1st Qtr 2004


NHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION	*1st Quarter 2004*

Special Interest Articles:

Page 2 REUNIONS!

Page 3 FFA Team 8th in
             Nation

Page 3 Calvin Lane Field
             House Dedication

Page 4 Class of 1948
             Reunion Photos

REUNION 2005!
The next
All-school reunion
will be held
September 30 and
October 1 and 2, 2005
Homecoming game
vs. Seneca

Have Alumni News?
Send information to:
NHS Alumni Assn.
Attn: Tammy Franks
PO Box 400
Neosho, MO 64850

Homecoming 2004
September 24, 2004
NHS vs. Branson

Alumni Spotlight
This quarter's Alumni Spotlight features Meg Nisbet Smith ('40).The following article by Meg, highlights her fascinating life experiences. During the years of "The Great Depression" the Nisbet/McBee family took part in the community activities offered by Neosho's service organizations that sponsored Easter Sunrise Services, May Festivals, Band Concerts, Community Sings and the annual Harvest Show. The example of those civic-minded volunteers served as inspiration for my own community involvement in every city in which I lived, after graduating NHS in 1940. Our widowed mother, June Nisbet, had six children and little money for frills, so early on my siblings and I found whatever jobs were available. Half-sister, Ulema McBee, sold tickets in the Orpheum theater where my sister, Juanita, brother, Louie and I spent our Saturday afternoons. Hugh Gardner's movie emporium created a magical world of beautiful people living in palatial mansions. In 1938, 20th Century Fox came to Noel, MO to film "Jesse James," starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda as the notorious outlaws. Juanita found work as a waitress Shadow	Lake and quickly became a favorite of cast and crew quartered along the shores of that beautiful resort. Encouraged by that movie's director to become an actress, my beautiful sister changed her name to Carmen and followed the movie company to California, where she signed on as Jane Russell's stand-in and formed a lifelong friendship with one of Hollywood's legendary sex symbols. In 1940, I also traveled to "La La Land" that promised oranges from backyard trees and fulfillment of dreams. One of my dreams became reality when I landed a job at RKO Studios. My mid-west genes served me well, as within weeks, I knew most of that studio's workers, from secretaries in the front offices to the construction workers on the back lot. I delivered scripts to producers, directors, writers and actors in their private dressing rooms. One of those actors changed my life. Cary Grant overheard me trying to bluff my way onto the set of "None But The Lonely Heart," by telling the guard at the stage door that I was Mr. Grant's special messenger. My ridiculous bravado struck a chord with that screen idol and from that time forward, he proceeded to groom me in good manners as a model and at an actress. I wore the latest	fashion as he escorted me to the opera, lectures, and the finest restaurants where I learned that 'vichyssoise' is just another name for cold potato soup! That classic actor's tutelage gave me the courage to establish four community theaters, train Red Cross instructors to teach handicapped children to swim and most recently work with at-risk, disenfranchised teens who, without intervention, would end up as members of street gangs. In 1950, after marrying photographer Tom Smith, I encouraged our sons to strive for their goals but give back to their communities. The legacy of Cary Grant and community volunteers from "The Flower Box City" is in good hands!

Reunions 2004

Class of 1954
October 2, 2004
Ruth Ann Wilson
417.451.0049
Fred Clark
417.451.0036

Class of 1959
Oct 8, 9 & 10, 2004
Judy Bright Franks
417.451.3414
Pat Balay Strecker
417.887.7864

Class of 1963 & 1964
September 18, 2004
Judy Nichols Day
417.451.0429
Steve Briggs
417.451.1040
Tom Higdon
417.451.1040
Roger Link
417.451.3893

Class of 1984
June 4 and 5, 2004
www.84wildcats.net
Susan Day Elledge
417.451.3634
Jim Cummins
417.451.1025

Class of 1994
June 19, 2004
Johan Bunch
417.364.8922
Aaron Dobbs Willis
417.451.7003

Remember the Black & Gold this Tax Season

Looking for a tax deduction?
A gift to your favorite program may be the answer!

