By Michael G. Maness
“Echoes from the Past”—the theme for the Kirby High School Reunion helped set the aura as they met at the WISD Elementary Cafeteria Saturday afternoon, May 4, celebrating the “Honor Class of 1974.”
The theme was a double take on the KHS yearbook, “The Ecco,” which several ’74 classmates had brought with them, oh, the nostalgia! This 50-year mark from graduation was the first time for ’74 to get their invite to this unique gathering of alumni as the “older” classes honored ’74, who are given pride of place in reserved front-row seats, with 21 from ’74, and more than 300 present.
Maxie Young, class of ’49, was the most senior, celebrating 75 years, flanked by with his wife Joyce, ’51, and Gay Carl, ’51, and across the table was Sherman and Dorothy Powell, both from the class of ’50.
What is it like to share a reunion with classmates from 50, 60, and 75 years?
This remarkable event stands as a memorial to the goodness of semi-rural American values.
Coordinator Sharon Brown, class of ’71, asked Mary Alice Hall, ’63, to lead the invocation. Brown has been a teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal School for over 40 years.
Brown introduced Master of Ceremonies Ky Griffin, ’72, who recalled some history and welcomed Jimmy Cruse who spoke for his honored class of ’74. Cruse regaled them with a host of history points from the 1970s and vignettes from his class, including the one who got the most “licks,” old lingo for “swats from a paddle” in the days when discipline could cause pain.
Cruse said, “It’s a miracle we are here, I can personally attest…. There are 20 to 30 miracles I am looking at right now…. God is good. He got us here.” He reflected on those who have passed.
Their years were the best. “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” and “Godfather II” came out in 1974.
“Looking at everyone…. I know each one of would say we have the best grandchildren in the world,” said Cruse, marking this pivotal time in ’74, the year Nixon resigned and Muhammed Ali faced George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” And, Cruse added, “Saturday Night Live was good back then.”
There was the time his cohorts made a stink bomb and sit off in a school building.
Cruse recalled how he and friend sped down South Beech at 100 mph—grinning—and did not make the turn and hit a tree as wide as both of his arms spread out.
Those were the days. Cruse honored the teachers, and four were there that afternoon.
Cruse asked Coach Sergio Ramos to come and share a few words.
Ramos recalled coming in 1967. The yearbook “The Ecco 1974” had a spread with Ramos with dark black hair and his tennis team. Ramos was working on his master’s degree with an ambition to become a United Nations translator while working at a restaurant in Nacogdoches for $144 a month. His friend told him if he could come to Woodville and teach Spanish he could make $3,000 a year—“where do I sign.” Ramos drove his 1956 Chevy to Woodville.
Ramos led the KHS team to state and his team won many more awards over the course of his 50-plus years teaching Spanish and coaching tennis. A few years ago Ramos was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The celebration started at 10 a.m., giving the classes two hours of fellowshipping nostalgia before lunch at 12 and the program start. Music by DJ Gina Greaff included ’70s classic like “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling,” “My Girl,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “Proud Mary,” “Sweet Caroline,” and “House of the Risin’ Sun.”
Colors were gold and goldenrod with tables decked out by year, with a special thanks going to Walling Signs for helping with the prints.
Each year had a class “agent,” and 1974’s was Collette (Fortenberry) Colten. And a few of the classes met individually the night before at a restaurant or a mate’s home.
A big thanks went to Linda Johnson and associates from the Woodville Chapter of the Texas School Food Services Association that prepared a delectable lunch of stuffed pork loin on rice pilaf, seasoned green beans, sweet potato casserole, mandarin orange spinach salad, with a special treat of two banana split ice cream stations in two corners of the cafeteria. Their association is all volunteer, and the funds they receive go to scholarships for Woodville students. Over the decades, they donated many tens of thousands of dollars.
Martha Kimbrough, class ’62, gave the benediction, quoting a Bible verse, and asking for safety for all in a world where too many of young people in our college seem troubled.
In closing, all rose and sang their class song, “Hail Kirby High School, hats off to you; Ever you’ll find us loyal and true.”
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