Block Reunion 2010 Smiles, Tears, and Stories...

Saturday, April 10, 2010 - David W. Ryan

Saturday’s Block Reunion 2010 did not have the splash of the two previous five year reunions be it because of funerals, Dirt Drags, an early morning shower, or whatever the reason only about 300 people gathered at the Block Gym; but what a time those 300 had.

At the assembly to start the day off, Mr. Jack Colclasure went through, one by one, all the classes starting with the 30s. As the years rolled by and two or three stood politely with a smattering of applause for each class; the 1986 class would have none of that and with the largest contingency for one class hollered “Go Bears!”

I didn’t see a lot of folks that I knew and/or hadn’t seen in a while with one notable exception of Wayne Bryant (’79). Although a mountain of man, Wayne had always been a kind and gentle soul with a great sense of humor and could pull pranks with the best of them.

He elaborated on one such prank that recently backfired on him.

On one of his recent trips up from Franklin, La., where he now lives with his wife, Rhonda, and their two children, he played a round of scramble golf with him and Ronnie Swayze against his dad, James, and Buzz Scott.

Playing at the Natchez public course on one of the par fours, Wayne smokes one onto the green. As he and Ronnie leave James and Buzz “chipping through the fairway” they make it to the green; have a few more celebratory high fives, fist pumps, and no doubt a few words to the duo still in the fairway.

Finally they turn their attention to finding the ball on the green but it is nowhere to be found. Perhaps, it struck them, the ball rolled just over the green into some thick pampas grass. Hmmmm…moments later as the chippers make their approach to the green – still no ball.

At this point Wayne does what he usually does when he can’t find his ball. He reaches in his pants pocket and every so non-chantantly drops another ball into play.

Finally it is time to putt and Ronnie has the honor, so Wayne, still talking a little trash, walks over to pull the flag and out pops his X-out ball from the cup.

Wayne Bryant who had been playing golf for 10 plus years had hit a hole-in-one; or did he? The questions flew at Wayne about how did this happen? Not even Ronnie could save him on this one. And when it looked like Wayne would be drowned out by James and Buzz, Wayne’s voice stood out the loudest “Okay, I cheated but that is my ball!”

So let it go down in the history books that Wayne Bryant, a virtual golf novice, has indeed accomplished every golfer’s dream of a hole-in-one.

Oh yes, I have one last note on Wayne which might become even more exciting in the future. Although Wayne prefers not to jinx it I suppose by telling you exactly what it is, he has come up with an idea that most everyone who has ever held a video camera will love to own.

He has his patent for the device and they’re in the process of final engineering for the project. So if all goes right you could see this product on one of the shopping networks, in commercials, or even infomercials by the summer.

I can’t tell you what it is yet, but I can tell you I will be one of the first people to have one.

So simple an idea; why didn’t I think of that!

After the assembly I’m watching for impromptu hugs, handshakes, ear-to-ear smiles, when this lady comes up to me and sorrowfully says: “I wish they had asked who had come the furthest for the reunion. We came from Colorado.”

That lady turns out to be Mrs. Jean Cagle Landry (’64) and her husband Clyde.

“He’s not from here but at least he had the good sense to marry a girl from Block,” she said with firm laugh as Clyde readily agreed while she pulled him next to her. Nothing was going to stop Mrs. Jean from enjoying this day – was it Clyde?

I would have one more chance encounter with Mrs. Jean in the memorabilia room.

But for now at least I was back to scanning the gym and snapping pictures when Rex “Bandman” McCargar caught my eye. You know, he is like Superman but on this day he has a larger following.

Rex McCargar came to Block High School fresh out of Northeast Louisiana (yes, yes I know ULM) in the summer of 1978. A bit of a self-proclaimed hippie, Rex interviewed with Superintendent of Schools, at the time, Kelly Breithaupt and former Block principal Ladelle Sandifer; and still got the job.

So with his one month old son, Jason, and wife Joyce in tow, the McCargars settled in to make their home in Jonesville. Add a girl, Stacy two years later and the McCargar’s family seemed complete until January 1981 when Rex was diagnosed with cancer.

