THE POMPANO BEACH HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1956
50th Class Reunion
Spring 2006

Friday April 28th, Saturday April 29th & Sunday April 30th Pompano Beach, Florida

Well, the "Big One" is now history!!! It was a grand affair, attended by no less than 38 of our esteemed classmates. The 3-day event has been eloquently summarized by John Richard Haddick in the following manner:

"It was a terrific south Florida Spring weekend; cooler than warm, sunny, low humidity, brisk ocean breeze, and the reason for the assembly, the half-century reunion of students at Pompano Beach High School, epoch56, with spouses and supporters contributing not only a heightened degree of excitement, but also poignant nostalgia. A fifty year reunion generally only comes around once for the individuals of any select group and those who participated confirmed why the significance of what we folk shared is core to the character of each one.

Besides the Florida location there were some definite reasons the gathering was good. The classic southern hospitality of Betty Jean and Denny McNab and Shirley and Jim Farris who opened their lovely homes to the horde of visitors (possibly defined more accurately as invaders) was warm and generous, certainly confirming the truth of the label: GRITS; Girls Raised In The South, as providing the highest levels of class and grace.

Both used the same caterer who changed food themes but nonetheless still managed to repeatedly test everyone’s personal discipline and resolve. It was best to surrender early and just stuff away.

Making the reunion planning group his mission “of the year” Spencer Bates delivered a lifetime of energy to identify, locate, contact, cajole, persuade, reason and convince what became 97 out of 100 (who took ‘tween class strolls under the Spanish verandas of the old school building during those innocent years before hard rock corrupted us all) to consider attending the function. Assisting him when not world traveling were Betty Jean McNab, Carol Ann Mott, Bruce Mulvaney [emerging web meister], Gary Morton and Bo Giddens. Initially envisioned as a short cruise, this idea ran aground but in so doing provided opportunities to meet and explore what otherwise might not have been available if out at sea.

The turn-out was good. Nearly a dozen and a half missed this event as they’ve gone on ahead to begin pre-planning the 100th reunion. They were remembered, each, by others, in special ways.

Many others are in combat with microbes within the elements surrounding this planet and could not travel comfortably. Our prayers were offered that their recovery is such they can enjoy the marvels of today’s world.

Some few felt the changes over fifty years precluded maintaining links that may, in fact, have been dormant for much or all of the intervening time. Had you only been with us for a moment back then, the time spent on recall only expanded with the interest of passing years.

Have there been changes? Oh Lord, yes, and thanks be to heaven that there has been. I find it so much more rewarding to now be much wiser than I was, then, smart! Other differences: gasoline is now ten times as much as it was then, age is now a tad over four times greater than then, speed is only about a third as fast which means I get to actually “see” more and appreciate what I see over a longer period. The fenders, doors, hood, and trunk are the same color as the rest of my car. I don’t require the back seat as I now have my own home.

Most all (MY!) landmarks between south Hollywood and Ft. Pierce are gone or buried within new structural growth. Some exceptions; the Crown liquor store north of Pompano on the east side of US 1 is still there. Flaming Pit is still serving, and as I observed, it seems to the same folk who visited there fifty years ago!

Carol Ann, Betty Jean and Shirley had a bunch of large poster board displays covered with photos of snarky-looking guys and wide eyed girls, some of whom then showed up on reunion DVD’s walking around some of the same places as in the still photos! Who’d ah thunk it!

Speaking of DVD’s, whether you attended or not, if you have a computer that plays DVD’s just let Betty Jean know you want one…it will be provided. Not everyone in the class has email and only those who do are herein addressed (most as “bcc” to protect the innocent) so it will be up to each of you to reach out and touch a “snail mail” classmate and share this message with them.

Why should “you” do that? Because, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t escape the fact that once we were all in it together and you just can’t shake that off or make it disappear."

Sincerely,
John Richard Haddick
Vienna, Virginia

Pictures taken Friday evening as the guests arrived at Betty Jean's April 28, 2006

Pictures taken in downtown Pompano and group photos Sat. night April 29, 2006

Pictures taken Friday evening at Betty Jean's (group photos) April 28, 2006

Pictures taken in downtown Pompano April 29, 2006

Pictures taken Saturday evening at Shirley's April 29, 2006

Pictures taken mostly Sunday morning at Betty Jean's and some miscellaneous pics April 30, 2006

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