An Open Letter to the RHS Graduates of 1966 & 1967

Dear Fellow Schoolmates,

In 2011 as the calendar rolls up another decade in the new millennium, we baby boomers find ourselves applying for social security, waiting in the prescription line for blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, arthritis, and other age induced medications.  Between struggling to read the fine print on any and everything and forgetting where we left the notepad on which we scribbled all the important notes and dates that we did not want to forget, we spend our time baby-sitting grandchildren.  We now stand in front of the young cashier ringing up the Senior Citizen’s Discount without our prompting.  Yes friends, we are the Senior Citizens of today’s society.

Remember the carefree days of high school?  Remember when the entire student body rose as we marched down the aisles of Kate Finley?  Remember when Rockingham and Hamlet shut down one Friday per year to attend the Rocket – Red Ram football game?  Remember dissecting frogs, swimming in P.E. class, pep rallies in the gym, student government elections in the spring, and last but not least to our addicted friends, THE SMOKING AREA. 

Yes, all the above were fun times in our young lives.  Unfortunately, we can no longer step back in time and physically walk the hallowed halls of Rockingham High or even once again taste a Zip & Superburger from Tom & Sarah’s.  Yet, we can still gather with the high school friends of our youth and in our minds, relive the Happy Days of our teenage years.

The 1966 & 1967 45^th Reunion Committee has set aside the weekend of 9/30 - 10/1/2011 to rally and celebrate those HAPPY DAYS of our times together.  The key to our success is dependent upon your attendance.  A current popular soap opera, first aired in 1965, opens up with the line “Like the sands through the hourglass… so are the Days of our Lives.”  Before we hit the Big 3-0, it was easy to say “My life is too busy now.  I’ll go to high school reunion #20.”  A decade later, some graduates used the same logic with #40 as a goal.  In fact, we have classmates who never have attended a reunion.  Friends, our hourglass does not have that much sand left in it.  In fact, at least 42 schoolmates total in both classes are no longer on this Earth.  While you are still in good health, make plans now to attend this important weekend in our lives.

Joel Bailey (Class of “66) has created a wonderful website http.//www.rockinghammemories.net...  He has agreed to list the names of those tentatively planning to attend our reunion on this site and on Face book, 1966-1967 Rockingham High 45^th Reunion Planning Committee.  As soon as details are worked out, the committee will make contact with a RSVP request.  As for now, we need the following: mailing address, phone number, and email address as soon as possible in order to notify and confirm details.  As the sands pass through our hour glass, we eagerly await your reply.

On behalf of the Planning Committee,

Bob (by) McDonald

Class of 1966 

Update on 1966-1967 RHS 45th Class Reunion Planning Committee Meeting on March 1

Bob McDonald gave the following report:

Notes from 45^th RHS Reunion Committee March 1

The 45^th RHS Reunion Committee met at Smithfield Bar-B-Que in Rockingham on March 1^st.  Members offered a couple of options for possible gathering places large enough to accommodate both classes.  Since some alumni, local and out-of-town, from both classes have never been to a reunion, we need to celebrate two nights.  Therefore, mark in big red letters on the same planner calendar that you record the important events in your Senior Citizen life like doctor appointments, grandchildren birthdays, your anniversary, and any other important happenings the weekend of 9/30 & 10/1/2011.

On Friday, 9/30, both classes will gather at the Pitt Hinson Cohen Wildlife Conservation Clubhouse at Hinson Lake in Rockingham.  Put your jeans and sneakers on and just show up.  The only planned program of the night is to enjoy yourself from the minute you arrive until the minute you turn your headlights on to leave.  Personally, I plan to show you a picture of my grandson!  The only request the committee has is that you reserve enough energy to come back on Saturday night for more reminiscing.

On Saturday night, 10/1, we will gather again at Richmond Pines Country Club off Hwy 1 N in Rockingham.  We will be eating, just what and how much is yet to be determined.  I am sure some old high school memories will be on display and I’ll be willing to bet that the banquet room will be decorated in black & orange.  The details such as time and cost are still being worked out.

