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Gladewater Former Students’ Association A TEXAS NOT-FOR-PROFIT DEDICATED TO GHS ALUMNI

P.O. Box 1425, Gladewater, TX 75647 Phone/Fax: 903-845-2631 Email: ghsalums@suddenlinkmail.com

www.gladewaterformerstudents.com

A Message from GFSA President, John Paul Tallent ’62:

What a great team of workers we have! The GFSA directors, associate directors, and members have pitched

in to make this a successful year. Attendance has been good at all events, participation has been at an all-

time high, and enthusiasm has been super. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

We have some exciting events coming up. It is always an honor to host the Globe Scholars for the GHS Senior

Class. Just seeing and meeting these young people inspires me to leave a legacy for them – to keep our

association active and exciting for them to be a part of in the future.

How I look forward to the Senior Awards Assembly. Our association has hosted a cake and punch reception

following this program for the past couple of years and it has been a big success.

The students at GHS have now seen an active association at these and other events. Let’s keep it that way!

For those former students who are planning a class reunion, please consider coming to the All-School Reunion

in September. This weekend can be a part of your reunion events, with your own class get-togethers on Friday

night, and then join the other classes for both noon and Saturday events, which includes meals,

entertainment, and awards.

A big thank you to all of you who have been involved in keeping the GFSA productive, fun-filled, and active!

JPT ‘62

2015 GFSA Officers &

Directors elected at the

January Board meeting

Standing (l-r): John Paul

Tallent ’62, President; Mark

Armstrong ’84, Director;

Cathy Phillips Shipp ’65,

Treasurer; Steve Scurlock

’68, Parliamentarian; Mike

Formby ’64, Vice President;

and Dale Lange ’69, Building

Manager. Seated (l-r) are

Cheryl Moore Copeland ’69,

Director; Lois Lindsey Reed

’66, Corresponding

Secretary; Shirley Elliott

Willett ’68, Recording

Secretary. Not present for

photo were Directors Larry

Clemens ‘68 and Paula Jones

Smith ’62.

GFSA Valentine Celebration

Love was in the air for a large group of Gladewater former students and their guests during a Valentine

party on February 9. Beautiful decorations, delicious dinner, and a variety of entertainment made for an

enjoyable evening.

After a buffet dinner, two Kilgore College Rangerettes spoke to the group. Leslie Rowe, a GHS graduate,

thanked the association for the scholarship she received and of her future educational plans. Leslie’s

roommate, Arianna Sandoval, told the audience of the celebrations being observed this year to mark the

75th anniversary of the Rangerettes, including a trip to Scotland and Ireland planned for March. Both girls

are sophomores at KC.

Laughter followed when three couples were chosen to participate in the Not So Newlywed Game.

Cheryl & Rex Copeland, Paula & James Smith, and Jane & Doyle Dougan entertained the audience

with some hilarious answers to some questions to see who really knew their mate best.

Afterwards, door prizes were presented by GFSA president John Paul Tallent who thanked his directors

with candy and bouquets of roses to show his appreciation. He also presented a rose to all the ladies who

attended the party.

DECEMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY

A festive Christmas party was held in December. After

dinner, guests sang along with GFSA’s favorite DJ, Dale

Cummings (Mr. C), as he sang a variety of Christmas

songs. The group then enjoyed playing the gift exchange

game.

Thanks,

Paula!

Director

Paula Jones

Smith and

husband

James help

with the party

cleanup

duties.

The GFSA Veterans’ Memorial site continues to

be improved. Currently, the mural on the east wall

is getting a new coat of paint. Volunteers from the

GHS art department are working on the wall as time

(and weather) permits. One of the busiest workers

has been a former student, Tiffani Gibson Branch.

Tiffani was the primary painter of the mural back in

2002, when the site was first established. She said

that she feels so much pride when she drives by the

memorial and just wants it to remain beautiful.

Thank you, Tiffani!

JOIN THE FUN! THE GFSA SPORTING CLAY SHOOT FUNDRAISER!

SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISER! Entry Forms are on our website. Grab a shooting partner or two and come out to Prairie Creek Ranch on May 30th for a great day of fundraising for your alumni association! And if you don’t shoot, come out and enjoy the fun-filled day with old friends! Plans have gone well for the Annual Sporting Clay Shoot to be held at the Prairie Creek Ranch, Gladewater on May 30th, 2015. The committee began work on this project months ago and is very excited about the support already generated from our community of friends and former students. For more information, call our building 903-845-2631 and leave your contact information and we will get back with you and answer your questions. Also, keep a watch on our website for updates and information. Don’t shoot? Then why not purchase a raffle ticket! Who knows? You may be the winner of one of our prizes! Raffle tickets are available from any board member and are available online. The GFSA would like to recognize and thank the following donors for raffle items:

Cathy & Glenn Shipp, Shipp’s Marine, BOAT RAFFLE 2014 Weldbilt boat & Mid-American trailer

Blane & John Linder, GUN RAFFLE Beretta A-300 Outlander 12-guage shotgun

Beverly & John Paul Tallent, TV RAFFLE Sony BRAVIA 48” LED, 1080p, 60 Hz Smart HDTV

Class of 1964 Apple IPad Air

The GFSA War Veterans’ Memorial continues to be improved. Currently, the mural on

the east wall is getting a new coat of paint.

Volunteers from the GHS art department are

working on the wall as time (and weather) permits.

One of the busiest workers has been a former

student, Tiffani Gibson Branch. Tiffani was the

primary painter of the mural back in 2002, when

the site was first established. She said that she

feels so much pride when she drives by the

memorial and just wants it to remain beautiful.

