1945 "Old Home Week"

MAUD HIGH SCHOOL 1945
Maud, Bowie County, Texas

THE PROPHECY

"Old Home Week"

It is the year 1960, and a beautiful evening in October. Everywhere in the town of Maud, Texas are huge posters reading "Old Home Week". Many days ago, invitations were sent to all the seniors of 1945 urging them to attend and stressing particularly this evening when a wonderful entertainment is to be given. All the talent for this program is home talent. Every performer was at one time a resident of this town and was graduated from our high school.

The hour for the great event has arrived. Every seat in the vast new auditorium is filled, and all are eagerly awaiting the performance which promises many delightful surprises. The platform is a mass of beautiful flowers and autumn leaves and the walls are hung with garlands of pine and laurel. It is truly a festive occasion.

Seated in the audience are many celebrities. As I look about me, I see a number of my old classmates. There is Mr. J. Decker White, our kind-hearted friend, who became very wealthy through wise investments, and is now a noted philanthropist. His money is paying for much of the "Old Home Week" expenditures.

The ladies in the front seats are all so stylishly and becomingly dressed that they arouse my curiosity. I am told that their beautiful garments come from the very select, not to say expensive, shop of Mrs. _________, who is none other than our own Murl Jean Fomby, who designs gowns for all the best-dressed women in the country. She is here herself and looks "as the glass of fashion and the mold of farm".

Two people, entering, receive a warm reception from the committee at the door. They are Dr. Margaret A. McReynolds - Margaret Brown to us - a famous surgeon in a large hospital; and, attractive as ever, Betty Kirkendoll, superintendent of nurses in the same hospital. If there are any accidents tonight, we feel sure the sufferers will be properly attended with Margaret and Betty on the job.

Seated near me, watching with interest, I see Lavern Caudle, dignified and haughty. I ask about her and am told that she is head mistress of a very fashionable girls’ school in Louisiana and has never married although her suitors are innumerable.

A woman is sketching the people as they come in and doing it very well indeed, for I peep over her shoulder to see. Of course, you know who that is. Yes, it’s Mrs. Louis Johnson, known to us as "Dot" Black. They say she has become quite famous as an illustrator of magazine stories and newspaper articles. Yes, as you can tell by the name, the navy finally got her.

Now the entertainment is to begin. There is a hushed expectancy. The lights in the auditorium fade and the footlights flash on.

Before the packed house appears a tall, dignified figure who makes an eloquent address of welcome. Some of the well-turned phrases sound pleasingly familiar. I remember our famous class debater, John Murphy. It is indeed he. He was a lawyer for a time and now is a judge of the state supreme court. He acts as master of ceremonies also, and after his excellent speech introduces the performers. His charming wife is also here, but we shall hear more of her later.

First, the Judge calls attention to the beautiful flowers and other decorations, saying that they were the gift of Mrs. James D. White, better known to us as Lola Mae Bonham, now the leading florist of the town. I hear she bakes quite well, too.

The Judge announces that after the entertainment refreshments will be served through the courtesy of Mrs. J. C. Creed, formally Marie Baggett, who is proprietor of the delightful Old Home Tea Room. I know that she once worked in the S & S, but I never thought it would lead to such a delightful life.

Now the entertainment proper begins. There is gay music, like circus music. Then on the darkened stage in the spotlight appears a dainty figure, kissing her hand to the audience as an attendant arranges a wire across the stage. My goodness! It’s Bonnie Faye Clemens. Who’d have thought it; and what a salary she must get.

Then the Judge introduces a prosperous-looking man who, he says, is a Broadway song writer and the author of many popular song hits. It is Jenkins Parker and he plays and sings for us his latest three compositions. (Very good they are, too.) One written especially for the occasion and called "Old Home Folks", makes a decided hit with his audience.

Next comes a big surprise. Mrs. John Murphy, better known as Virginia Lee Stone, Mrs. Miles H. Olive, known to us as Johnnie Faye Vandygriff, and Mrs. Glen Hefner, who we all know as Melba J. Rogers, step into the spotlight and gives their rendition of some of the latest song hits. Believe me the years haven’t detracted from beauty or voice. I hear that Mr. And Mrs. Hefner have a family of twelve children, Mr. And Mrs. Olive are the proud parents of a nine weeks’ old daughter, and Judge and Mrs. Murphy have two charming children.

The spotlight is now shifted to the great auditorium organ, and the Judge introduces Miss Oneta Woodruff, now organist in a city church and teacher in an institute of organ music. She plays beautifully and looks not a day older than when we last saw her some fifteen years ago leaving the stage with her diploma.

Then, last of all, looking stunning in an elaborate evening gown, comes Winnie Fae Seals. She is a writer of plays and has had two successful ones running on Broadway now. She makes a Friendly little speech, addressing particularly our superintendent and the members of the faculty, who are in the audience enjoying the program and who look as young and awe-inspiring as they did when we trembled before them years ago.

Then the entire audience rises, as the performers all appear on the stage at once. Our organist and violinist play and, ed by our composer, we all sing "Auld Lang Syne" and adjourn for the promised refreshments from Mrs. Creed’s Old Home Tea Room.

It has been a real delight to see all our old friends so young and prosperous, so generous with their money and talent. In short, it has been an "Old Home Week" to be proud of and old home folks should be happy to have such celebrities as these for their very own.

Note: So you don’t think it can be done. Well, just you wait until 1960.

CLASS WILLS

John Murphy wills to Morris Wommack his presidency, editorship, and intelligence.
Jenkins Parker wills his knowledge in English to Eugene Bradford and wishes he make good use of it.
Decker White wills his ability to please the girls to Bob Robinson.
Virginia Lee Stone wills to Betty Higginbotham and Sony Dickens her popularity. (There’s enough for both.)
Johnnie Faye Vandygriff wills to Buck Lindsey her sweetness. (Not that he needs it though.)
Dorothy Black - to Kathryn goes Dot’s ability to look after the Navy guys. (Especially one.)
Betty Kirkendoll wills to K. C. Fomby her evenness of temper (We wouldn’t guarantee.)
Lola Bonham - To Leroy Cowley goes Lola’s good grades. Make good use of them.
Margaret Brown leaves to Maurene Warrington her ability to get by without "it".
Murl Fomby wills her quietness to Sonny Rachel.
Oneta Woodruff wills her ability in Homemaking to Marcile Barlow.
Winnie Seals wills to the Seniors of ‘46 her love for Maud High.
Lavern Caudle wills her laugh to Edna Carol Hardage.
Melba Rogers wills her love for poetry to Murva Marcum.
Bonnie Clemons wills her ability to fuss to Jamie Gay.
Marie Baggett wills to Louise Baggett all her old boy friends. (Especially one, eh! Marie.)