The largest task ahead of both classes is to secure contact information for all of our class members.  Some members have already been contacted but our job has just begun.  You can best help us by contacting us before we contact you.  Please contact the following: Ben or Kay Crouch Smith, kay_and_Ben@hotmail.com; Sondra Underwood Honrine, Sondra.honrine@jostens.com; Lawanda Smith Walker, walkerlks@hotmail.com; Joel Bailey, rrjoel@gmail.com; or me, Bob McDonald, rmcdonald10@nc.rr.com.  Also for all you citizens of Face book, you can log your contact info on 1966-1967 Rockingham High Reunion Committee.  If you refuse to get on a computer, you can contact me at 3846 Sturbridge Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348 or call 910-709-2090.  We need your home address, your email address, and a phone number.

The Planning Committee sends a special plea out to the class members who live in the area.  We need you at our planning meetings to have a successful reunion.  If I still had my bus license and a school bus, I would pick everyone in Richmond County up.  Since I don’t, I expect to see everyone at our next Reunion Planning Committee meeting on April 5^th at Smithfield Bar-B-Que at 6:30 PM.  Don’t be late!

Obituaries

Thought I would start this blog here for others to add anyone that has passed away that have a connection to Rockingham and Richmond County and maybe you had not heard. I know when I had the Rockingham Forum board, Bill Dennis helped keep the notifications there and did a great job.

Don't know if there will be much response here but at least this is an avenue you can use and add the ones that you know that have passed away in the Comment section below.

Update on 1966-1967 RHS 45th Class Reunion Planning Committee Meeting on Feb 1

Bob McDonald gave the following report on this meeting:

Initial planning meeting was a huge success. Enthusiasm ruled! Tentative dates for The Big Chill Reunion are 9/31/11 & 10/1/11 or 10/14/11 &10/15/11. Mark these dates on your social calendar for this exciting event. Details and facilities must be worked out before an exact date can be pinpointed. Everyone who RSVPed to attend did show up. Five o'clock Fayetteville traffic was heavier than I anticipated and I showed up 10 minutes late. The youngsters from the Class of 1967 were on the edge of issuing a Silver Alert for me until the more mature heads from the Class of 1966 prevailed. Smithfield BBQ Restaurant in Rockingham was the meeting place for our 1st planning meeting. The committee was so pleased with the facility that we unanimously agreed to meet there again on March 1st to discuss our next phase of preparation for our 45th. The lighting was wonderful and bright. Everyone could see quite well. The inside temperature was perfect and no one experienced chills. Furthermore, I haven't eaten barbecue that tasty since the heydays of Revels. Last but not least, every night at Smithfield is Senior Citizen's Night. The background music playing over the restaurant speakers was hits from the '60s. On my way out "Double Shot of My Baby's Love" by The Swinging Medallions came across the airways. For just one quick minute, I was on the dance floor of the Coachman & Four. The only disappointment of the night was the small representation in numbers from both of our classes. Maybe we did not get the word out soon enough. You now have a 28 day notice. I challenge all the classmates who live in Richmond County to show up for planning meeting #2. We have plenty to do. If you can attend March 1st, please RSVP on Facebook. I look forward to seeing you! Someone call me or email me to remind me the date is March 1st. By the way, the planning meeting starts at 6:30 (I knew I was forgetting something).

The Rockingham Quiz Is Moving - Once Again

I have had so much input and replies to The Rockingham Quiz, it has become a full time job to try to cut and paste from FB to here. Now, The Rockingham Quiz, will be on Facebook alone. I have created an album by the same name where the photos will be added.

The first entry with the new format has already been added. Check it out when you get time.

The Rockingham Quiz - 01-28-11

And, the next quiz - See if you recognize this business below, which I visited many times and the approximate date it was taken. This should be pretty easy.

The Rockingham Quiz - 01-27-11

This next photo below might be a little tricky but let's see how many know where this business was located and the name.

01-28-11 - OK, There have been a lot of good answers but the right one is: The Seafood Center, at the intersection of East Washington & Lawrence Streets in downtown Rockingham. The true photo is below, before I doctored it for the Quiz - it was taken in 1965.