Guest Blogger: Charles Henry

Charles Henry will emcee Saturday Night at the Country Club. He is today's guest blogger.

Fifty years! How can it have been fifty years since we walked the halls of Richmond Academy? After just looking in the mirror, I now believe it. What a cathartic opportunity we have the first and second of May! I realize those of you who live in Augusta may feel very much at home, but to those of us “out-of-towners”, it will be different returning to the familiar named streets that no longer look like they did fifty years ago.

Speaking of the reunion, it is to be quite an event. And, if you have not planned to attend there will be some very disappointed people who are traveling to Augusta in hopes of seeing literally everyone again. I cannot imagine anyone living in the area not attending.

There will be some surprises and many a smile. I even heard there would be some music reminiscent of 1959. There are a lot of people working doubly hard to make this a memorable event for everyone. Sure hope to see you there!

Charles Henry

Answering Questions!

Here are some of the answers. Hope they help. If there are other questions, use the comment box and we will try to answer them here.

• Concerning the costs. The $75 covers Friday Night BBQ with cash bar; Saturday visit to the school; Saturday Night Buffet with cash bar and the Reunion Book. If there are two of you, you may have two books -- give one to a friend from another class.

The one-price Canal Interpretive Center and the Canal Cruise and Saturday lunch are not included.

Send $22 for the book ONLY if you are NOT coming!

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• Deadlines.
  
• The reservation deadline is April 1st. Save Harry and Butch a little trauma by sending yours in now.
  

Call an old friend and make it a foursome or a twosome. (We heard there might be make-out music.)

• The "soft" deadline (isn't that a funny term?!) has passed for the Reunion Book submissions. Now that we have enough to begin the preparation for the printer, we will gladly take others and additional materials for a few more weeks.

Once we are finished, to quote my grandchildren -- "Too bad!" -- so send it in NOW!


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• The Host Hotel. These rates have been arranged at the Partridge Inn on Walton Way $109 for a superior king, queen or double queen room, $119 for a suite, and $129 for a balcony. When calling, please reference: Richmond Academy"s 50th Class Reunion.

This link will take you directly to the booking website: Reservations

The Partridge Inn Website is here.

----------------------------------- more later. . . .

We have had a couple of people offer extra bedroom space. If you'd like to stay with someone or if you have space to share, please let me know. email me at <>

Photo of the Confederate Monument on Broad Street

Regrettable Notes + 2

I have heard from a few people who are not planning to come on October 20th. Thought I'd share with you. Okay, so Louis's is not a 'regrets" but I just love his sig line. By the way, I deliberately left off the girl's married names here.
AAB

(New -10/16 ) Annette,
I am sorry to be so late in sending this regret, I just returned home from a 2 week
period of setting up a Seniors retirement home in Pawleys Island SC. This is my
line of work. I have so much to catch up on at home that this weekend is out for
me, however I am looking forward to the big reunion next. Hope all goes well, Dolly Fortson Adams

(New - 10/16) Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the Class Reunion... I will be in Chicago on those dates, working with a charitable organization...perhaps all of you should get involved...Best, Mary Lehman

I want to send my regrets as my nephew is getting married in North Carolina on that date. I will certainly miss you all and look forward to next year.

Betty Love

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Rae Brown called to say that she will be leaving on the 20th for a fabulous cruise, but that she will miss us all.

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Lydia Wammock: Count me out on the BBQ. I wish I could come, but my college roommate and I are facilitating a workshop on grief at my church on that day.

Have fun and give my best to all!
Lydia
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(the) BBQs . . . conflict with my annual mountain biking trip to Bryson City, NC - as Tom Petty says "never slow down, never grow old" - my motto!

Herb Clark

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OK, (check) will be in the mail and on the way.

Thanks,

--
Louis Linson

From spammers and hackers,
And viruses beastly
And things that go beep in the night,
May The Good Lord protect us.

---

50th Reunion Report

Tuesday night, the air seemed a little cooler after our days of triple digit temps. But maybe it just always seems to be cooler down by the river at Butch and Jackie's house. Butch presided over the hamburger grill and classmates visited in groups on the grass. On the inside, plates and bowls of goodies filled the serving counter and other folks gathered in the air conditioning.