“People don’t realize sometimes just how much this community meant to me and my family during that time and to this day,” Rex explains as he looks through pictures in the memorabilia room from this time in his life including some from the hospital bed.

“You’ve heard the story, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ well theses people right here were my village,” Rex said as he lifted out his arms to the many former students surrounding him. “These folks and their parents literally raised my two children during this time. You have no idea how thankful we were to have these people in our lives.”

The mutual admiration society has been going strong ever since.

The main reason I tracked Rex down was actually to finish an interview we started on facebook in November. That young boy, Jason, which the village folks of Jonesville had help raise, had been awarded the Bronze Star. I had all the background information but needed a response from Rex to finish the piece.

When I asked him via facebook what it felt like to watch your son be awarded the Bronze Star, his only response was “YIPPEE!” That should tell you more than you wanted to know about Bandman.

“I mean what can you say. The goosebumps, just thinking about it and I’m having Goosebumps again. Your speechless,” Rex continued to try and explain that feeling from December 28th.

“There is really no way to describe it. You are just filled with so much pride. That’s my boy getting the Bronze Star. It’s surreal.”

I have everything now to complete the story on Jason so look for it over the week.

After talking to Rex and mostly just getting in the way of his many adoring fans, I overheard Yolanda McClure talk about her dad while holding up this child’s jacket. It was among the many Block Award and Club jackets lining this white lattice wall.

When she said it was her dad’s, Grover Elliot (’60), it peaked my interest because Mr. Grover is not that small of a man.

Yolanda said it was his freshman FFA jacket. Looked like a size nothing and she noted his 10 year old grandson, Jackson would not fit in the thing.

She then moved over and held up his football jacket. It was a little bigger. She then told me not only was he a pretty tough 120 pound football player but also played in the band.

Care to guess the instrument? How could you have known a tuba?

“The tuba was so much bigger than him that his brother, Clifford, would have to help at times with the tuba,” Yolanda said a great laugh. “Can you imagine that?”

I just imagine that image and having a brother six years older made Mr. Grover one tough football player at 120 pounds and playing a tuba in the band.

Besides the three varying jackets, here is an interesting note about Mr. Grover and his family. All four of his children, Yolanda (’80), Gay Stockman (’81), Lenora Schmidt (’86), and Wayne (’91) all graduated from Block. To date all his grandchildren have graduated from Block.

Of course Mr. Grover and his beautiful wife Mrs. Gladys still live in the Jonesville area. Need more families like this to keep Block High School going for another 100 years.

Speaking of 100 years, I wanted to throw out this tidbit before I forgot.

How many of you know that Block High School will celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 2016? That might be a good time to hold the next five year reunion (although it would technically be six years).

I also wonder if every 10 years would not be better because of the tremendous amount of work by the Committee to get everything scheduled and done. Just a thought on paper.

But I digress from this year’s moments.

Made my way over to the cafeteria for the Teachers, Administration Social around 2 PM and there were a few names from the past; Mrs. Helen Riley, Principal Cobby White, Mrs. Janis Aplin, and Principal Mary Jo Williams. Lots of laughs and plenty of pictures being taken.

I even had some fun when they started to cut the beautiful, two-tiered Reunion Cake. I waited until they had cut several slices and placed them on small plastic plates.  I ran up to Ms. Lana Taunton and said, “Wait, Wait! I need to take a picture of the cake before you start serving it.” I was convincing too!

She looked at me with one puzzled look on her face and no explanation. She was so speechless. I started to see pain come across her face and couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. You know I almost got the first piece of that cake – all over my face.

But it wasn’t long until the Royalty of Block High School made it on the scene; Mr. Ike Robertson.

As soon as he came through the door the 90 year old Mr. Ike was greeted by some past students including Frankie Schneider who apparently asked a question in German. Well, that’s all Mr. Ike needed to hear as he did not miss a beat for the next two minutes speaking to Frankie, Sheriff James Glen Kelly and Jeff McClure in perfect German. He had run off and left Frankie and what German he knew and Jeff and James were just lost but laughing uncontrollably.

