FROM JUNE CARPENTER
WHS CLASS OF 1970 COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
PHOTOS BY BARRY CHRIETZBERG
The classes of WHS 1970 and WHS 1971 held a joint golden reunion Saturday, September 25. Festivities began for the “early birds” with a meet and greet event at The Kelly on Friday night. Saturday morning, alums met at the old Wetumpka High School building for a picture and then traveled to the new Wetumpka Sports Complex for a tour of the football field and the impressive multi-use facilities located in the scenic surroundings. WHS 1970 alums also had the opportunity to locate their brick in the Wetumpka Alley.
The main event was held that night at the Wetumpka Civic Center, decorated with black table cloths and bronze football mums, each adorned with a “W” that was a nod to the homecoming football corsages from the era. As everyone assembled, strains of music from 1969 – 1971 set the mood. Vintage memorabilia tables were filled with artifacts that classmates shared: original cheerleader uniforms, football jackets and sweaters, pompons, the 1970 and 1971 We-Wa-Tumpkis yearbooks, band photos with news articles and a headdress worn by the majorettes. Each class prepared a memorial table set with photos in loving memory of deceased alums. There were 33 remembered from WHS 1970 and 21 from WHS 1971.
A spirited Class Yell competition by both classes was conducted and ended with the singing of the Wetumpka High School Alma Mater. After the dinner, alums mixed and mingled with a Table Talk trivia game on questions about the 1970-71 era. It was interesting to recall the events that occurred and observe exactly what was remembered. Attendees enjoyed a wonderful evening of listening to golden oldies and reminiscing with friends.
WHS 1970 members attending: Joann Dunlap Burkett, Donna McGinty Gilliand, Diane Clark, Becky Logan Sandlin, Libby Barron, Kaye Boyer Markert, June Evans Carpenter, Gail Baker Smith, Ellen Waites Hamady, Clara Mercer White, Betty Mullins Cox, Linda Gunn Davis, Susan Smith Unger, Marilyn Singleton Knapp, Kathy Kelly Willis, Debbie Jetton Caldwell, Darlene Yarbrough Cowsert, Evon Marsh Goolsby, Linda Johnson Hinton, Jimmy Ray, Denny Winn, Bill Shelton, Kenny Harris, Ricky Sanford, Bob Griffin, Allen Weldon, Sylvia Jackson Thompson, George Mauser, Arguster Davis, Danny Hewett, Julius Shealey, Earl Taylor, Barry McDonald, Ben Moore, Jerry Carpenter, Tommy Sanford, Robert King, Johnny Oates, Donnie Campbell, Jerry Savage. WHS 1971 members attending: Jane Miller Robbins, Vickie Banks Dudley, Patsy Catchings Harris, Paula Sanford Drew, Rebecca Smith Ryals, Margie Wilkerson Malone, Frances Rawls Thomas, Sybil Thornton Sanford, Ed Harris, Robert Lamon, Carl Nobles, Gary Shaw, Joe Walls, Mike Ryals, Sheila Murff Felker, Skip Bishop, Mike Harper, James Gunnells, Dan Penick, Sam Heard, Nathaniel Edwards, Tony Muschara, Thomas Pittman, Eddie Robbins. Five teachers were able to attend: Head Coach and Assistant Principal Sheldon Darnell, 6th grade teacher Doris Peddy Beatty, Junior Science teacher Hertisene Crenshaw, Science teacher Theresa Lee Crum and Driver’s Ed teacher Jackie Hammock.
