Happy Gnu Year!

Yes, it's that time of year again, the time when we celebrate the noble wildebeest, also called gnu (pronounced /nu/ or /nju/), a large ungulate of the genus Connochaetes. Or something like that. Why we celebrate the gnu, I'll never know.

Cameron Park Band Trip 1959

On the ground, left to right: Sumpter Frazier, John Roy Truelove, John Bennett, Wayne Wofford.

Up above: Jerry Walker and Margaret Stubbs to the front. Francelle Crider, Carole Smith, and Melinda Mansell to the back.

From a site called "Cinema Treasures": The Mexia may truly be one of a kind. It is located in and named after the city of Mexia,Texas. It has a unique and colorful vertical sign that features a Mexican in a giant sombrero taking a siesta and is in great shape. I have probably worn a little paint off from taking so many pictures.It is safe for now, owned by a Pentecostal preacher and his wife. He was unable to give me any history, but graciously showed me around on a recent Sunday. He has had offers on the sign, but says it is not for sale.







I'm sure Johnny Holmes has fond memories of working at the Parkway Drive-In. Some of the rest of you may have fond memories of it for other reasons. I wish I could find a photo of it.

30th Reunion -- 1989

Vacation Bible School?

This looks like a VBS photo to me. From left to right are Bobby Wasson, Bill Crider, Genie Schuh, (?), Joe Owens, Lynn Hammer, and Don Randall.

Great 1950s Movies

Three Hot Chicks

Not members of our class, but I'm sure you'll recognize Fred Williams, Charles Fowler, and Richard Perkins at the State Fair sometime around 1957. Click on the picture to get an even better look. Then click on the enlarged version for a still closer glance if you can stand it.

A Christmas Greeting

Academy Award Winners (and nominees) for 1957

Picture:
"THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI", "Peyton Place", "Sayonara", "12 Angry Men", "Witness for the Prosecution"
Actor:
ALEC GUINNESS in "The Bridge On The River Kwai", Marlon Brando in "Sayonara", Anthony Franciosa in "A Hatful of Rain", Charles Laughton in "Witness for the Prosecution", Anthony Quinn in "Wild Is the Wind"
Actress:
JOANNE WOODWARD in "The Three Faces of Eve", Deborah Kerr in "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison", Anna Magnani in "Wild is the Wind", Elizabeth Taylor in "Raintree County", Lana Turner in "Peyton Place"
Supporting Actor:
RED BUTTONS in "Sayonara", Vittorio De Sica in "A Farewell to Arms", Sessue Hayakawa in "The Bridge On The River Kwai", Arthur Kennedy in "Peyton Place", Russ Tamblyn in "Peyton Place"
Supporting Actress:
MIYOSHI UMEKI in "Sayonara", Carolyn Jones in "The Bachelor Party", Elsa Lanchester in "Witness for the Prosecution", Hope Lange in "Peyton Place", Diane Varsi in "Peyton Place"
Director:
DAVID LEAN for "The Bridge On The River Kwai", Joshua Logan for "Sayonara", Sidney Lumet for "12 Angry Men", Mark Robson for "Peyton Place", Billy Wilder for "Witness for the Prosecution"

Anybody Have One of These?

'50s Schwinn Black Phantom
















A 1958 Schwinn Corvette Three-Speed

A Plymouth Gallery

1957 Plymouth Belvedere








1956 Plymouth Belvedere












1955 Plymouth Belvedere


















1958 Plymouth Belvedere

Coca Cola Christms Ad from 1953

The School Song

Ina Cooper wrote an article for our school paper (The Blackcat) about the school song, back in 1959 or so. The article wouldn't scan, but Ina was kind enough to type it for us, and here it is:

Have you ever wondered when and by whom our School Song was written? “The Crimson and the Black” has been our song since 1915. It has three verses, though we only sing the first and last. Wilford Oliphant, a senior student in MHS, with the assistance of his classmate, Beatrice Anderson, and a German teacher, Miss Stolfus, wrote the words to the song. Miss Anderson, now Mrs. W. F. Malone, resides in Houston.

It seems that Miss Stolful had some music which someone had given her. She didn’t know who had composed it, but she knew it was an original composition. The three of them got together and did the final “putting together” of the words and music.

"The Crimson and the Black” was introduced on the Thanksgiving assembly in the year 1915. Originally the song was sung and played much faster than it is today.

For those of you who are not familiar with the three verses of "The Crimson and the Black,” here is a copy of them for you.

In the grand old State of Texas
Beneath fair Southern skies,
You’ll find some lads and lassies
In whom love and honor lies.
We are gay and free and happy
Nor courage do we lack,
For we’re the true defenders
Of the Crimson and the Black.

In our school you’ll always find us.
Foremost in work and play,
In our studies we’re no lacking,
In our sports we gain the day.
Let it be in field or football,
In basketball or track,
We’ll bring honor to Mexia
And the Crimson and the Black.

