The classmates shared the journeys of the past 50 years for their lives and vocations.
Members' backgrounds ranged from a three-star Air Force general to a national AFL-CIO union leader. One 1953 graduate and her husband flew directly from Tibet, where they have spent the past six months teaching in public schools.
Many of the members shared their memories and experiences of their military service, which included the post-Korea and Vietnam wars.
Bob Vetter, a Whispering Pines resident and 1954 Andrew Jackson graduate, served as the reunion host and arrangements chairman. Committee members from California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona planned the entire event via e-mail.
The group's activities included walking tours of Southern Pines, Pinehurst, and a private organ concert at The Village Chapel featuring John Shannon, organist for the chapel.
Other events included a walking tour of Sandhills Community College's Gardens, and a Saturday morning visit to Horse Country and the Foxtrack Training Center.
Special features were a barbecue at CCWP, with a concert from the Blue Horizons Blue Grass Band of Candor.
On Saturday evening, the class members enjoyed a formal dinner dance with special music from the 1950s-era provided by Roger Levesque of Pinehurst.
On Saturday morning, the class members were treated to a coffee hour overview of real estate in the Sandhills by Peggy Floyd, of the Southern Pines Prudential Real Estate office.
One unique feature was that five attending reunion members of the Class of 1954 went through school together from kindergarten to the 12th grade.
"Considering each graduating class contained some 500 members, this group received special merit," says Vetter.
There were many laughs at the pictures of "peg pants" and duck cuts on the guys who were cool. The girls all wore their saddle shoes and very short Elizabeth Taylor hair cuts. Many class members shared their distant memories of teachers and coaches who impacted their lives.
"The one teacher most highly praised was our English teacher and track coach, Dr. Milton Blatt," says Vetter. "Milty was responsible for more male students going to colleges throughout the United States because he stressed academics and discipline to be a member of his teams.
Sunday morning came too fast for the group, who all received a book of memories and photos collected by class members over the years, as well as photos taken during the reunion.
"Many of the reunion members were thrilled with the beauty of our community, the large number of golf courses, the lovely homes, and the fine treatment they received wherever they traveled in our community," says Vetter. "The impression made upon our classmates has caused several of them to consider moving to our area."