There were a few complaints, "My mouth won't fit this burger." seemed to be the main one.

It was time for the meeting to begin. Heh heh. Just wanted to point out that planning a 50th Reunion is not always just hard work!




Janice Johnson Dixon and Frank Stafford reported on the research for locations.












They did a great job of offering options for both a casual event and more formal evening and will pursue a couple of venues.



Co-chairs Butch Murdoch and Harry Pund tried to keep us in line as we discussed the thoughtful suggestions sent in by Dan Miller, possibilities for this historic weekend and options for a full schedule. Janice Johnson Dixon, Janice Keel Helton and I will develop an agenda which can be discussed in blocks of time. So get ready for a fabulous ARC weekend in 2009 -- probably late April.

In the photos, I hope you will also spot, Mike and Jane Bass Moxley, Fred Fidler, Eddie Glover Tanner, Ron and Louise Colvin, Annette James and her friend, Mary Gahnz Usher, Robert and Judy Little Murphy, Don and Norma Patterson, Robert Dixon, and Diane Pund .

The next meeting will not be until December, but we have lots to do until then.

More Time to Mail Survey

Butch Murdoch's workshop has been the meeting space for the '59 Reunion committee. It's a great space, but lots of work for Butch and Jackie to rearrange, set up tables and be prepared with something cooking on the grill. Committee members bring along extras and the meal makes the planning for the reunion even more fun.

Yesterday, Butch called to say that they have a family commitment and will need to change the date of the meeting. Now we will meet on August 21 at 7:00 to discuss where our 50th Reunion will be . . . and a few dozen other things.

So if you haven't answered the questions about reunion preferences on the newsletter survey and mailed them back to Harry Pund, you have a few more days!

We'll look for a sunset like this one which I saw on the drive out one evening.

We might even talk about a few old classmates.

On Track to the Fiftieth!

Last night a few members of the planning committee for our fiftieth reunion met in Butch (Alvia) Murdoch's workshop. It's a fascinating place where it's difficult to tell if he is a wood worker, an auto restorer, an antique buff, a collector of fireman memorabilia . . . . but that's another story.

After exploring the workshop and eating hotdogs cooked by Butch and Jackie with other goodies by everyone else, the group settled down to discuss what needs to be done to get ready for the reunion in 2009. The dynamics in the group were interesting to watch as everyone felt their way through the events of the 45th and analyzed stuff to keep and stuff to change.

Since Don Patterson has stepped down, Harry Pund agreed to join Butch as co-chairman.

In the end, it was decided to get input from class members through a survey in the next newsletter to see what everyone would like to do.

Don will put this together, but it will include questions such as:
When it should be --
Spring, summer, fall.

What it should be --
A stand alone event or on the weekend of the Lost in the Fifties Barbecue.
Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night or just one event.
Casual, formal, in between or both.

Where it should be --
Julian Smith Casino, Old Government House, Old Richmond Hotel, The Boathouse, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, and assorted Country Clubs.

I suspect some decisions will have to be made on what is available and how many others come to join the committee to do some of the work.

Frank Stafford will work with Janice Johnson Dixon to explore locations and will make some recommendations based on rental and other costs, catering requirements and best type of event for the venue.

There is a lot of work ahead, but the group seems up to the challenge. I also spotted these folks around the tables --

Judy Little Murphey
Charles and Judy Hunnicutt Johnson
Eddie Glover Tanner
Mike and Jane Bass Moxley
Judy Kent Huff
Janice Keel Helton
and the spouses --
Jackie Murdoch
Robert Murphey
Norma Patterson
Dianne Pund
Robert Dixon

We're on Track to A Great Celebration!!
Facelifts, diets, hair plugs and new wardrobes.
There's so little time and lots to do!

Dusting off the Rolls for the 50th

When you start thinking of a 50th Reunion, you think there is lots of time. After all, we can't be THA-A-AT old!!

Suddenly, the time is slipping up and the committee hasn't met for a while. There are concerns. Names and addresses are all set in Mary's computer, but wait! Several have retired and moved and no one knows where. There needs to be a new meeting place, maybe a few new committee members. . . . What to do?

So. . . Judy has sent an email that there will be a meeting at Butch's house on June 21. Stay tuned.

Ideas or comments are welcome on this blog.