2009
October 23 & 24, 2009
Committee Chairs
|
Honorary Chairman |
David Johnson, Class President |
|
Finance |
Jan Lyons, Shirley DeFoor, Pat Williams, Beatty Elliot & Mollie James |
| Publicatons |
Roger Sherman, Irene Vondrasek, Beatty Raymond and Paul Schiff |
| Decorations |
Shirley Defoor & Mollie James |
| Hugh’s Place | Rodney James (Friday evening) |
| Lone Palm |
Jan Lyons (Saturday evening) |
| DJ |
Jimmy Musso |
| Golf |
Randy Fields |
| Communications | Barbara Graddy & Beverly Tindle |
| Data Base & Website | Allan Davis |
| Name Tags | Allan Davis & James Elbon |
| Computer Slide Show | Ferrin Hicks |
| Reunion Website | Roger Sherman, Irene Vondrasek, Paul Schiff |
The Presidential Address
President David Johnson's Speech to the Class
Keynote Address
Lakeland High School Class of 1959
It has been said that a woman isn’t worthy of the name until her hair is flecked with a strand or two of silver. A man is but a callow youth until you can see his forehead…truly see his forehead! Based on that criteria, our room is certainly filled with real men and women tonight!On behalf of the entire reunion committee , it is my great honor to welcome you to our 50th. If any of you don’t know me – well, you’ve obviously been asleep for all the other reunion speeches I have made since 1959. And that’s ok – at our age, people naturally expect us to fall asleep in public.
Hopefully, I won’t doze off in the middle of my own speech!
Seriously, ladies and gentlemen – my name is David Johnson. I was elected class president in our senior year. And with no assistance from Acorn whatsoever! I have been honored to have held that position ever since. Now, being my kind of president doesn’t have any special perks attached to it. It certainly didn’t get me out of the occasional detention, back in ’59. Nowadays, I sincerely doubt that my exalted presidential position will win me a Nobel Peace Prize. On the flip side, I sincerely hope none of you will feel disposed to throw a shoe at me!
All I ask is just a few minutes of your time – to tell you how great it is to see the Class of 1959 once again. And to tell you how wonderful it is – to share your friendship and your fellowship one more time. And to revel in the memories of our youth. Looking forward to this event, I blew the dust off of the old yearbook and flipped through the fading pages. Gradually a trickle of memories became a river, and then a flood – a flood of pleasant recollections. Time has mercifully swept away any unpleasant ones.
Let me start this evening by musing over this funny number called 50. I’ve been doing a little research on 50. Turns out there also isn’t anything particularly special about it. 50 cents represents half a dollar – which won’t even buy you a candy bar these days. If a doctor gives a patient 50-50 odds…ah, that’s not so good. Route 50 is the name of the first highway that went coast to coast across America. It was named for the plan to bring the 50th State into the Union. Problem is…that highway only crosses about 13 of them. Why they didn’t just name it Route 13 is beyond me.
If you say you are number one or number two in a sport, that indeed is very special. If you are in the top 25, you even get ranked by the AP. But if you say you’re ranked in the top 50 – well…sorry, don’t expect any bowl invitations.
But when it comes to great milestones in the lives of ordinary people – the number 50 is huge. Turning 50 is a very special birthday, and we usually celebrate it with way more than cake and ice cream. A 50th anniversary represents a monumental event for a married couple. We frequently rent out banquet halls for that one. And a 50th Class Reunion – that is the one that always gets the most attention. That is the one everyone tries to get back for.
For those who left Lakeland High School in 1959 – this is our big day. This is our big milestone. Because 50 years ago, each of us walked out the doors of that venerable institution, to begin our own journeys in life. We were armed with good educations, provided by teachers who valued civic virtue over political correctness. We were imbued with down-to-earth values – taught to us by rock-solid parents who had seen this Nation through the Great Depression. And through the Second World War.
We were watched over by great community leaders - who ran our stores, our police station, and our VFW posts. They often knew us by our parents’ names. They referred to us as Tom Walker’s son, Joanne Smith’s daughter, John Franklin’s nephew. And so on. They kept an eye on us; they kept us out of trouble. They upheld the community’s interest in our well-being and in our future as future citizens.
But just as important as all those role models – we, the class of 1959, we had each other. And we could count on each other the same way we could count on our own brothers and sisters. On the gridiron, the baseball diamond or on the court, we were competitive – but we were teammates first and foremost. In our clubs, and in our societies, we pushed each other to succeed – but we never stabbed anyone in the back. At our parties, and at our dances, we always had a great time. And we pushed the limits – just enough. But we were also respectful of one another. We held high expectations for our own behavior.
