The 1964 Class of Morgan County High School gathered Sat., April 26, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their high-school graduation.

The day’s festivities began with a morning tour of Hartselle High School, where the group was greeted by current school principal Jeff Hyche and guided through the school by members of the ambassadors service organization.

Afterwards, class members and their guests met at the former Burleson Elementary School, now the Hartselle Fine Arts Center, for a “mix and mingle hour” with lively conversation and light appetizers. Decorations in the meeting room included red and white floral arrangements created by Diane Fowler. Among the guests was Mary Entrekin Rodgers, who was an instructor during high school years of the class. Bill Halbrooks welcomed attendees, and Butch Waldrop led in prayer preceding the buffet meal, which was catered by Freight House Restaurant.

The first portion of the program was a “Call to Honor and Remembrance” that recognized the 22 classmates who have passed since graduation. Ray Collins announced the name of each deceased class member, one at a time, followed by the ringing of a bell. Mary Jane Collins oversaw the lighting of a white candle, which was then placed beside a red rose in honor of that classmate. After-wards, individual members of the reunion committee related a memory concerning one of the class members who had passed. Remarks included humorous anecdotes, as well as moving comments about friendships that had been shared.

Those remembered were Gary Bentley, Charles Boster, Melba Cannon Jones, Linda Crow Stark, Melvin Curnel, Diane Reynolds Foster, Judy Harvel Williams, Molly Giles, Nancy Herbert Haggamaker, Tommy Hobbie, Jerry Don Green, Larry Morgan, Ray McCowan, Tommy Nor-man, Larry Norwood, Pam Sams Porter, Danny Rollins, Fred Speake, Mike Stephenson, Kenneth Stockton, Carolyn Oakes Whitten and Nina McAbee Wallace.

The second half of the program was a video and oral presentation by David Burleson, who traced the evolvement of the educational process in Hartselle and Morgan County. It was historically informative, occasionally humorous and consistently interesting.

Reunion committee members included co-chairmen Diane Steverson Fowler and Emlie Burgess Carroll, along with Butch Waldrop, Sandra Lawrence VInzant, Bill Halbrooks, Carol Patterson Jarrett, Ray Collins, Mary Jane Proctor Collins, Wayne White, and Edwin Black. Others enjoying the event were Judy Midyette Bailey, Carol Blackwood Lee, Maxine Ballew Franklin, Wendell and Trish Blankenship, Carolyn Black (wife of Edwin), James Carroll (husband of Emlie), Freddie Glasgow, Buddy and Janice Glasscock, Kenith Vinzant (husband of Sandra), Faye Legg, Sarah Looney Gupton, Shirley Cain Stupia, Paige Maxwell McRight, Paul and Susan Parker, Paulette Rouse Lane, Mike Simpson and sister, Karon Howard, Ronnie Fowler (husband of Diane), Junior and Martha Sullins, Doug and Marilyn Summers, Edwina Cox Tapscott, Pat Waldrop (wife of Butch), Kathy Warren Lindsey, Dottie White (wife of Wayne), Mike and Jennifer Wiggins, Lewis and Megan Wright, Shirley Slaten Rabens, and Pearl and Lloyd McCarley.

After a closing prayer, the class sang the “Alma Mater” of Morgan County High School, and dispersed with fond memories of laughter, faces and, a few times, tears that touched their hearts.