THE WI NEWSLETTER 1959 REUNION SPECIAL
WASHINGTON IRVING
CLASS OF 1959
50TH REUNION
JULY 17-18, 2009
CLARKSBURG COUNTRY CLUB
SHARYN COTTRILL MCGAHAN,
50th REUNION CHAIRMAN
REUNION WELCOME
Welcome Washington Irving Class of 1959…. Like the song says… Take me home Country Roads to the place I belong… West Virginia. John Denver didn’t write this song for WV but it has had a great impact on our state. You can take us out of West Virginia.. but it is always home in our hearts.
50 years…WOW … it is hard to believe. So many things have happened in our lives, our home town and in our country in those years. Many of us have children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Some have been to War, some more than once. We have worked in our jobs that we were thankful to have; now it is hard to find a job for many of our children and grandchildren. Our home town has lost many of our landmarks, jobs and people. It is reported that West Virginia has not been hit as hard as some states in these hard economic times, but don’t try to tell that to our young people looking to stay here with a job. West Virginia is finally #1 in something …. We have the most people over 65!!!! So come on back and join the rest of us.
We had TV when we graduated with only local stations, now we have cable or dish with stations from far and near. We had telephones with MAin 2327, now we have to use all 10 numbers to dial and we have cell phones that we can use anywhere, with no one listening in. We had beautiful cars with 8 cylinders and gear shifts and no gas problems, now we have electric cars, gas cars and automatic transmissions with gas back and forth in prices from $2 to $4.99. We had local news and weather and international news a day or two late, now we have immediate coverage of news from around the world and storm chasers that broadcast as weather is happening around the world. We have had the Vietnam War, Cold War, Desert Storm and the Iraqi War. The coverage has been up to date if not as it happened. Computers were only something we saw in Sci-Fi movies, now they are a way of life. You can keep in touch much quicker and easier, from your home computer, laptop or cell phone. A memory bank as small as the tip of a pin….What next??
I would like to thank all the reunion committee for the many hours of hard work and meetings to make this a very special occasion. I would like to thank all of you for your enthusiastic response and attendance. This may be the last time we will be able to get together like this. In our “later years” our health is unpredictable more than ever. You have come from west coast, east coast, northern states, southern states and locally. Please have a safe trip back to your homes. Remember those that could not make this historic occasion. Take time to remember those that have gone before us.
I hope that we can relax and enjoy our time with one another this weekend. Laugh at some of the silly things we did on the “Hill”. Some of our class mates have kept in touch over these years, but many will be seeing each other for the first time since graduating. Now make sure you look at the picture on their name tags… I know everyone looks the same … I know I do. It doesn’t matter what we did, where we went, where we live or how we look, we will always be classmates…. Graduating from WI… Class of 59.
I pray that each and every one of you can attend the next reunion, that you have good health and many blessings in the coming years.
Sincerely,
Sharyn Cottrill McGahan
Reunion chairman
First Row - Mike Nelson, Sandy Iaquinta, Clara Jason Davis, Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Paula Brasseur Riley, Judy Aspy Payne, Ruth Ann Martin Hill, Carolyn Pinella Warne
Second Row – Richard Hannifan, Erma Loria Uhle, Kitty Hess, Jean Wells Himmel, Elizabeth Wilkinson Astin, Mike Fresa, Habie Snyder, Karen Conner Petrosino, Jane Stout Galvan, Harriett Stout Noel, Judy Daugherty Kimler, Sharon Orme Wilfong, Roleta Smith Meredith, Carolyn White Rector, Beth Twigg Devericks
Third Row – Ray Allen, Eugene Davis, Frank Iaquinta, Mickey McGowan, Bonnie Smith McGowan, Phil Hooper, Bernie Bice, Jerry Belt, Charlie Burkhammer, John Campbell, Jerry Warne, Larry Martino, Ronnie Werner, Wirt Wolfe, Jim Martin, David Dorvitt, John Christie
First Row - Rosemary Grow Warne, Helen House Fleming, Bobbie Johnston Swisher, Sallie Holden Day, Linda Johnston Binkelman, Marsha Woods Roper.
Second Row – Phyllis Fittro Brown, Joy Gregorie Stalnaker, Patty Terrill Stealey, John Stealey, Patty Pherdehirt Wagner, Larry Ruland, Bob Davis, Leslie Holland Sullivan, Mary Francis Hart Smith, Sandy Drummond Hefner.
Third Row – Jack Grimm, John Iaconis, Glenn Cowgill, Rex Zickefoose, Richard McIntire, Fred Alvaro, Jay Sharp, Bob Rector, Mark Garrett
Attending but not pictured were Chuck Bibbee, Connie Bailey Casto, Jerry Paugh and Janet Long Brosius.
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