What a wonderful moment.

There were many such stories throughout the day. I saw lots of hugs, broad smiles, and heard many laughs. Believe it or not, I saw a lot of love and respect.

The mystery of the day will remain the low turnout when 4-500 folks via facebook or preregistering claimed to be coming. I hope for the next one in either 2015 or 2016 it is attended like the first one when it seemed there were a couple thousand.

Keep in mind something I have to remind myself for every event like this. While I don’t care for going to such reunions there can be a lot of people come a long way just to see YOU!

Verda Moseley Mophett ('48) helps her classmate get registered.

Is Mrs. Carolyn Huffman holding a future Block Alumni, her grandson Conner Vercher?

The pranks have already started as Robert Swayze (right) tries to help these classmates take a group shot.

Plenty of smiles, laughter, and hugs like this one from Anna Wilson ('76) and her English teacher Ms. Helen Riley.

All the way from Lake Charles, Mister Edwards', two beautiful daughters PJ and Andie.

Current Band Director David Jodan (center) is joined by Mrs. Sue Sandifer for a discussion with former Block Band Director Rex McCargar and his wife Joyce.

Sonja ('83) and Keith Caviness ('77) enjoyed going through the old photos albums in the Memorabilia Room.

One of the most beloved and enduring figures in Block High School history -- Mabel the Skelton -- took a break. (By the way Block is a Tobacco Free School Mabel)

Joseph Davis ('06) looks over all the championship stuff from the 1960s table.

The Bear was the hit of the reunion with lots and lots of photos. Here are the Jackson gilrs, Syble Slattar Jackson ('72), Opal Jackson Paul ('69), with Wanda Mills, and Jean Cagle Landry ('64), and Lois Jackson Boothe ('66).

They were lined up taking pictures with the Bear as photographers lined across the front to take pictures.

"Bandman" Rex McCargar shares a moment with two of his favorite band members Joni Ford Davis ('81) and Gay Elliott (Perkins) Stockman ('81).

Grover Elliott's ('60) three Block jackets the Band (from left), FFA, and Football.

Frankie Schneider ('60) enjoys lots of hugs and kisses from his granddaughter 21 month old Kinsley McCrory.

Two of the three Swayze girls, Katie ('03) and Becky ('95), helped their mother Susie, Reunion Committee Chair, organize and run the event. (Mollie helped out too!) Thanks girls...

The three amigas, Renae Kelly, Susie Swayze, and Lana Taunton. An opportunity to laugh never escapes these women.

Shpreck-en zee doytch? Frankie Schneider (right) asked Mr. Ike a question in German and the 90 year old Mr. Ike took off speaking perfect German for the next few minutes. Jeff McClure (center) was stuck in the middle while Sheriff James Glen Kelly (left) and Frankie are eating it up.

Rachel Briethaupt and Norma White where having a discussion while in the background "Bandman" (left) and Principal Cobby White are enterained by former math whiz teacher Janis Aplin.

Anna Wilson ('76) (left with the big bite of cake in her mouth) listens as Linda Neal ('82) stops in mid-sentence for this photo.

Ms. Hester Wilson ('34) (left), and Lucille Smith ('48) enjoy a great discussion at the Teachers' Social.

Buzz Scott ('68)) has a big laugh at one of Mr. Ike's ('38) many anecdotes.

Looking back: Former Principals Cobby White (left) and Mary Jo Williams talk a little history of the school with Mr. Ike.

A Few Shots from the Robby Swayze Collection

The Gangs all here: Eric (from left) Katie, Rex, Joyce, Becky, Buzz, Theresa, and Pam.

Sean Taylor, Cobby White, Robby Swayze

Cobby White and Susie Swazye

Janis Aplin and Robby

Eric Little, Katie Swazye, Rex McCargar, Allison Daigneault, Robby Swayze

The Boys are hungry: Sean, Eric, and Robby.

Do you have a few photos you would like to share. Send them to us info@catahoulalife.com