I have to say that, because it’s in my contract that anything in this space has to have the word golf in it at least once. So there, that’s twice already.
Although it’s not about golf (that’s three times), at least two Foxfire Resort residents should be interested in the contents. Dick McCleney and his wife, Juanita, attended old Chadbourn High School, and they’re invited to the reunion being held there May 21.
Oh yeah, Chadbourn High School. Boy, does that bring back some memories? As a member of the Class of 1955, this marks my 50th anniversary. Fifty years! Boy, time really does fly when you’re having a good time.
Frankly, I can’t wait for this gathering of the Chadbourn clan. I can close my eyes and see all those smiling faces, some fair and lovely and some pitted with acne.
The thing I’m wondering is how many of these old friends I’m going to recognize. This reunion isn’t just for members of the Class of ’55, it’s for everyone who ever attended the high school, including faculty.
Look, Chadbourn High wasn’t that big. When I graduated, my class was the largest in history, totaling a cool 44 members. So to assure a crowd, we’re inviting everyone still living, and anyone else who can get up for the occasion. We’re a fun bunch.
Back in those good ol’ days, things were a little different. Almost every guy had a nickname. Let’s see how many I can remember:
There were Francis “Boogie” Bass, one of the toughest little running backs to ever wear the Purple and Gold of the Panthers; Paul “Blossom” Carter, whose perpetual blushing countenance made his moniker a natural; Tommy “Tal” Lewis, whom I always considered the best athlete in the school’s history; Walter “Buck” Jolly, an all-around athlete who went on to star in football for Wake Forest; Frank “Horse” Thompson, another three-sport star who played for the Demon Deacons; Ellison “Feets” Edwards, a rugged running back who is now a respected surgeon in Charlotte, also sometimes referred to as “Baby Dump.”
There were Jack Buck, called “Speedy,” because he wasn’t; Gene “Gabby” Hinson, because he was; Leroy “Buzzard” Goins; Paul “Termite” Hughes; Vincent “Sheep” Lowe; Harold “Fuzzy” Hughes; Bobby “Red Tater” Tedder; Benton “Acey” Walton; Herbert “Syrup” White.
There were Earl “Mule” Andrews, who shortened my freshman year in football to one scrimmage play on an ill-advised attempt at a kickoff return tackle; Charles “Burp” Boyette, because he sure could; Charles “Hard Rock” Carter, because he was one; Earl “Bunky” Mc-Keithan; and Donald “Mucho” Simmons.
There were Duval “High Pockets” Norris, because they were; Harry “Possum” Newell; David “Goat” Mercer; Rossie “Hog” Nobles; Franklin “Boss” Walker; Archie “Gone Cat” Clewis, who did a fantastic imitation of Dean Martin; Neil “Professor” Cox; Randall “Doodle” Peacock; Riley “Cracklin’” Robinson; George “Casanova” Stone; and S.W. “Snuffy” Andrews.
That’s a lot of nicknames, but things weren’t so politically correct in those days that you couldn’t label someone for his looks or actions. It was all in fun, and I never saw anyone get mad. Most of the guys I knew earned theirs and loved it.
My nickname? I’ll die first.
But my favorite memories are the girls of ol’ Chadbourn High. Oh boy, those girls of the Class of ’55 were something special. I kid you not, that was the finest collection of females I’ve ever seen in one group. There were at least 20 of them whom I would have asked to marry me if I could have gotten up the nerve to speak to them.
There were Rita, Annette, Anne, Pat, Hazel Ruth, Miriam, Shirley, Patricia, Shelia, Betty Jane, Sadie, Willa Grey, Carolyn, Margaret, Jean, Llelanie, Betty, Lillie, Patsy and Jeanette. All young and pretty and totally unavailable to a red-necked farm boy.
Even our teachers were special. Our homeroom teacher in 1955 was Catherine Simmons, later to be a Yates, and she was the kind of person who lit up a room when she entered.
Yeah, those were the days, my friend. Long before golf.