I happen to believe that 1959 was a great year to be age 18. And to be young. Our Nation was at peace. And the postwar era had brought great prosperity. Unemployment held at about 5%, and inflation was almost nonexistent. Eisenhower was still in the White House. Walt Disney released his 16th animated film, Sleeping Beauty. Gigi won the Oscar for Best Picture. Mattel released a new doll by the name of Barbie. NASA introduced us to an astronaut by the name of John Glenn. Ingemar Johansson scored a 3rd round TKO over Floyd Patterson to win the World Heavyweight Championship. And - in a category that holds special meaning for the Class of ’59 - the aluminum beer can was invented that year by…
Hey, why not let our class expert in beer answer that one? Jimmy Musso, can you name who first invented the aluminum beer can?
Wrong answer! It was Adolph Coors of Coors Brewing in Golden, Colorado.
We also celebrated great advances in communications and technology in our commencement year. Many of us engaged in our own version of social networking. That was when we met each other for burgers and fries at the Pipkins and Clearview, danced at the Lakeland Youth Center or cuddled up at the Lakeland Drive In or Silver Moon. Others got their first personal computer. That would be Roger Sherman getting help form George Coward with his math homework. I am proud to say - my family bought one of Lakeland’s first Hi-Def televisions that year. Cause if you turned up the volume really high – you went deaf.
But if you were 18 in 1959, what you remember most of all was the music. Oh, who could forget the music? In January, Buddy Holly recorded his last songs, including the immortal "Peggy Sue Got Married". Bill Haley and His Comets revolutionized Rock and Roll with "Rock Around The Clock". Roy Orbison signed with Monumental Records. His best was yet to come. And Frank Sinatra topped them all with his signature album, "Come Dance with Me." And we were fortunate enough to have our own replica of Elvis.
And then – in June of that wonderful year, over 400 seniors from Lakeland High School parted ways. They hugged and shook hands. A few shed tears. Then they began their journeys in life. We all went off in different directions – we all had different paths to follow. A few started families right away. I know we have at least two classmates that have already celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Some went into the military – and a handful of our finest and bravest went on to distinguish themselves in the skies above Vietnam. Others joined their family businesses after graduation. They helped Lakeland to grow and to flourish over the years.
My own journey took me off to college at the University of Florida. Later, I earned a Masters Degree and settled into a job in Juvenile Corrections. I can honestly say that my career in Corrections was both the most rewarding – and the most heart-wrenching – experience of my entire life. Rewarding – because I helped turn around the lives of so many troubled American kids. Heart-wrenching – because I couldn’t turn them all around.
For every young kid I lost, I kept wishing over and over for the same thing. I wished they had been given the same amazing childhood that I had enjoyed in Lakeland. I wished they had known the same parents – who had managed so well to pair unconditional love with uncompromising expectations. I wished they had known the same teachers and coaches- who were dedicated to instilling not just a love of learning, but also a love of virtue. We are honored to have Coach Jim Miller and Coach Earl Stokes with us tonight.
And I wish they had known the same classmates – and had shared the same level of camaraderie, of loyalty, and of mutual respect that they shared with me. I recognize that lenses always get rosier when you age. I know the past – my past – was a bit more challenging than I remember. But I sincerely wish that more kids could have grown up in the Lakeland of my youth. And graduated from a high school class that produced so many outstanding citizens.
Now…it is time for El Presidente to get off his soap box. I want to extend my most sincere gratitude to the reunion committee – whose tireless efforts have produced our best reunion ever. And I want to thank every member of the Class of ’59 for turning out this evening. In the immortal words of Buddy Holly: I’ve got a soft place in my heart for you. And the memories you’ve given me – no one will ever know. – Thank you.
Photos from the 50th.
Allan & Annette
Barbara & Howard Hart
A few photos from Paul Schiff
Beatty & David
Paul, Roger & Ricky, the "Hang Ten" skit
Our Winning Team together again!!
From Sunday's Brunch
Some Pics from Eddie Neal
And a few from Barbara (Richter) Skrosky
Barbara & Roger (disguised as Lauren Bacall and Vincent Price)
Bobby & Rebecca Schwartz (disguised as 40 year olds)
David, Ralph and Bernie (as themselves)
Jan and Beverly (imagining the rest of the room naked)
Mollie & Rodney
Coach Stokes changing Roger's 9th Grade report card. Now straight A's!
Roger giveing out his door prizes ....... or.....Roger just buys too much stuff!