42 Attend Sheridan Alumni Reunion

42 people attended the Sheridan Alumni Reunion Sunday afternoon. The event was moved to the Sheridan Christian Church due to the deterioration of the Schoolhouse building. Minister Jeff Blaine led the gathering in prayer and noted that Sheridan High School grad Clyde Rickabaugh did many of the paintings and sculptures which are part of the church.
Warren Lester was the oldest grad present, from the class of 1942. There were two people from the Class of 1944, Jim Aldrich, a retired professor living in Kingsville, TX and Margaret Aldrich, who has retired from teaching after teaching 6th grade for 33 years.
Among other people recognized were Marilyn Findley (1950), Russell Findley (1947), and Jim Ridge, along with wife Alice, who farms by Isadora. “I never got away from Worth County,” he said.
Glenn Dukes and wife Donna were present; they were from the class of 1953 and they came all the way from Apache Junction, AZ.
Sonny Beasley, Class of 1954, was present; he is a regular at these reunions. Darlene Runyon (1955) was present as was Ruth Ann Minor, who because a speech pathologist. Gary Larison (1955) was the farthest away, from Brandenton, FL, south of Tampa.
Among others recognized were Sally Risser Beasley, Allyn & Carol Young, and Ivalee Risser Johnson, who farms northwest of Sheridan. Arvin Cossins (1961) and wife Eloise (1961) were there; Arvin is retired from the Missouri Highway Patrol as well as the Cass County Sheriff’s Department. “I’ve been following Arvin around all this time,” said Eloise.
Sharon Fletchall (1961) was recognized as well as Larry Hibbs, who described himself as a “paid tourist.” Shirley Winemiller (1961) is the president of the Alumni Association and is currently living in Bedford. Barbara (Cossins) Carlock (1963) was recognized; she is now living in Albany.
Among the more recent Sheridan High School grads were Duane Hammer (1965), David Parman (1965), Sarah Cossins (1966), Henry Dell Rowen (1966), Jay Sanders (1966), and Doug Allee, the youngster of the gathering, having graduated in 1975.
Marking the 65th anniversary of their graduation was the Class of 1947, which received special recognition at the event. Among those present was Joyce Dowis Chambers of Maryville. “There were not very many girls ‘cause the boys ran us all off,” she quipped. Chambers ran the theater for a while and recalled that none of the kids had cars back in those days except for Charles Dukes; she recalled riding one day on the fender of his 1939 Chevy. Lavelle Hibbs, Eldon Hart, and Alvin Batt, who drove from Arlington, TX, were also there.
Among the 42 present, 16 had served in the military, including Eldon Hart, who later worked in the aircraft industry before buying his present farm west of Sheridan in 1961.
The main goals of the Alumni Association are to get the photos out of the old school building and to make copies for people who want them. Mayor Leland Wake reported that the city was trying to get a clear title to some land before construction of the new community building started.
There was a tie vote on whether to cater or whether to have everyone bring their own dishes like previously; Winemiller broke the tie by saying that they would cater for one year and that if it didn’t work out, they would go back.
Winemiller was reelected as President of the Alumni Association; Jay Sanders was Vice President, and Ivalee Johnson was secretary and treasurer.