July 1, 2013

Cedar Bluff alumni reunion stirs memories, laughs

By ROY MITCHELL

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CEDAR BLUFF — “Cedar Bluff School graduates have something that other schools don't have,” said Shane Hall a member of the Class of 2013. Hall, the school's first-ever nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy, spoke earlier this month at the Cedar Bluff High School Alumni Reunion.

“Cedar Bluff has the spirit of going out and getting what we want," Hall said. "'m using that spirit to pursue my dreams. I want to thank you for starting that tradition.”

Roughly 115 former graduates, family, and friends attended the 27th annual reunion on June 22 at Cedar Bluff First Baptist Church. After Hall's brief speech, the Class of 1963 was honored. Former principal, teacher, and Class of '63 member Jimmy Dean introduced the 10 classmates in attendance. They talked about their families, former classmates and going to school during the Kennedy era.

Of legendary principal and football coach, L.D. Bruce, Larry Barkley said, “He was one of the best men I've ever met.”

Barkley’s other recollections included Ms. Johnston's sentence-diagramming skills, Ms. Miller's eccentric love of Shakespeare, Mr. Wilson's daily pop quizzes, and Mr. Teague's method of taking hair off a pig.

“Being at Cedar Bluff was the happiest time in my life,” Barkley poignantly concluded.

Reunion committee president Buddy Barkley then introduced Alyssa Beebe as the 2013 recipient of the Cedar Bluff High School Alumni Scholarship. The $500 will help fund Beebe's college costs. She plans to study criminal justice at Northeast Alabama Community College.

Prizes were then awarded to the two oldest alumni. Earleen Reese (Class of 1947) was given roses. A pair of red suspenders went to Billy Godfrey (Class of 1939), who was a member of the faculty in 1963. Told he was the eldest alumnus, Godfrey quipped that he is liked, “because I've outlived all my enemies.”

Skip Wright, Class of 1949, was also recognized. He traveled the farthest distance to the reunion, making the trek from Idaho. Alumnus Johnny Walker drove himself to the event in a red 1931 Ford Model A.