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Clockwise from at left: Evelyn Miller-Avery and Viola Millender, NHS class of '66, traveled together from their homes in Kansas City to leave their artwork behind on Reunion Hill; Jodene Eaglebarger-Strafford, class of '72, and her once high-school sweetheart Don Ely, class of '73, sat atop the hill Saturday afternoon and reminisced through old photographs; Neosho alums fill the hallways of their alma mater before the start of the All-School Reunion banquet; Ricarda DeAnda, 17, was crowned the 2002 Homecoming Queen for Neosho High. Her escort was senior Cameron Rhone, fullback for NHS. DAILY NEWS / MICHELLE PIPPIN; BUZZ BALL; JOSH KING
ON THE BALL

By BUZZ BALL, editor

Here's to the Black and the Gold

The Black and the Gold have been abundant this weekend as more than 500 Neosho High School alumni have graced our community with their presence.

Because of prior commitments, I could not be at the majority of the activities. But I did attend the All-School banquet Saturday night and saw several of my old Classmates - Kathy Lentz, Tim Stafford, Ralph Cooley, Larry Reed, Pris Jeffers, Mike Shockley, etc.

Notice I am using the ladies' maiden names because that is how I know them. That is an easy way of saying I don't remember all their married names.

What is great is that it's like we have never been apart. We just started talking where we left off last. That is what makes good friendships.

The halls of Neosho High School have been the breeding grounds of thousands of long-lasting friendships. Neosho is known for being a great place in which to raise a family, primarily because of the great school district.

A very touching moment at the banquet came when we all sang the school song. Leading us was the author of the song, Emery Prater, class of 1929. And on the piano was Vi Conrad, class of 1926.

What a duo!!

I think we sang the school song only twice while I went to high school. And that is a shame because it is so good. Following are words of The Black and The Gold.

Here's to the black and the gold;
The colors we hold so dear;
The loyal sons of Neosho High
Salute them from year to year.

So, here's to the black and the gold;
From dawn to the dark of night.
May the flag of dear old Neosho waive
The black and the gold so bright.

What a School!!

Reunion a big hit

Alums gather to paint, reminisce


By MICHELLE PIPPIN, Daily News staff writer

Reunion Hill became all the more colorful Saturday afternoon as Neosho High School Alumni painted their names and graduating years.

Among them were Jodene Eaglebarger-Stafford, class of '72, and Don Ely, class of '73. The two sat atop the hill, looking through photo albums and reminiscing about their days together at Neosho High School.

"We were sweethearts. I beat out all these other guys," said Don, pointing at class photos in the albums.

"I was engaged three times before I finally got married, but Don was the last one before I finally took the plunge," admitted Jodene.

The couple sat beside their artwork, with many friends from long ago edging them to recall things like prom night and mischievous acts they had all once performed. Jodene traveled from Florence, Ala., and Don from Memphis, Tenn., for the A1l-School Reunion.

Mary Dean Thogmartin-Williams and Patsy Smith DeVoe, both class of '60, painted and shared stories of their first attempt to paint the hill, all those years ago.

"We did this in the middle the night the ast time," said Patsy.

"We had to run and hide when the cops came," added Mary.

Mary and Patsy shared their painted space with Mary's daughter, Sheri Speak, class of '82. They talked about the wild crowd that gathered for the class of '62's reunion in 2000, and warned they'd be back in 2005 to paint the hill again, though they speculated they'd add sneaky energy back into the next time by doing it in the middle of the night, under the cloak of darkness.

Evelyn Miller-Avery and Viola Millender, both class of '66, expressed their artistic aptitude with an American flag and Wildcat face in their space on Reunion Hill. The pair said they were friends in school because the students were seated in alphabetical order and therefore, could hardly escape one another.

Nevertheless, Evelyn and Viola both relocated to Kansas City and are close friends still today.

