Barnesville Alums Gather, Renew Friendships
Graduates BHS and their guests gathered at the high school on July 12 to reminisce about their school days and lives since.
Legendary football coach Tom Harp, 97, who practically grew up on Main Street at his parents’ business, Harp’s Restaurant, set the tone for the evening providing a lighthearted review of his high school days.
He and fellow classmate Jean Palmer Davies, who also attended, graduated in 1945, 80 years ago!
Harp wrapped up his humorous presentation recalling and reciting by memory a long-lost BHS cheer!
Also providing colorful commentaries were Tom Timmons, class of 1970, and Joe Mayhugh, class of 1985.
Other class speakers were
- Dr. Richard Skinner, class of 1955
- Sue Nesbitt Hoover, class of 1960
- George Chappell, class of 1965
- Dr. Sam Hunkler, class of 1975
- Keith Decker and Kelly Bell, class of 1980
- Dawn Ackerman, class of 1990
- And Kristina Schurle Estle, class of 2005
Malcomb Spence excelled as master of ceremonies for the third consecutive year. Again, he asked if any attendees attended school where there were no students with the surname Carpenter. And for the third time, no hands were raised!
Rev. Steve Smith ’76 provided the invocation and benediction for the evening while 1959 grad Virginia Myers Bell led the group in singing the alma mater.
Longtime banquet committee members Lou Ann Swallie, Rita Ann Hall and Polly Sawvel were thanked and praised for their work behind the scenes.
Two Inducted into Hall of Fame
Since 1984, a special highlight of the banquet is the induction of alumni who have excelled in their personal and professional lives.
This year’s inductees were Daniel Harp Plumly, class of 1971, an attorney and civic leader in his adopted home of Wooster, OH, and Samuel Lee Reynolds, class of 1975, currently a resident of Knoxville, TN, where he severs as CEO and president of a firm in the plastics industry.
Reynolds, who also marked his 50th reunion as a 1975 graduate, was present and provided comments on the ins and outs of growing in Barnesville, and his life since.
Plumly, who was not available to attend the induction ceremony, was represented by Cam Cameron, his cousin, who said the two were “like brothers”.
Full biographies on both inductees are currently posted on Barnesville Area News here.
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