Martha Barron (Baxter)

I am so sorry that health problems are keeping me from attending the upcoming Class Reunion. I wish you all that are attending a very super weekend getting reaquainted with each other and I look forward to seeing you all at the next one. God bless you all with health and happiness!!

Nancy Carter (Dahm)

Martha, I wish you a speedy return to good health. Nancy

Jan Seyffert (Copas)

What a wonderful reunion.  For those of you who were not able to join us, you were missed.  We had lots of laughs and wonderfull memories to share.  The only sad part was remembering our 51 classmates who are no longer with us.  A big THANK YOU goes to Bobby Curtis and especially his wife Kris for putting this wonderful reunion together.  Hope to see all of you at the next one.

Gail McKinzie (Clark)

Amen to Jan's word! Thanks too go to Walter and Mary, Mike and Nez, Evelyn and Monty and Blue for their time and efforts! I really enjoyed the weekend and missed the ones who were not there for whatever reason! It was a lot of fun

Bob Macnab

Dittos to Gail's comments. The venues were perfect, the food was excellent, golf was great (thanks Harry) and the camaraderie was wonderful!

I was asked about the toast to our departed so here it is, an excerpt from The Shropshire Lad by A.E. Housman.

" With rue my heart is laden

For golden friends I had,

For many a rose-lipt maiden

And many a lightfoot lad.

By brooks too broad for leaping

The lightfoot boys are laid,

The rose-lipt girls are sleeping

In fields where roses fade.

Bobby Macnab

Linda Dorough (Jernigan)

I, too, want to thank Walter and Mary, Bobby and Kris, Mike and Nez, Monty and Evelyn, and Gail for all of their hard work and caring in making our 55th Reunion such a wonderful event.  As mentioned earlier, the food and settings were wonderful.  It was amazing to see all those in attendance and hear their latest stories.  I'm very grateful to be a part of the Class of 1961.

~ Linda Dorough Jernigan

Cynthia Rankin (Becker)

I too want to thank all who were involved in the planning of our reunion. Everything was well planned and executed perfectly.  It was great to see everyone and catch up on our lives. Looking forward to many more.

Patty Fox (Sanders)

Really enjoyed the reunion and seeing everyone!  Thank you to all listed!  I also want to thank Bobby MacNab for the fun game and the presentation of our departed !  Great job Bobby! You are appreciated!

Jim Patterson

What a gift from those in and near Tyler who provided us with such an outstanding reunion consistent in character with our past memories and yet current with lifelong treasured friendships.

SPECIAL THANKS to Bobby & Kris, Mike & Nez, Walter & Mary, Monty & Blu, and Gail.

Suzy Phipps (Gorneau)

I agree with the other comments. The reunion was very successful and lots of fun. It was great to see everyone.  Many thanks to all who helped make the reunion fantastic!!!!!

Dick Stine

I'm just grateful to be alive and able to attend ! Bobby I will play golf next time

Bill Wade

As for the recent reunion: Best money that I have spent in years. Great seeing those that were in attendance on Friday/28 and Saturday the 29th.

How very fortunate we have been to have had the guidance of the Tyler School System cruicable. Amazing that what we were and what we have become in Life's Journey.

Thanks again to the leaders that made this 55th Reunion a success. THANKS

Fred Decker

After getting back home to the beautiful skies, fall colors, and snow on the mountains in Montana, I realize there is still a part of me in Tyler. I had a wonderful time with all my classmates. Thanks to all of you that put this reunion together. Till next time.....

Moody Miller

PLEASE RECALL BILL WADE'S BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW (APRIL FOOLS DAY) FOR WHICH THERE HAS BEEN QUESTIONS ON OCCASION REGARDING HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!

HOWEVER PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS CELEBRATION WITH A PHONE CALL (479 967 1495) AND/OR AN EMAIL!!!

Richard Collins

  RichardWell, always thought Bill was a joke, gotta love him anyway. Happy Birthday Bill,  Come back to next "old codgers meeting " Richard Collins

Mike Gross

Defacing, tearing down and hiding statutes and portraitsi is today's version of Puritan  book-burning. Our children need to know their country's past, it's normative figures and their virtues and vices.

Jim Breedlove

Well said, Mike. If we destroy our history and do not learn from it, we will inevitably repeat it. 

Tom Ashcraft

I was injured in Vietnam and spend 6 months in hospital for their right to protest, not to wipe out our history.  Good or bad it belongs to all of us.

Marshall Davidson

To Mike Gross, Jim Breedlove and Tommy Ashcraft:

Thank you all for your posts of commonsensical sentiments regarding the current national uprest.  Most people don't know enough about what is going on and/or have the gumption to register a stand aginst effectively planned anarchy and its embrace by the legacy media.

Marshall Davidson

Sharonne Coon (Barton)

There are advantages in living out in the Boondocks of East Texas. I see more 4-legged creatures on a daily basis than 2-legged ones. The panic-driven virus scare & the actions of the "great unwashed masses" do not apply to me or any of my neighbors down the road. The noise from the nearby Gun Range is music to my ears.

Sharonne Coon Barton

Howard Barnett

Let's not forget for what Confederate memorials were designed -- as a giant middle finger to black folks.  Having them on desplay in conspicuous places is on the same level as wearing a swastika arm band to a Jewish wedding.  When you honor Robert E. Lee with a statue, or you name a school after him, you promote someone who was a traitor to his country, someone who fought with all his heart to keep other humans in slavery.   When Lee inherited slaves from his father-in-law, he renigged on a promise to free them.  When two escaped, he had them beaten harshly and then had their backs bathed in brine. If you don't remove these "memorials" to Civil War traitors, at lease have plaques accurately describing their true nature.

Tom Ashcraft

Your analogy of Confederate inspired statues as representing Fasism is a little off base in my opinion.  Bondage of people was not unique to the Southern United States. Bondage existed  long before biblical times.  Using your analogy we would have to wipe out history and rewrite the history of the world. Times have changed but history is the stories of the past.  Tommy A

Marc Bailes

Tommy

I'm sure you read the article about Trudy Lamb.  After reading that I found that the racial composition of REL is now broadly 40 white, 30 black, and 30 hispanic.  When we were there it was 100% white, as I recall.  Much different situation, to me.  Asking a significant number of black kids to represent Robert E Lee and all that he stood for, and for their parents to pay school taxes,  is asking way too much. 

Regardless of the name of the school, I still have many fond memories that will remain regardless. 

Jack Sowers

The following presidents owned slaves: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Polk, Zachary Taylor, Andrew Johnson, and U.S.Grant.

Others who have owned slaves: Francis Scott Key, James Bowie, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, William Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition), Henry Clay, John Marshall, Christopher Columbus, Stephen A. Douglas, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Sam Houston, William Penn, and Solomon (King of Israel).

History is history, it's behind us. Let's not get into trying to rewrite it or erase it.

Isabel Evans (Davis)

I am writing to support Howard Barnett and his comments on this Message Forum.  He is right on!!  I am and have been for a long time in favor of a name change for Robert E. Lee High School.  The name was chosen at a time when desegregation was mandated by law.  The school was built on purpose in an area so that the district lines drawn would eliminate the possibility of any Black students attending.  Of course I did not know that at the time.  The name was chosen as a slap in the face of anyone in favor of desegregation and a slur against Black people in general.  As a result, I did not have an opportunity to attend with and get to know any Black students.  I am poorer for that lack of experience.  

Howard, I did not know you well in High School.  I wish I knew you now.  I am always looking for people who are like minded and in favor of moving out of the dark ages.