2009-11-05

Recount of Medina High School Homecoming

Contributed

Alumni from throughout the area and members of the honored classes from 1940 and all the years ending in zero through 2000 enjoyed the Medina School Homecoming on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24. Festivities began with the football game and the coronation and introduction of the 2009 royalty on Friday night.

At 10 am on Saturday, a colorful parade delighted the crowd. After the parade, everyone congregated at the school’s bus barn for carnival events, food and drinks, as well as for visiting old friends and meeting new ones.

The honored classes participated in the parade with members of the Class of 1940 riding in a pretty white Cadillac chauffeured by Tony Watson, son-in-law of Oneida Taylor Gallant. Other classmates accompanying her were Elizabeth Walters Boehle of Hondo and Gertrude Whitehead Krienke of San Antonio.

Members of the class of 1950 followed in a pick-up driven by Allen Ross of Fredericksburg, the husband of Valentine Bonnet Ross. Accompanying her were Elizabeth Mickelsen James of Bandera and Elva Reed Keeling of Medina, and her pretty little great-granddaughter, Adelaide, who tossed candy to the spectators.

Prior to the Alumni Program at 1:30 pm in the school cafetorium, members of the honored classes met in classrooms to visit, share news of other classmates and peruse old annuals, pictures and copies of the Beehive, the school newspaper published in the 1940s and 1950s. Oneida Taylor Gallant of Medina and Gertrude Whitehead Krienke were the only Medina graduates from 1940 who attended the Alumni Program. Elizabeth Walters Boehle was unable to be present during the afternoon. Mrs. Gallant was joined by her daughter, Marilyn Watson of Medina, and two of Mrs. Krienke’s daughters were also present.

At the meeting of the class of 1950, Elva, Valentine and Elizabeth were joined by classmate Loma Smith Gabrielson, who was unable to attend the program due to the illness of her husband, Dean Gabrielson.

Principal Dale Nauman, who served as master of ceremonies for the Alumni Program, welcomed everyone, as did Mary Rizzi, president of the Medina School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society. Rousing cheers and welcome followed the introduction of the current MHS cheerleaders. Former cheerleaders who attended were invited to join them in giving cheers.

Gertrude Whitehead Krienke, who was wearing a beautiful red and white corsage with streamers, had served as a cheerleader during her school days. Along with other former cheerleaders, she participated in the cheers. The Medina School colors were red and white in 1940 before later being changed to blue and gold.

At the Alumni Program, Oneida Taylor Gallant and Gertrude Whitehead Krienke, representing the Class of 1940, gave brief resumes of their lives and families.

Members unable to attend were Doris Miller Hinds, who resides in the Houston area, and Charles Avery of Arizona. Roy Nelson Jr., Doris Hogan and Buford Baker could not be contacted.

Deceased class members included Fred Whisenhunt, Lela Porter Whisenhunt, Winston Morris, Leslie Mayfield, Lila Mayfield Lister, Fina Johnson Barrer, Virginia Miller Sill, Ella Wheeler Calloway, B. Walker Childs, Fred Burch, Warren Morris and Sybil Adams.

Present from the Class of 1950 were Valentine Bonnet Ross, Elva Reed Keeling and Elizabeth Mickelsen James. Those unable to attend were James Logan Adams of Little River; Cecil Robert “Bob” George of Yucca Valley, California; and Charlsie Mae Walker Porter of Utopia. All sent greetings and their regrets at being unable to attend their 60th year class reunion. Deceased members of the class wre LH Dean, Walter Flowers, and Jack Walters, who all honorably served their country during the Korean War soon after graduation.