The Neosho R-5 After School Program has been organized to provide FREE supervision for elementary and middle school children that reside in the Neosho School District. The program assists in improving student's academic performance and their personal and family well-being and is designed to provide a structured, yet fun environment that motivates students to learn beyond the normal school day. The children receive snacks, tutoring, study time, recreation, and scholastic- and interest-based activities.

Membership forms for the NHS Booster Club are now available on the NHS Alumni's web-site, www.neoshoalumni.org. As a result of the State of Missouri's funding cuts, this organization has stepped up to offer financial assistance with many sporting events this year.

Neosho Schools Charitable Foundation accepts tax-deductible gifts, while you designate the use for the funds.

Neosho School Charitable Foundation
511 S. Neosho Blvd., Neosho, MO 64850

Condolences

Violet Veerkamp Conrad, '26 Bettie Stauffer, '31 Florene Jackson Rouse, '39 Catherine Mills Bryant, '41 James Burch, '41 Carmen Coffey, '41 LaVerne Hubbard, '42 Jerry Cushman, '43 Jack Wood, '43 Giles Derwood Carnes, '45 Shirley FitzJohn Ayers, '46	Roy E. Kenney, '48 James Burch, '49 Patricia Adams Stewart, '52 Delmar Cook, '57 George Gibson, '57 Charlotte Anderson Dickey, '59 Jack Vandergriff, '60 Dick Fenton, '63 Randy Burns, '64 Jane Carrick Persinger, '64 Jack John England, '64 Mike Conness, '73
Mrs. Doris Burch, 99, died on October 26, 2003. Mrs. Burch graduated from NHS in 1923, worked for the school district for 16 years and in 1979 was awarded the first Neosho School System Friend of Education Award.	Dr. Donald Pogue, 69, died on November 3, 2003. Dr. Pogue had served on the Neosho R-5 School Board for seven years. He was currently president of the Neosho School District Building Corporation and a founding board member of the Neosho R-5 School Charitable Foundation.

NHS FFA Dairy Team is 8th in the Nation !

The Neosho FFA Dairy Team placed eighth in the nation at the National FFA Convention, held in Louisville, Ky. Pictured from left are Mike Aldrich, Mike Wilson, Chantz Bales, Jordan Davis, Janon Durbin, Kassie Conner, and Rob Kolb. The team was one of 46 teams participating in the FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event. COURTESY PHOTO / FFA DAIRY TEAM

Calvin Lane Field House - Home of the Wildcats

The dedication of the field house, to be known hereafter as the "Calvin Lane Field House - Home of the Wildcats" was a great success. The outside of the field house needed some work before dedicating it to Coach Lane. The concrete blocks were sandblasted, filled and painted. The stone was cleaned of rust and the mortar was repaired. All of the windows and doors that had been closed up were repaired and painted. A sign was made to match "Bob Anderson Stadium" sign at the football field. This is a gold sign with black lettering, to keep with the school colors of black and gold. It's a beautiful sign and was placed on the south wall of the field house. A bronze plaque, purchased by the NHS Alumni Association, was placed beside entry on the north side. The high school art department painted silhouettes of different sports figures on the outside concrete walls. I know many of the former football players and NHS grads were present for the dedication and have seen the sign. If you haven't had the opportunity to see it, please drive by sometime. The cost of the project was $5,500. Approximately $3,000 has been received to date. We would appreciate any and all contributions towards the project. Checks may be made payable to: Neosho R-5 School Charitable Trust Foundation and mailed to NHS, Attn: Alumni Association, 511 S. Neosho Blvd., Neosho, MO 64850
	Neosho School Board President Roger Wagner (Class of '71) Coach Calvin Lane State Senator Gary Nodler (Class of '68) State Representative Kevin Wilson (Class of '76)

PO Box 400
Neosho, MO 64850

E-Mail Address:

alumnicommittee@
neoshoalumni.org

We're on the Web!
See us at:
www.neoshoalumni.org

About Our Organization
The NHS Alumni Association is a not-for-profit organization formed to promote unity and goodwill between Neosho High School graduates. Said organization shall exist to provide accessible information concerning Neosho High School and its graduates to other members, to raise revenue for community based Alumni Association activities and to fund raise for the provision of scholarships for future Neosho High School graduates.