The Orangeburg High School class of 1949 held its 60th reunion on June 13 at Camp Anderson with 54 classmates attending and 34 spouses and friends. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the crowd had a wonderful time.

A buffet luncheon was held at midday, and everyone enjoyed a delicious meal. Old memories often came to mind, and joking and laughing heightened the crowd's humor and excitement. Certain thoughts were: Remember when a class member mysteriously made a big dent in his mother's car on a late-night raid before graduation? And our new distinguished principal could barely make important announcements without adjusting his trousers with his elbows? Also, remember the teacher who often missed putting her lipstick on straight when she was in a hurry to make students behave in the lunchroom?

I remember, do you, Carmen Miranda (Murray Davis), and the Andrews Sisters (L.P. Thackston, Dreher Gaskin, Tommy Sheriff). They were great!

Those were some of the days we'll all remember. Seriously, do you recall that our president at that time was Harry Truman? And a gallon of gas was priced below 30 cents in those days? Furthermore, no student had his own car to drive to school.

In addition to South Carolina, class members came from Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Carroll Summers traveled the farthest! (Laredo, Texas).

We regret that only one of our teachers is alive and that she was unable to be present: Mrs. Evelyn Gaillard Rhame. She was one of the finest and smartest teachers alive. She explained math in such a way that a student had to understand it. Thank you, Mrs. Rhame.

Class members who attended are listed but not in alphabetical order: Bill Eleazer, Dot Gleaton Linder, James McK. Green III, Mary Hundley Coleman, James Hungerpiller, John Wilbur Jackson, Joyce Jackson, James R. Johnson, Cromer Jumper, Danny Keitt, Dolores Antley Howell, Shirley Arant Salley, Winnie Binnicker Brickle, Jeannine Harley Bishop, Louis Boone, Elizabeth Creech Seymour, Murray Davis, Nettie Neal Davis Martin, Ryan Eklund, Carroll Summers, Susan Summers Masaschi, L.P. Thackston, Dottie Kortjohn Thackston, Mimi Wannamaker, Carolyn Way Pettigrew, Betty Jean Yonce Jackson, Laurence Wells, Sonny Williams, Barbara Loadholt Mirmow, Edward (Hank) Mirmow, Margaret Lowery Pearson, Thyas McDaniel, Dolores Metts Banner, Wesley Murphy, Dorothy Buffkin Neal, Ruby Newport Speer, Claudia Page Barnes, LeRoy Skinner Jr., Lynwood Livingston, Pauline Salvo Johnson, Joan Ward Moss, Dreher Gaskin, Rose Antley Morris, Daisy Lemox Dukes, Ellen McCoy Wade, Bruce Newton Jr., Jeanne Traylor Eubanks, Nell Sullivan Ray, Alberta Infinger All, Willie Ray Hughes, Patsy O'Cain Myers, Audrey Davis Betsill, Vance Boone, Thelma Bozard Wyont.

Yes, what a year it was, and whatever personal meaning has come to you, your classmates and your friends from 1949 to the present, say farewell and wish everyone safety, success and happiness.

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