When our school days have passed o’er us,
And we leave Mexia High,
Still in love with Alma Mater,
We’ll laud her to the sky.
Although we may all be parted,
Fond memories will turn back.
To the friends and gay companions
Of the Crimson and the Black.

A Ford Gallery

1957 Ford Fairlane












1950 Ford. We had one a lot like this.
Ours was black and had a sun visor.
Remember sun visors?












1956 Ford. Can you tell the difference
between it and the one below? I sure
could back in '56.













1955 Ford. A lot like the '56.

A Chevrolet Gallery

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air











1955 Cheverolet Bel Air













1957 Chevrolet Bel Air















1956 Chevrolet Del Ray













1960 Chevrolet Corvette

December 1958

At this time back in 1958, we were getting ready for Christmas, I guess, and looking forward to the holiday. In those days, the semester didn't end in December. We had a break for a couple of weeks, then went back to school for a few more weeks before the semester ended. When I was in college, I usually spent the Christmas break writing term papers. Anyway, here's what was going on in the world back in December 1958. (Iraq was in the news even then.) See how many of these events you can remember:

Dec 1, The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Flower Drum Song" opened on Broadway.

Dec 1, In Chicago Our Lady of Angels School burned. 92 students and 3 nuns were killed.

Dec 9, Robert H.W. Welch Jr. and 11 other men met in Indianapolis to form the anti-Communist John Birch Society.

Dec 10, The first domestic passenger jet flight took place in the United States as a National Airlines Boeing 707 flew 111 passengers from New York City to Miami.

Dec 13, Ahmed Mukhtar Baban, premier of Iraq, was executed along with Burhanuddin Bashajan, Iraqi minister of Foreign Affairs and Rafiq Aref, Iraqi chief-staff Arabs Statenbond.

Dec 14, The United States, Britain and France rejected Soviet demands that they withdraw their troops from West Berlin and agreed to liquidate the Allied occupation in West Berlin.

Dec 19, An Eisenhower White House memo gave authority to senior military commanders to retaliate with nuclear weapons if the president could not be reached or was unable to respond to a nuclear attack against the US in a policy known as "pre-delegation authority."

Dec 21, Charles de Gaulle was elected to a seven-year term as the first president of the Fifth Republic of France.

Dec 28, A Chipmunks song (Alvin, Simon & Theodore with David Seville) hit #1. "The Chipmunk Song" went on to win 3 statues in the Grammys.

Dec 31, Cuba’s dictator Juan Batista fled as Rebels under Fidel Castro marched into Havana.

Museum of Extinct Auto Accessories

A steering wheel knob, a Continental kit, fender skirts, and curb feelers

Who Are These People?

I have no idea when or where this picture was taken. I think recognize me, Ronnie Perkins, and maybe Don Randall. Could that be Kay Hamill standing on the left? Sandra says that Don McBay is front and center, with Carole Smith standing on the left by Ronnie. I think she's right. Johnny Holmes has identified Jan Grice to the left of me. (I'm standing in the back on the right.)

Number One Songs -- December 1958

December 6: To Know Him Is to Love Him -- Teddy Bears December 13: To Know Him Is to Love Him -- Teddy Bears December 20: To Know Him Is to Love Him -- Teddy Bears December 27: The Chipmunk Song -- David Seville and the Chipmunks

Wild Tamale Party, 1955

This was taken in Sandra Romain's backyard. Pat Smith, Gladys Fisher(?), and Marlis Ellis. John Barham, Margaret Bleakney, Wilbert McBeth, amd Mr. Romain.

Mexia High School

As you can tell, this photo of MHS was taken long before we attended. There are no trees and no benches.

W. M. White Elementary

This isn't a very good photo, but it's the best one I have of W. M. White Elementary, where many of us attended first grade and part of second grade.

Prom Night?

Margaret Ann Bleakney, 1958

Our Class President

Tommy Johnson at the 2005 reunion

Linda Phillips, Marvin Berry, Sandra Romain

Theresa Carroll and Wilbert McBeth

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I actually remember this choir presentation. Ann Pendleton recently told me that she was "shy" when we were in high school. So there she is, center stage in a short Mrs. Santa skirt. Shy? I report, you decide. And who's that Jan Grice is holding hands with? I can't see her face well enough to make it out.

Hubba-hubba!

Cabaret Cuties

I'll let you put the names with these if you can. I'm not sure I know all of them. Love the garters!

Blackcat Band Members

Back Row (left to right): Reed Jackson, Sumpter Frazier, Jackie Fisher, Jerry Muschkat
Front Row (left to right): Janice Thornton, Betty Tacker, Betty Boyd, Dorothy Vinson

Margaret Ann

Margaret Ann Bleakney was always a swinger, even in 1946 as this photo proves.

Milton

This is Milton Carroll at the lake in June 2005. He's not wearing glasses because he's had lasik surgery and can see better than ever.