Dianne Church (Church)

Thank you all on the Reunion Planning Committee for creating a memorable reunion.  It was very special to be able to see everyone again - some for the first time in 50 years.  We had the tiime to spend with old friends at the ball park, Tom and Anita's home, the school tour and the final evening at Staley's.  I really liked it that there were enough opportunities to talk to everyone.  In particular, I appreciated the fact that Tom and Anita opened their beautiful home to us so we could not only have an opportunity to view Tom's wonderful sculpture and art, but also a quiet place just to talk.  For all of you who contributed to make that a success, a profound thank you. While there, I bought Danny Ferguson's two books and look forward to enjoying them.

I took pictures at every event, but have yet to figure out how to download all of them to the web site.  I will just keep trying, or call in a ten-year old who no doubt will be savvy enough to do it for me.

Many people I talked to were enthusiastic about having reunions every five years from now on, since our numbers are diminishing and ten years is a long time to wait.  I heartily endorse this idea and hope our comittee will consider doing even a modified reunion weekend in five years.

Thank you all and it was wonderful to see you again.  I am so amazed and impressed with my classmates of 1962 that you have had such interesting careers - and many careers as well.  If Tom Ogburn is an example of multiple careers and late-developed talents, then I know there are many more.  I was amazed to see the photograph of Pam Bain's beautiful landscape and to learn that she didn't begin painting until her 40's.  How wonderful to continue discovering talent throughout our lives.

I appreciate the influence R. J. Reynolds and my classmates had on my life - it was not just the school and faculty, it was all of you as well.  Look at what all of us have achieved.

Harriet Nanzetta (Clark)

Many thanks to our Reunion Committee for all your hard work!  You gave us a memory-filled, fun time in addition to this very helpful, user-friendly website. I'd love for us to be able to get together again in 5 years (or even sooner!) . A decade is just too long to wait!! 

Our classmates have achieved so much in their lives since graduation, and have found so much to enjoy along the way. It's been wonderful to play "catch up" in person and on the website. Our shared memories are priceless. 

I'm so proud to be a member of the Class of '62!   

Robert (Bob) Gibson

First of all thanks to the reunion committee for an outstanding job. Everything was great. I just wish I had more time to visit with everyone and sorry I couldn't attend Saturday at Staleys.  I can't wait for our next event and for the class of "62, please stay in touch.....Bob Gibson

Vilia Wood (Marshall)

It was wonderful to see everybody. The committee did a great job on getting us together and deserve a "Big Thanks You" for all the work you put into it. I also hope we could get together again soon.

Paul Licker

What a wonderful reunion!  It was so great to meet everyone.  I won't say it was like no time had passed (the physical evidence was indisputable), but if a few hundred "golden agers" can make THAT much noise, there is a lot of life still left in the class of '62, no? 

But there is better: the 60th is coming soon. I'm sure most of you know that although Reynolds High School didn't open for classes until January 1923 (and that means that the classes of '63 and '73 are the point people for the actual 100th), it would be really useful if we joined with the classes of '63 and '64 in a joint diamond jubilee celebration in 2023 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of (1) when the school SHOULD have opened, (2) when the school actually DID open and (3) when the first full year was completed. That will be 100 years without a stadium to call our own (the motto for the movie, "Hill of dreams" would be "We come, but they haven't built it yet!"). We three classes could together try to raise a million or so for the stadium. Together we have over 1000 living alumni, so just amongst ourselves we could pledge a million -- some or most of this could come from bequests after all.  count me in. I don't know how to organize this and I don't know if '63 and '64 have any organizing committees, but this would be a fabulous way to ensure a legacy at just the right time. It will take a few years to build the stadium and pledges of a million might just make it possible.  Thoughts?  Pledges?  And I believe we already have at least one development professional (other than the one I'm married to!) among our ranks, right, Don?

