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Sylva Class of 1954 holds golden reunion
Members of the Sylva High School Class of 1954 came from several states for their golden anniversary reunion Aug. 14 at the Holiday Inn, Cherokee.
“We displayed memorabilia and our yearbooks for 1951-54, along with a large group picture of our senior class trip to Washington, D.C.,” said member Mildred Sutton.
“We recalled how we raised money for that trip and our junior/senior banquets and prom by selling candy,” Sutton said. “We worked for what we needed and monies left over were donated to the school and they, in turn, purchased an intercom system to use between the high school and the elementary school.”
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Members of the Sylva High School Class of 1954 attending the golden anniversary Aug. 14 in Cherokee were, from left, (front) Claude Jones, Lois Edwards Burch, Myrtha Ann Reagan Wilson, Richard Wilson, Patsy Parris McClure; (second row) Dorothy Stiles Harbin, June Cooper Stephens, Joyce McDonald Wood, Inez Oxner Goforth, Roland Blanton; (third row) Mildred Stiles Sutton, Jeanette Queen Beasley, Joyce Bradley Bryson, Lamar Beasley; (fourth row) Florence Ellen Carnes Aiken, Ronnie Stewman, Nellie Dillard Moss, Ann Cathey Jones, Hilda Davies Wilkes, Warner Bradley; (fifth row) Bill Parris, John Lloyd Kirk, Audrey Jane Jones Tritt; (sixth row) Lawrence Wood, Jimmy Jacobs, Jimmy Sellers, Roy Shuler, Bill Harris; (back) James Pearson Pannell, Curtis Ray Blanton, Zeb David Turpin, Herman Clayton Jones, Carol Beasley and Lewis Ward.
Teacher Sally Mae Campbell was a guest at the reunion and classmates signed a card for former English teacher Kathryn Morris, who is in a nursing center.
Classmates talked about the different activities they served in such as Future Homemakers of America, Future Farmers of America, 4-H Club, Glee Club, Drama Club and band.
“We had a wonderful band and they were always ready to march in parades, at ball games and special concerts,” said Sutton.
“Our football team, the Golden Hurricanes, were so good because we encouraged them, Coach Joe Hunt pushed them and Cullowhee High sent three or four members down to play since they didn’t have their own football team” said Sutton, adding that as soon as ball season was over the Cullowhee students transferred back to Cullowhee. The Hurricanes won the conference during the 1953-54 school year, according to Sutton.
“Our boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were good, too. We had Halloween carnivals and dances, May Day courts and queens and went to chapel every Friday.
“This was a good life – pledging allegiance to the flag, reciting the Lord’s prayer and singing patriotic songs. It was the age of responsibility and innocence,” Sutton said.
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