the often expressed desire for more time to visit; 2.) Establish the MHS Alumni Reunion Association as a state-registered, non-profit organization; 3.) Establish a web site; 4.) Retain left–over funds for future reunions.
Having fulfilled both objectives established about one year ago, namely, to hold a MHS Reunion as soon as possible and to implement a management system that will assure the continuation of MHS reunions on a planned, managed basis, Norm announced that his goals have been met and that he is stepping aside as chairman. By this act, the intended role that this organization is to continually serve MHS alumni independent of an initiative from any single individual will be demonstrated. Bob Sinclair, who is now managing the 250th Fauquier Anniversary activity, has agreed to assume the role following completion of his management services.
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