150 attend GHS alumni banquet held May 25

The Class of 1969 was the honored host class for the Gallatin Alumni Banquet held May 25. They are pictured, front from left, Cheryl Searcy Wemhoff of Lincoln, NE, Barbara Tague Jackson of San Jose, CA, Pam Albrecht Stamper of Kearney, Pam Tate Palmer of Glendale, AZ, Mary Grace Brown Shields of Gilman City, Kathleen Maxwell Knapp of Ottawa, KS, Linda Huffman Primm of Ravenwood; second row, Neal Hoy of Yuma, AZ, Deb Fuller Dickey of Sun City, AZ, Kathy Parks Anderson of Hudson, MA, TeeDee Bird Ehly of Gallatin, Rita Lewing Weighill of Parkville, Cartha Tomlinson Sherman of St. Joseph; third row, Tony Meseberg of Liberty, Greg Macy of Gallatin, Ron Houghton of Lee’s Summit, Theresa Houghton Hathaway of Escondido, CA, Kay Trimm Woodruff of Gallatin, Terry Critten of Monroe City; back row, DJs Barry Hathaway of Escondido, CA, and Terry Harlow of Raymore. Not pictured, Junior Stith of Gallatin.By Kay Woodruff

“Nineteen six point nine – – in Gall – a – tin.  W – G H S in Gall – a – tin.”  If you were not at the GHS Alumni Banquet Saturday night, you do not have this radio jingle in your head.

Class of 1969 vice president, Kay Trimm Woodruff, welcomed alumni and thanked many who helped make the banquet a success, including Sharon Bird Lockridge ’67, alumni secretary/treasurer, and the FFA for assisting at meal time.

Cartha Tomlinson Sherman, Mary Grace Brown Shields, Pam Albrecht Stamper, and Rita Lewing Wemhoff had the tables decorated with brightly colored “flower power.”

The 50-years-out class entertained over 150 guests by “tuning in” to their radio program. The host class was pleased to have 22 classmates, of the 36 living, and 11 spouses, who came to celebrate.

Terry Critten, Monroe City, gave a memorial for the 10 deceased. Nine WWII veterans were proudly honored. Two of these ’69ers’ dads, Jub Tomlinson, class of 1940, and Dick Harlow ’39, were part of the group that started the alumni banquet 39 years ago.

DJs Barry Hathaway, Escondido, CA, and Terry Harlow, Kansas City, provided 1969 highlights, history, and humor with their announcing duties.

Following the pledge to our American flag, alumni sang the “before 1969” fight song, “fight ‘em bulldogs” (“On Wisconsin”) and the current one, “we’re Gallatin bulldogs, out of Missouri . . .” written by music teacher, Jim Aller about 1969.

Kathy Parks Anderson and Deb Fuller Dickey sang “Bless Us O Lord” for the invocation before the meal intermission.

A program sponsor commercial for the McDonald Tea Room was given by Cheryl Searcy Wemhoff, Omaha, NE, Gallatin Motor Company by daughter/sister, Pam Tate Palmer, Glendale, AZ, and Brylcreem by Barry with Ron and Judy Houghton, Kansas City.

Ron and Judy, as Sonny and Cher, entertained with “I Got You Babe.” Deb sang an “Ode To Medicare,” and Barry, of state music fame, sang “They Call the Wind Maria.”

TeeDee Bird Ehly assisted as each alumnus was introduced. Class attendance was:  1942-1, 1946-2, 1947-1, 1948-2; 1951-1, 1953-4, 1954-7, 1956-2, 1957-5, 1958-5, 1959-9; 1960-7, 1961-9, 1962-1, 1963-3, 1964-5, 1965-1, 1966-2, 1967-4, 1968-2, 1969-22; 1970-2, 1972-1, 1973-1, 1979-1, 1987-2, 1989-1, 1990-1, 1994-1.

Cheryl led a trivia contest about Gallatin in the last 50 years, between the classes of the “fabulous ‘40s” and the class of 1959 that resulted in the 60-years-out class winning “Smarties” candies and the ‘40s class getting “dumdums.”

Alumni scholarship recipients, Ceirra Redman, and her parents Jennifer and Dwight Redman ’89, and Savannah Riley and her mother Monica were introduced by Kathy.

Kay Woodruff gave the closing for classmates and friends with notes from a 1941 autograph book, “. . . down by the seashore carved in a rock, are three little words, forget-me-not.”

Shirley Fuller Palmatier spoke for her class of 1970 inviting alumni to next year’s banquet.

The W-GHS station 196.9 on the dial signed off singing “Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye now.”