The registration of 469 persons was the largest ever and included folks from all the county high schools. Registrants spanned several decades. Mary Parsons Dickens of the Class of 1932 was the most senior attendee. The youngest attendee was Haley Williams, 2008 graduate of OCHS. Trey Harden, 2007 graduate of North Oconee High School was the first NOHS grad to attend.

AVOC

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June 29, 2008

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OCHS Class of 58 Hosts 2008 Oconee Alumni Banquet on June 28, 2008

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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The Oconee County Civic Center is location of OCHSSA annual Alumni Banquets

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Approximately 450 persons attended the 2008 Oconee County High Schools Alumni Association Banquet on June 29, 2008 at the Oconee County Civic Center.The registration of 469 persons was the largest ever and included folks from all the county high schools.Registrants spanned several decades.Mary Parsons Dickens of the Class of 1932 was the most senior attendee.    The youngest attendee was Haley Williams, 2008 graduate of OCHS.   Trey Harden, 2007 graduate of North Oconee High School was the first NOHS grad to attend.

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Darrell Huckaby, humorist and author, was the Speaker.Darrell grew up in the mill village of Porterdale and has a deep appreciation of Southern Life in the 1940’s and 50’s.   The audience could well identify with that era.   Huckaby was a popular speaker and really entertained the crowd.  Huckaby is a big UGA supporter and announced UGA VI’s death to the group.

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Food was catered by A BoKay by JoAnn, JoAnn Middlebrooks Morgan, OCHS Class of 1956, who grew up in Farmington.   She is the sister of Nancy Middlebrooks McCart, a member of the Class of 58.   The menu was southern oriented and was very popular with the attendees.

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The Class of 58 had 59 graduates.   The alumni banquet was attended by 27 members out of 49 living Classmates.   The ten deceased members were recognized in a memorial candle lighting service and their relatives were recognized.  

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Carolyn Wheeler Family standing during candlelight memorial service 

The Class of 58 was close and has remained close over the years, holding annual reunions.  Two members, Keith Barnett and Elizabeth Miller Bradberry, were recognized with plaques acknowledging perfect and faithful attendance at all of the 50 reunions.

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The next Alumni Banquet will be at the Civic Center on June 27, 2009.It will be hosted by the OCHS Class of 1959.

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            DECEASED MEMBERS – OCHS Class of ’58

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OCHSSA Alumni Banquet 2008

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The OCHS Class of 1958

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The Class of ’58 had 59 graduates who walked the aisle of the Oconee County High School Cafetorium (Mars Hill Road) on Monday, June 1, 1958.Graduates had come from Bogart, Watkinsville, Farmington, Bishop and Carrithers Grammar Schools to form the second graduating class of the new Oconee County High School on Mars Hill Road.

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Many had attended Watkinsville and Bogart Schools for ten years of their lives.Many were part of the last Sophomore Classes at Bogart & Watkinsville.A number participated in athletics which was mainly Boys and Girls Basketball Teams and Boys baseball.   Games were played in the old Gyms at Watkinsville and Bogart on an alternating basis.   A number were excellent students who went onto college and graduate school

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Many graduates had known each other most of their lives and had formed lifetime bonds.   Several have held public office, been active in Civic and Business matters and have become successful citizens.In those days, many attended churches with other members.

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The Class of 58 started holding annual reunions on the first anniversary of graduation in June 1959.   The first was a picnic held at Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville.Others were held at Harris Shoals Park and at least two at Charlie Williams Pinecrest Lodge.   The Watkinsville Community Center, Bogart Community Center and the Farmington Community Center have been the sites of many of the reunions.Some have been at restaurants- particularly in later years when “covered dishes” and “Pot Luck” dinners have fell out of favor with our “Medicare Age” group.

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We have lost ten members to death.   The Class has remembered them all with Flowers and memorial gifts.   Their individual loss has been similar to a death of a relative.The Class continues to correspond, visit sick members, and attend services for relatives of Class Members.

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The Class of ’58 was the largest ever to graduate from an Oconee County High School at the time.   It is a small class compared to more recent years.   However, the smallness of the Class, Senior Trips and working to raise money for the Senior Trips and ballgames all worked together to cement lifetime relationships.We are all richer for the experience.

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Living Oconee County High School graduates attended one of six high schools.

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NORTH OCONEE HIGH SCHOOL - Highway 53 at Rocky Branch Road ca 2004

OCHS Highway 53 @ Union Church Road 1993

OCHS Mars Hill Road 1956-1993

ED STROUD HIGH SCHOOL 1956-69

BOGART HIGH SCHOOL Ca 40’s

WATKINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ca 1940

               OCHS Alumni Reunion Banquet

                                             Oconee County Civic Center

                                                       June 28, 2008

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                               PROGRAM

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5:30                 Reception and Socializing                             

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                           Seating of Alumni and Guests                Class of ’58 Members

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                          Music                                                                         Mildred Williams, OCHS Class of 36   

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6:00                Welcome                                                                 Wendell Dawson, President

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                           Pledge of Allegiance                                        Led by Cecil Hammond

                          Invocation                                                              Cecil Hammond

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6:15                Dinner                                                                         JoAnn Morgan

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7:00                Roll Call of Classes                                           Elizabeth M. Bradberry

                        Classes should stand when called

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                        Introduce Speaker                                              Wendell Dawson

                        Darrell Huckaby     

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                                                Special Recognitions   

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                        Teachers                                                        Jimmy Christopher

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                Deceased Classmates                                  Charles Dooley &

                                                                                             Emily Hammond Reynolds

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Person traveling the longest distance                      David Vaughn

Earliest Class Represented                         

Most Recent Class Represented

First Reservation Received

Largest Class in Attendance           

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                        OCHSAA, Inc. Business                                                   Larry Weatherford, President

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                        Transfer of Records                                                          Wendell Dawson

                         to Class of ‘59  

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                     Adjourn until Saturday, June 27, 2009.

                    Next year's host will be the Class of 1959

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If you know of any changes of addresses, please contact either Charles Ivie, 76 Jackson Street, Watkinsville, Georgia 30677, 706-769-5848 orMartha Sally White Malcolm, 1561 Green Ferry Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677 706-769-6165orJune Hardigree McKenzie, 3131 Rocky Branch Road # 250, Bogart, Georgia 30622 706-546-1927

            Also:

                Susan Crawford Hansford

1091 Maple Lane

Watkinsville, Georgia 30677

706-769-6207

susanhansford@gmail.com