Thank You, Tiffani!

SAVE THE DATE – September 26, 2015! All-School Reunion “Celebrating the Spirit of the 60’s”

will be hosted by the 50th Reunion Class of 1965 and creative plans by this class to make this reunion a

fantastic reunion have been in the making for months! The reunion will be a one-day celebration with

two events scheduled. The day will begin with a “Meet & Greet Coffee” at 10 AM followed by the

“Forever Orange & Black” Outstanding Alumni catered luncheon from 11 – 1:00. Then, the 50th Class

invites alumni to return in the evening for a lively “Spirit of the 60’s” Dinner & Dance. Additional

information about the reunion will be included in the next newsletter.

OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD An Outstanding Alumni Award was established as the highest

honor given to Alumni by the Gladewater Former Students Association. This award honors Gladewater Alumni who

are locally, nationally or internationally recognized for their contributions to their professions, communities, and/or

their demonstrated commitment to Gladewater ISD and its mission. If you would like to make a nomination for the

2015 award, visit our website to download a nomination form. Complete and mail to GFSA, P.O, Box 1425,

Gladewater, TX 75647. Forms must be received no later than June 30, 2015.

“We’ll be great while we are alive, Senior Class of ‘65”

Helen Adams Thomas, Class of ‘39 David Knotts, Class of ‘42

Lewis Shepperd, Class of ‘48 Oliver Sorrells, Class of ‘58 Clifton Smith, Class of ‘59

Mary Wells Carmody, Class of ‘60 William “Pudgy” Anderson, Class of ‘62

Danny Van Houten, Class of ‘62 Jimmy Louvier, Class of ‘66 Paul Reynolds, Class of ‘68

Sue Clifton Moore, Class of ‘71 Dr. George Robert “Trey” Hugman III, Class of ‘73

and Marilyn Godfrey, GISD Music Teacher

CRUISING WITH THE CLASS OF ‘62 are classmates &

friends pictured above - Barbara Brooking Henderson,

Glenda Nixon Gentry, Bretta Henry Tipton, Loretta

Blear Mitchell, Jimmy & Evelyn Krumm Strickland, Betty

Jean Stegall Thomas, Beverly & John Paul Tallent, James

& Paula Jones Smith, Jay & Elane Rose Osteen, Tony &

Shirley Black Strong, and Mike & Jane Morrison

Reynolds. One member reported “On the third night

out the "1962 Legends" ENTERTAINED at the Rome

Lounge with one of their skits from the 2012 reunion.

WE WERE A BIG HIT. The rest of the cruise we were

CELEBERTIES. People even came up to us at dinner and

told us how cute we were. Of course being the "hams"

we are - well... we enjoyed every minute of it.”

NEW STORAGE BUILDING GFSA recently purchased an

additional larger and much needed storage building.

Many of the items stored in the attic of the GFSA

building have now been moved to the new facility.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KODIAK BEAR DONATIONS! The GFSA would like to recognize our recent

KODIAK BEARS:

The GENERAL FUND Class of 1958

Jack Butler ‘62 Ellender “Cookie” Holcomb ‘62

Loretta Blear Mitchell ‘62

The VETERANS’ WAR MEMORIAL Tom & Nita Zajicek

In Memory of Paul and Agnes Zajicek

ANNUAL DUES Check your PAID THRU DATE on your

address label. If your dues are past due, please

consider renewing them. You may pay by credit card.

Go to www.gladewaterformerstudents.com and look

for the Membership tab at the top of the page and then

choose "How Do I Join or Renew Dues. Or, if you prefer

to pay by check, just print out and complete the form

found online or in this newsletter and mail to GFSA,

P.O. Box 5878, Gladewater, TX 75647.

We would like to offer

our sincerest Sympathy

TO THE FAMILIES OF:

(Dec’d)

NOTE: Membership dues are important and help cover the cost of our newsletter. Check your

PAID THRU date on your address label. If your dues are past due, please consider renewing them

using the form below or pay by credit card online www.gladewaterformerstudents.com.

Price per brick, $65.00

Gladewater Former Students' Association P. O. Box 1425 Gladewater, TX 75647

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

JANUARY - MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, March 23, 2015: 6:30 PM

CELEBRATING THE GHS BANDS OF THE 60’S (covered dish dinner)

Monday, April 6, 2015: 6:30 PM

GFSA Board Meeting (no meal to be served)

Thursday, May 21, 2015: 11:00 AM

GHS Globe Scholars Luncheon (Former students will be guest speakers)

Monday, May 25, 2015: 11:00 AM

Memorial Day Service, GFSA War Veterans’ Memorial

Thursday, May 28, 2015 11:00 AM

GHS Awards Program (GFSA serves cake & punch immediately following program)

Saturday, May 30, 2015: 8:00 AM

GFSA SPORTING CLAY SHOOT (Join us for a fun fundraising day. See information inside this newsletter)

Tuesday, June 30, 2015: Deadline for Outstanding Alumnus Award Nominations

Monday, July 8, 2015: 6:30 PM

GFSA Board Meeting (no meal to be served)

Monday, August 31, 2015 Deadline for 2016 Board Nominations

Tuesday, September 8, 2015: 6:30 PM

GFSA Board Meeting (no meal to be served)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015: All-School Reunion hosted by Class of ’65 (Reunion information to be mailed by August 1)

Visit our website www.gladewaterformerstudents.com for additional events or event changes.

GFSA