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

Although I was unable to attend the reunion due to health reasons, I have since reconnected with several classmates through this website. I think it is wonderful that you are going to keep it up- hopefully enough people will use it to make that feasible. Unlike so many of the members of our class, I didn't travel far from home. I settled in beautiful Stokes County, and except for driving all over N.C., Va., W.Va., Tenn., S.C., and part of Ga. as a sales rep for the L'eggs Div. of Sara Lee Hosiery, I haven't roamed far from home. The farthest I went was to the west coast, but that was when I was a baby, and my Dad was stationed there during WWII, so I don't remember any of it. Would really like to hear from some of you, esp. those from West Salem. Bright blessings to everyone. - Terryll (Brewer) Gilliam

Mickey Cook

First time at this part of the Web page.........computer illiterate

I hope this is a forum where we can all talk back and forth about just idle things going on.  Just a few months ago, Jewell and I had our 7th Grandchild....just saying that makes you feel older.  We're not retired, yet, since I still have my Construction Company and doing a house or 2 a year and a few remodel jobs.  Jewell is busy with Grands, her kids who are local and helping me out in the business.  Glad to see another beautiful Spring about to appear in NC.  One of the many great things about living here.  That's about all for now..........take care and keep in touch....Mickey Cook

Dianne Church (Church)

How nice to hear from you.  It has been beautiful on the coast at Monterey Bay - a few rain storms blow through, but keep on moving toward the east.  I drove over to Lake Havasu, AZ ( 10-hour road trip) for a week and it has been very pleasant here.  Snowed up in Flagstaff and we went to Sedona the next day.  Still snow in the hills, but none in the town.  Walked through shops, art galleries, anad had lunch at the beautiful restaurant out at the airport.  The Sedona airport is up on a mesa and the restaurant has a glass wall that overlooks all those strange other-worldly red rock formations.  Such a nice interlude.  We bought some art from a gallery (our weakness) and then headed on back to Havasu.  Having two homes - one in Lake Havasu and the other in Watsonville, CA makes for more work, but t is nice to leave winter behind for a few days and enjoy the red rocks of Arizona.  I head back on Wednesday to the coast. Today it was in the high 70's and Wed when I leave, it wil be in the 80's, and up to 90 degrees by Friday.   My 26-year old nephew is coming out to visit and look for a job in the area.  He graduates from Berkeley College in N.J. at the end of April and we are looking forward to going to his graduation and having him stay for awhile.  I can even remember when I was 26!

Bonnie Forrest (Boles)

L

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

To anyone interested in reminiscing, there is a new web site (I was notified by Facebook), called "If you grew up in Forsyth Co., N.C.". You have to have somethng in your profile mentioning living in Winston-Salem or Forsyth Co. There are already some great stories posted there...about the old stores downtown, going to Crystal Lake, etc. I think you have to be on Facebook to join, but it's all free, and brings back a lot of wonderful memories. - Terryll Gilliam ...It's actually called "you know you grew up in Fosyth Co. if..."

Mabel (Beth) Bayless

That sounds like a really nice website. Looking forward to exploring it. Thanks Terry.

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

Hello again! Since my last posting about the "growing up in Forsyth Co. website, there has been another one added: "You might be from Winston-Salem if...". Someone even posted a group of pictures taken at different places, including Crystal Lake, on the site. If you enjoy reminiscing about "the good old days", be sure to check it out. There are many group conversations started when someone posts "Does anybody remember...?" Hope to see some of you there. I know all would be interested in the one about Reynolds Auditorium, or "cruising" on Friday and Saturday nights, and of course ice cream at Farmer's Dairy at Thruway.  

Jimmie R. Vestal

I spend a lot of time on Facebook.  :-)  Many of my friends are there.

http://www.facebook.com/jimmie.vestal

While I was attending Reynolds, I was interested in music and played in bands.  Today my songs can be heared all over the United States on TouchTunes and AMI digital jukeboxes.

