Lone Oak High School
Class of 1966 Collection

Class of 66 - Big 4-oh! Reunion 2006

In the five years since our 35th reunion a lot has transpired. As announced Saturday night at the 35th, an effort was underway to honor our former principal John Robinson and in the interim period the effort had been quite successful. As part of that effort, for several years on the last weekend in September two fund raising events were held; a Friday golf tournament and a Saturday breakfast. The events had become an opportunity for a gathering of alumni from several years during John Robinson's tenure - now commonly called the "Robinson Years." The Class of 66 not only falls in that time frame, but several of the class were instrumental in the memorial, but that is another story for another page. If you want to know more, check out LoneOakAlumni.Org/jers.

So, along with other alumni, planned for September 29th and 30th, Reunion Weekend 2006 for the Class of 66 Big 4-Oh became a coordination of three separate events. Intended to work in conjunction with the John Robinson Scholarship Golf and Breakfast fundraisers, the Reunion also coincided with Paducah Main Street's annual BBQ-on-the-River Celebration to create a greater opportunity for all classmates attending. Those weekend opportunities had not been overlooked by other classes also planning class reunions. Thus the golf and breakfast events were a time of reunion for friends beyond our own Class of 66. Tied with all the events surrounding BBQ-on-the-River and other class reunions, meeting and convention facilities were hard to find for the reunion planners. But eventually all details were worked out to take advantage of the entire weekend of activities.

Beginning on Friday the 29th, golfing classmates and anyone else wanting to meet old friends from other classes joined the John Robinson Memorial Golf Tournament at Paxton Park. Friday night, after the golf scramble, our class held a very casual meet and greet pizza party at Rolling Hills Country Club. Then, Saturday morning at the Lone Oak High School Cafeteria, a community wide breakfast, held by the John Robinson Scholarship Committee, brought out classmates and friends from a number of classes and the community. Following the breakfast, Saturday morning and afternoon, everyone could enjoy the vit'ls & fixins of good ol' southern BBQ while meeting classmates at the Class of 66 tent located on the river bank in Schultz Park. Several of our classmates who couldn't attend the reunion were working long hours cooking and serving in the festival. Finally, Saturday night, a dinner and dance was held at the St Johns Knights of Columbus Hall south of Lone Oak. Along with good food, classmates were entertained by a DJ and dance, lots of memorabilia and a slideshow of old pictures. Forty-Four classmates attended one or both nights and many of the other events.

Unfortunately, the years between our last reunion and 2006 had not been kind to the Class of 66. In the five years since our last meeting, we had lost Joe Katzel, Phyllis Simons Broderdorp, Kenny O'Brien, Linda Elrod Grief, Mickey Koster, Bonnie Garrigus Willett, Bill Dalby and Linda Wallace O'Nan. Our "Remembrance" list was now up to fifteen classmates and a special time of remembrance was held on Saturday night. Our reunion committee certainly missed Bonnie and Phyllis who were instrumental to previous reunions. But pleased that Diana Whiteside Record stepped into the "room mother" shoes and kept us all focused. Thanks Diana!

Obvious from this reunion we had become part of the digital age, with numerous digital cameras, Reunion Weekend 2006 was probably the most photographed of all our reunions to date. Thanks to Phillip & Carla Barnett, Larry & Cheryl Heavrin, Dave & Brenda Osborne, Diana & Chuck Record, and Jean Marie & Jim Russell for sharing their pictures of the weekend. Pictures for the events are divided into 5 pages and can be accessed from the menu above. We hope you enjoy the memories from Reunion Weekend 2006. Those of us that attended certainly will.