It was a hot and sultry night. Thank goodness
for air conditioned auditoriums and being from a small
school with small graduating classes.
The Program was short, though we all thought it went
on forever! We were just hours away from being free.
Hours away from being what we thought were adults. (If we
only knew then what we know now.)
Sam Johnson presided. Remember him? Our illustrious
principal with the strange plants growing in his
office?
Miss Greta Bass was our pianist. She played the
marches that brought us into the auditorium and allowed
us to leave again.
Randy "Prez" Russell, our class Commander-in-Chief,
gave the Invocation. The Daingerfield High Choir sang "No
Man Is An Island" and "The Halls of Ivy" under the
direction of Mrs. Royce Hogg.
Wayne "Brain" Haynes gave the Salutatory address,
which was followed by David "Lips" Lanagan playing a
Trumpet Solo. Carolyn Hanson accompanied him.
Madron Justiss then gave the Valedictory address,
encouraging us into the future with that soft,
always-calm voice of hers. (And she became a TEACHER
didn't she? With that soft, sweet voice??)
Sam Johnson then presented the Candidates for
Scholarships after which J. D. Parrish handed out our
Diplomas.
With those blessed pieces of paper in hand, we all
sang the Alma Mater, led by Richard "the Innocent"
Lee.
Steve "Skip-out" Skipper, who was President of the
Student Council, then gave the Benediction and amid
shouts of glory and squeals of glee, the Class of 1971
became a thing of lore as we added a new chapter in the
ever-growing History of Daingerfield High School.
What a night!
What a Class!
What true joy!
...
(And, yeah, what a bunch of Who-ee!)
To be sure you get in on the next reunion, stay in
touch!!