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

To Jimmie Vestal: I will definitely look up your page on Facebook; sounds really cool. I am on Facebook on my own page and also am co-admin. on a page based in England. A secret I kept all through high school was the fact that I am Pagan/Wiccan. The England page is Wicca-Wiccan-Witch-Witchcraft-Pagan-Religion(anything goes). My page is Terryll Brewer Gilliam on Facebook.com.

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

To Jimmie Vestal--My first husband was also in music. He was a member of The Keynotes Combo, one of the most popular groups in the area and winner of the Battle of the Bands at the old Carolina Theater. After that, the band had gigs all over N.C., Va., Tenn., & S.C. They were at Myrtle Beach at the clubs there every summer and night clubs in the larger cities in other states the rest of the time. I couldn't find you on Facebook; if you like, you could send me a  friend request- just type "Terryll Brewer Gilliam on Faceback" in your searchbar.

James C. Reavis

Oh it was good to hear about Crystal Lake and Farmers Dairy and other spots around Reynolds that we all visited in our times.

jim reavis

Dianne Church (Church)

I loved Crytal Lake in the summers and have many fond memories of hot summer days under the fountain there.

Paul Licker

Crystal Lake.  I think I was only there three or four times in my life, but interestingly it appears frequently in my DREAMS!  I don't think I could even say now where it is or was, but in my dreams it's a specific place.  Perhaps that place is called "Youth" (or maybe "Pleasantville"!).

Dianne Church (Church)

Yes, and I remember going to Farmer's Dairy after dates for an ice cream sundae.   Remember the big dish where they put a scoop of everything in it and it served a whole bunch of people?  Loved Farmers Dairy, Crystal Lake, and going to Woolworth's where  you could sit at the counter and order a chicken salad sandwich and coke.  It was very special. 

And yes, Paul,  it was called youth - we remain young at heart no matter what the mirror says.   Great memories.

Steve C. Blake

                 If my memory is correct, we had our senior picnic at Crystal Lake

James C. Reavis

WOW   Was great to read over the responses and sorry that I could not attend the reunion gathering, driving into work today listening to 60's radio had tons of songs brings back fond memories of the Reynolds years.  The oldest grandgirls are 12 and 10 and ask me what music is that grandpa as they listen to itunes on ipad ipods etc.

Question, did anyone of you guys ever sneak into Reynolda Gardens at night with a flashlight to wade in the ponds and hunt for frogs knowing that as possibility of snakes in the area; just sayin

Terryll J. Brewer (Gilliam)

I didn't spend much time at Crystal Lake, instead going to Shelton's Lakes. They started as 3 fishing lakes and later drained one, brought in loads of sand, and fixed it up for swimming. Not as fancy as Crystal, but so much more to do, with the hiking trails, farm animals, fishing, etc. Btw, there are now 4 sites on Facebook for remembering "the good old days" in Winston-Salem and Forsyth Co.; one is for Kernersville.  

Thomas M. Cordell

I'm afraid I haven't been on this site too much... at least until recently.  The email notifications triggered by these Message Forum posts have rekindled many old memories and brought me back several times to this web site.  I also see that I have some messages that are in at least one case over a year old.  My apologies.  I will try to return the kind and thoughtful notes that I recently discovered. 

I looked at the list of missing classmates and wondered whatever happened to Joe King.  I'm pretty sure he was in our class, but I didn't see him in either the classmate profiles or the missing classmates.  Does anybody know?

Steve C. Blake

Joe King did not graduate with us. He was kicked out of Reynolds our sophomore year for fighting. He finished high school at Northwest high. He was offered a full football scholarship to the University of South Carolina. I do not think he made it past the first week. He lived here in Winston until the 70's then I do not know what happened to him. It is my understanding that he was served time and may be still is at the South Carolina prision in Columbia. May be some others can offer more current information

Thomas M. Cordell

Steve, thanks for your's and George Woods responses to my query regarding Joe King.  I guess the years are catching up with me!  I remember Joe but did not remember him getting kicked out of school in the 10th grade.  Take care and hope that you and your family are doing well.