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Editorials - 08/17/00

Big 2000 organizers deserve much credit
It's not easy to coordinate any event that in-volves large numbers of people. As anyone who's ever been involved with one can tell you, engineering a 10- or 20-year reunion for a single class often turns into a logistical nightmare.

That's why we're taking this opportunity to congratulate the organizers of the extremely successful Cullowhee High Reunion this past Saturday. They planned and executed a memorable event not for just one class but for all classes.

Everyone who ever attended high school at Cullowhee was invited to attend. That's more than a century's worth of scholars, since Cullowhee High is the forerunner of Western Carolina University, and WCU lists its birth year as 1889.

Some 800 former Stingarees, Rebels and guests answered the call, coming from across town and across the country to visit with their former classmates. It was deja vu all over the place as old friends reminded each other of the events of their youth.

The food, by all accounts, was delicious. The program started on time. Everyone seemed united in the spirit of the day.

The crowd was massive, said one observer, and the reunion could have turned into "utter chaos," but it didn't. Each committee had obviously done its job, and all the hard work made for a successful day.

The reunion program, itself a massive undertaking, is full of names and addresses of former students and will no doubt prove invaluable in years to come.

Our hats are off to organizers Ella Mae Morris (chairman), Frankie Reynolds, Linda Haney, Jesse Flake and David Zachary as well as to committee members Nelson Bumgarner, Tommy Norton, Thelma Bryson, Gertrude Allen, Virginia Clark, Irene Hooper, Marie Smith, Claude Dills, Bonnie Hooper, Dorris Beck, Sara Madison, Dale Williams, Mildred Wilson and Robby Shelton. Thanks to the efforts of these people, generations of CHS students had a place and time to come and remember.

For several hours, everyone was young again. And you can't put a price on that.

Editorial policy

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views.

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