In deed, the once black-top colored Sherman Road, is now a myriad of colors, a rainbow that stretches far behind Neosho High School, as classmates of long ago came together Saturday afternoon to leave their once forgotten legacies of mischief and rebellion behind just one more time.

Duard and Chris Scott, along with Eva Mathis-Smith, all class of 1940, and Eva's younger sister, Ann Robbins, class of '47, gathered on Neosho's downtown square Saturday afternoon in the All-School Reunion's mini reunions, only missing their good friend Meg Omega Nisbet-Smith who regrettably could not make the journey from California. DAILY NEWS / MICHELLE PIPPIN

Friends Forever

Pals gather to recall classmate in California

By MICHELLE PIPPIN, Daily News staff writer

Literally hundreds of people gathered on Neosho's downtown square Saturday afternoon for the All-School Reunion's mini reunions.

Arguably, it was the largest crowd the square has seen in a number of years.

Among them were Neosho alumni from every grade, starting in the 1930s, leading all the way up to last year, the class of 2001.

Almost as important to those that were among the many, were those who could not make the journey, including Mrs. Meg Omega Nisbet-Smith, class of 1940, who now resides in Santa Monica, Calif. Meg's friends were on the square however, and they couldn't have been more sorry she couldn't be there with them.

"Oh, I'm really close with Meg," said her childhood friend, Eva Mathis-Smith, who came down this weekend from Bartlesville, Okla. "I've known Meg since the seventh grade. She and I, and two of our other friends, Chris Scott and May Jean Messer, all four dated the same boy. We were all seeing John Stretch Jr., the preacher's son, and he drove a little yellow convertible. Oh my, we were so uptown."

Eva explained, the late John Stretch eventually married one of the ladies, the late May Jean Messer. Everyone else went their separate ways, including Meg and her sister, Juanita E Nisbet, to Hollywood.

"Oh, we were all going to Hollywood, you know," said Eva. "Meg and Juanita actually made it though. They both worked as messengers in a big film studio. Why, Juanita even worked as Jane Russell's stand-in."

Gone their separate ways perhaps, but the three surviving of the foursome are still close friends. Chris and her husband Duard Scott drove down from Independence,Mo., for the weekend and have enjoyed every moment of their visit with Eva and others they attended school with. But everyone does wish Meg could have made it, though they understand why she couldn't.

"I was really looking forward to it, but I couldn't leave my 84-year-old husband for the five days it would have took to travel back and forth, and then return to find that he has found another woman, younger than my 79 years, slimmer, better looking and a gourmet cook," said Meg Omega Nisbet-Smith. "I just couldn't take the chance."

Although Meg only grew up in Neosho, what a momentous event that was for her. She is greatly sorry to have missed the All-School Reunion.

"My growing years, living in Neosho, are very meaningful for me," she explained. "The friendships formed and the warmth of the townspeople have sustained me through my adult life and provided the foundation of my volunteerism in the places that I have lived since moving to California after graduation in June 1940.

"I still have memories of the Harvest Show around the Square," continued Meg down memory lane. "Singing in the Children's Choir for Easter Sunrise Services on the hillside of Big Spring Park and later, hunting Easter Eggs in the Neosho Heights; performing folk dances, taught to us by Margaret McGinty, and winding maypoles with colorful streamers during the annual May Festival. And of course, learning to swim in the wading pool donated to the city by Mr. Reed.

"In this world of terrorism and computer-generated society, I am warmed by the thought that there is still one place where people care for their community," Meg said in her own thoughtfulness. "Neosho was, and still is a city comprised of volunteers who dedicated themselves to improve and beautify, not only their city but the people who inhabit it. I cherish the time that I lived there and have tried to emulate the people that enhanced my childhood through their actions. My life has been truly blessed as a former resident of the Flower Box City. So, 'here's to the Black and the Gold,' from a proud grad who wishes she could have been there."

Stories © The Neosho Daily News
Used With Permission