'38-'39 Swan Song

Stevens: 'It is our swan song'

BY TODD G. HIGDON
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
The Neosho High School classes of 1938 and 1939 had the opportunity to gather Friday as they celebrated their class reunion.

Even though it was happy time to see everyone, it was also sad time.

"We discussed that a little bit and I did not get any opposition, we feel like this is our swan song," said Bill Stevens, class of 1938. "Because it is getting difficult for all of us with age of getting around in. We are going to close it out."

Ten classmates converged at the NHS library conference room for lunch, and to look at photographs which evoked fond memories.

"I was not an athlete, but I was friends with most of the guys on the athletic team," Stevens added. "I had about a half dozen close friends. We did things socially together and I am the last survivor of that group."

Stevens was involved in classes such as science.

"Actually , I am a scientist by career, that would be my first choice on what I enjoyed in classes," said Stevens.

Like his fellow classmates, he enjoys coming back to these reunions.

"I have made most of them through the .years," said Stevens. "We met prImarIly every five years and then we had a big whoopee to do on the 25th, which I djstinctly remember."

Stevens's graduating class numbered 112 and they attended what has become known as Greystone Apartments, the former Internediate School.

Looking at some of the old photographs of the high school and the classmates, Fredine Haddock, class of 1939, told about what these reunions do for her.

"Memories. We were the first class to have graduation at the Neosho Municipal Auditorium," Haddock said. "It had just been built. We were the 50th class to graduate from Neosho High School. We also had our prom there. We walked to school, we had a noon lunch period, and the kids went home, except for kids that lived in the country. There were three school buses (which serviced the district). We were just a friendly bunch of people, and our activities were our church."

As the classmates walked out of the library, emotions were seen and memories would last a lifetime.