Sunday, June 22, 2014

C.B. Adams Entertains Worth County Alumni Crowd

C.B. Adams spent his time as a successful businessman after serving his country in Vietnam. However, he showed at Sunday's Alumni Reunion that he had talent as an entertainer as well. He kept everyone rolling on the floor as he looked back at the 1960's. Adams and the rest of the Class of 1964 were honored for their 50th anniversary. The Class of 1954 was also honored.

At the start of his speech, C.B. quipped that he was invited to speak just so they could get him to come and that he was the first name on the list. The Class of 1959 was the first class which spent their time from 8th grade onwards at the new school. They grew up in one and two room schoolhouses around the county and then transitioned to High School in the new building, where Adams said that Rex Thrasher was always chasing them around for messing up his floor and Mrs. Parman was always very particular about penmanship. "She wanted us to draw a perfect circle with one stroke," he said. The Worth County Class of 1964 graduated 40, with five now deceased.

Adams noted a US News & World Report article that called the 1960's "the best of times and the worst of times." It was a decade of extremes that featured flower children, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassinations of King and the Kennedys, the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the Watts Riots, Woodstock, Vietnam, the man on the moon, and three Presidents. Adams' theory was that John Kennedy was shot because he was planning to pull the US out of Vietnam.

"I always thought the plateau was at the end of the hill," said Adams. But then, he said he realized that retirement involved sliding down the hill fast. "I've got more hair growing out of my ears and nose than my head," he said. He said that he was truly blessed with his wife, his sons, and his five daughters-in-law, who he sees as daughters. "If you had told me I was going to own a monument company, I would have thought you were crazy," he said.

There were 97 people present at the reunion; there were 71 alumni present and 26 guests. The oldest two people present were Victor Fletchall, Class of 1940 and Avis Parman, Class of 1941. The person who came from the farthest away was Becky (Dunfee) Parra, who came from St. Petersburg, FL to be at the reunion. The alumni committee took in $606 from the collection. There were 15 members and 11 spouses present as the Class of 1954 reunited. There were 24 class members present and 17 guests in Allendale at the Oldtowne as the Class of 1964 reunited. The highway patrolman stopped by and asked what they were doing. The Class of 1957 had a reunion at which they celebrated their 75th birthdays; 17 members were present.

The Alumni Association voted to increase scholarships from $200 to $250. Every year, they award scholarships to two Worth County students. This year, the scholarships went to Kristen Andrews and Stormy Sherer. Board members Mary Kay Hunt and Edith Miller were reappointed. 12 veterans were present; all of them were recognized.

The alumni directory is on sale for $15 each. Contact board members Carolyn Hardy, Helen Foster, Mary Kay Hunt, Edith Miller, Carol Kerwin, or Rosa Williams or trustees Clella Goodwin, Mary Carroll, Amy Garrett, Carmen Davidson, or Marvin Mercer if interested. Proceeds will be used for scholarships. This year, two new sections were added. A picture of the war memorial was added; eligible veterans or family members of eligible veterans who are left off the memorial can still contact Ralph Kobbe to get on. Over 40 names were recently added. A section on Glenn Miller and his time in Worth County, including a picture of him from when he was in 8th grade was added as well.

The people sang the old fight song, "Faithful and True Hearted" as played by the Worth County Community Band; many people still remembered the words at heart despite not having heard it for over 30 years. Worth County student Jacy Gabriel sang "Suds in the Bucket" and "Where the Boys Are."

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