Baker High School Class of 1961

 50 Yr Class Reunion Recap

 

 

Dear Lion & Lioness:

 

I had high expectations on this 50 year reunion and the results went beyond my expectations.  First I would like to acknowledge the Baker High School class of 1961 reunion committee. Ron Bergeron Ledet- Name Badges, Woody Royster, Phyllis (Smith) Denson, Tom Dobrosky - calling classmates Jim and Sue (Reid) Jackson - memorial of our deceased members, Larry & Lane Adams, Carol (Josey) Davis, Peggy (Best) Martin- decorations, Bumpy & Diane (Storey) Lanier- pictures and videos, Carol (Williams) Merrill and Deby (Crain) Strong- registration, Judy (Smith) Wynn and Sue (Daniels) Prater - hospitality room and my wife, Sandye (Johnson) Nazario. for the administration procedures at the registration table, hospitality room, purchasing of supplies, stocking the hospitality room and the Holiday Inn for their willingness to work with me on all of the reunion details.

 

Rocky’s Trainers were Roy (Sunshine) Cook, Annette (Johnson) Kocian, Rhonda (Johnson) Schafer and Gene Grantham.  Many “THANKS” to these folks.  We practiced the Rocky entrance several times but it was different as we practiced it with an empty banquet room.  We barely had room to move through on banquet night but “Sunshine” cleared the way to the dance floor for us.

 

Some of the statistics were, 161 folks paid for the reunion and 151 attended.  The reason that ten did not attend was due to health reasons which we all can understand.  Some traveled from as far as Hawaii , Washington State , Oregon , North Dakota , West Virginia , Florida , Texas , Oklahoma , Illinois , Utah , North Carolina , Nevada , Michigan , Alabama and Georgia .  We went through 12 cases of beer, 6 cases of drinks, three cases of bottle water, three big bottles of wine and one big bottle of Jack Daniels, sixteen bags of chips, four big cans of peanuts and mixed peanuts, many meatballs and wieners plus salsa, bags of cheeses, hotdogs and much more.  I do not think that anyone went hungry.   We had a total of 93 rooms at the Holiday Inn.  You could not ask for a better staff to work with and special “THANKS” to Gene Grantham.  All were so very cooperative.

 

THURSDAY NIGHT AT MARK’S CITY GRILL was wild.  Only 22 sent notice that they would attend and 56 showed up.  It was a great time and we have the pictures of that evening on the Baker High web site, www.bakerlionspride.com, thanks to Cindy (Fucci) Johns. 

 

FIDAY NIGHT was also another big night in the hospitality room and 35 to 40 people showed up at Cook’s Place to see all of the Baker memorabilia and sample “Sunshine’s” famous “Scramble Dog”.  The hospitality room did not close until 11:00 PM.  It was a big time at both places.

 

SATURDAY NOON TO THREE PM was well attended for the Hot Dog eating contest.  We had many participants to include the spouses and Coach Foster Watkins.  I noticed one individual, he ate a loaded hot dog and then got in the contest and I think that he won also.  A big appetite.  Winners received a Baker bricks.  Also several folks were trying to get in Randy Dennard’s 1966 GTO of which we took pictures and video.

 

SATURDAY NIGHT was so special.  We did the grand Hollywood opening entrance with the “Rocky” theme and the rest of the program.  It was just fantastic.  Then we had the two drawing for the money.  One prize was $391 and the other was $390.  I do not remember who all won so if you would e-mail me and tell me who won.

 

Ewell Pritchett’s blessing of the meal was as appropriate as I ever heard.

 

Billy Waldrop gave great opening remarks which pleased all.

 

Ray Ivey introduced and spoke about the faculty present in a very solemn way.

 

Jim and Sue (Reid) Jackson did the deceased memorial with the DJ, Pedro Rodriguez, playing “ America ” in a somber way as it almost brought a tear to my eye.  I saw some folks wiping their eyes.

 

Larry Adams did a superb job with the door prizes and he had good help, Lane Adams, Carol (Josey) Davis, Peggy (Best) Martin, Deby (Strong)

Crain and Carol (Williams) Merrill.

 

The gals looked as elegant as ever and the guys cleaned up pretty good also.

 

The DJ gave salsa lessons and there were some dancing the salsa besides the Puerto Ricans.  All in all, it all went above my expectations.  Yes, Sandye and I were tired but it really was not work as we enjoyed it so much.  I have received many e-mails about what good time they had in the reunion and also I received copies of the e-mails that some of you sent the Holiday Inn for the great service that they provided for us.  They certainly appreciate that.

 

I met with Bumpy Lanier and the video is finished.  He and Diane have put at least 30 hrs in producing this video of the 50 yr. reunion.  I know that you will be satisfied.  It is the best yet that Bumpy has made.  Please let Bumpy and I know of how you liked it.  I took the videos today to have copies made.  I should start mailing them next week.  I will also be sending videos on YOU TUBE of the event on Thursday night and on Saturday evening.

 

 

Some folks have suggested that we do it again in 5 years.  Already I have had volunteers for that.  It is just amazing. 

 

I want to apologize to all of you for not having quality time to talk to each of you.  As you all could see, Sandye and I were busy.  Again, my “THANKS” to all but especially my “THANKS to GOD” for making this happen.  May GOD bless all of us.

 

Ismael (Ish) Nazario ‘61