shirleyNANNEY
Editor
Huntingdon High School’s Alumni Association’s reunion on Sept. 24 was indeed a “mega” one as it had been termed in announcements prior to its night of celebration with classmates that included 100-year-old T.C. Chandler of Huntingdon and Annie Frances “Rusty” Dean, 98, of Brentwood.
The event with over 450 class members in attendance was held at the Carroll County Civic Center. This was a segment of Huntingdon’s Bicentennial Celebration.
County Mayor Joseph Butler welcomed the alumni.
“I have the great honor of welcoming you,” he said. “We sincerely thank you for being here.”
He told the alumni that “our heritage is so important. I am an eighth generation of my family that’s been here.”
Butler mentioned the names of the late Dale Kelley, mayor of Huntingdon, and the late John Everett Williams, who was a Criminal Court of Appeals Judge. He said he was honoring them with a pledge to carry on their vision. He welcomed Nina Smothers as the new Huntingdon Mayor.
Nathan Burns, a 1995 graduate of Huntingdon High School, spoke briefly during the ceremonies. He is a creative entrepreneur who opened Grand Slam Collectibles in Murfreesboro six years ago. He has raised over $250,000 for St. Jude Hospital through his online show “Grand Slam After Hours”, and funded scholarships for HHS graduates. He is building a home on the Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake.
“Our greatest awards are on the other side of fear,” he said.
During the reunion it was announced that Lewis Sills of Sacramento, California traveled the furtherest.
T.C. Chandler, who was to be a century old the next day was presented a cake and a 100 candles on a board that he blew out. Rusty Dean sat nearby enjoying the night’s activities.
Lewis Sills of Sacramento, California traveled the furtherest. Eight-month old Lilah Quarles of Clarksville, daughter of Lindsay Atkins Quarles was the youngest person at the reunion.
Ron Tharpe, a 1995 graduate, gave the invocation.
Alumni president Paulette Crews introduced the remaining officers who are John Sanders, vice president; Shawna Barger Smith and Melissa Thomas, secretaries; Ginger Taylor, data; and Carl Byars, treasurer.
Brooke Hodges recognized school personnel and told the names of the superintendents and directors of schools down through the years. The present director of schools is Dr. Jonathan Kee.
Byars told how the alumni had raised money for its many projects by having a food booth at the fair.
Presently there is a balance of $15,400 including the reserve fund.
The new set of officers are Shawna Barger, president; Channa Boyd, first vice president; Lee Harris, second vice president; secretary, Lucretia Shackleford; assistant secretary, Cayce Maddox; treasurer, Collin Pruitt; assistant treasurer, Shawn Williams; and tech, Ginger Taylor.
The entertainment for the night was the alumni chorus under the direction of Jeannie Nanney, who along with Clay Barger, began the musical group.
The night concluded with the audience singing “The Alma Mata.”
