38th Annual Bauxite Reunion

Once again, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, the Bauxite Community Hall was filled with smiling faces, hugs and handshakes as attendees from all across the United States came together for the 38th annual Bauxite Reunion.

Still on Cloud 9 after their heartwarming 60-year reunion, the Bauxite High School Class of 1959 showed up in full force and in great spirit.

Always full of enthusiasm, these class members were anxious to share greetings with old friends and former neighbors from their childhood hometown.

Their chatter was nonstop as they meandered through the Bauxite Museum prior to the scheduled program for the annual event.

The reunion was opened with a serenade of gospel music by the Bauxite Hometown Choir, directed by Wilson Duvall, accompanied on the piano by Marilyn Childress.

The membership meeting and program was opened by Joe E. Duvall, president of the Bauxite Historical Association and Museum.

The invocation was given by James Thurston, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Larry Davis.

After a brief business meeting, Duvall introduced the guest speaker, A. C. “Shorty” Wilmoth.

With his usual wealth of humor, Wilmoth shared stories of growing up in Bauxite and life “way back when” in that small company-owned town. He kept the audience’s undivided attention with a trip down memory lane — however, it was mostly down Center Street for Wilmoth’s tales.

A football that more than 50 years earlier had been kicked “accidentally” over the back fence at the Pit Football Stadium by Wilmoth surfaced during his speech. He was forced to confess that he had actually retrieved the football that had been so carefully planted and kept it for his own personal enjoyment all those many years.

In a follow-up interview after the reunion, Wilmoth stated, “It does the soul good to confess of some childhood mischievous actions — not all, but some.”

During the patriotic portion of the program, Col. Ronnie Stuckey, U.S. Army (Ret.), a current resident of Dubach, Louisiana, introduced a video honoring each branch of the military. Veterans were asked to stand when their branch’s anthem was played.

Nanette Ramsey announced award recipients attending the reunion. They were Lexie Spickard, the most-senior attendee; Myrom Conley, most-senior veteran; and Herbert Kitchens, veteran with most years served in the U.S. military.

The 38th annual Bauxite Reunion was adjourned after the singing of God Bless America, led by Marian Duvall, and accompanied on the piano by Dorothy Rogers.

Prior to the meeting, Eugenia Sledd displayed artwork she had created of buildings from the old town of Bauxite. A portion of the profits from the sale of these items was donated to the Bauxite Historical Association and Museum.

At one time, J. R. Wilmoth had commissioned Sledd to do a painting of the 19262001 Bauxite High School. However, Wilmoth passed away before the painting was finished. In remembrance of him, Sledd presented the framed painting to Wilmoth’s widow, Jane, at the close of the annual reunion.

Bridget Stuckey also displayed for sale her jewelry creations featuring a delicate pick and shovel charm. The pick and shovel jewelry can be purchased as a necklace, bracelet or earrings. Pick and shovel tie tacks and lapel pins are also available for purchase.

After a portion of the profits from Stuckey’s sales is donated to the Bauxite Historical Association and Museum, the remaining proceeds will be donated to the Bauxite Ladies Association Scholarship Fund.

For additional information, or to order jewelry pieces, contact Stuckey at email address stuckerb@earthlink.net .

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the

39th annual Bauxite Reunion to be held May 23, 2020.

The Bauxite Historical Association and Museum Board of Directors will soon begin plans for annual event.

LEFT: Hubert Spann stands next to his military uniform displayed in the War Room at the Military Wall of Honor area at the Bauxite Museum.

GINGER ENGLISH/SPECIAL to The Saline Courier ABOVE: The stories never end when Steve Spickard, Marian Orender, Ronnie Stuckey, David Burrow, Danny Hudson, Jab Rowland and Tommy Oliver get together.

GINGER ENGLISH/SPECIAL to The Saline Courier Sam and Suzanne Talkington, of Shreveport, Louisiana, join their longtime friends Linda and Ross Reeves at the 38th annual Bauxite Reunion held May 25. Seated behind the group is Bartha Wise, who also grew up in Bauxite.

GINGER ENGLISH/ Special to The Saline Courier Franklin Hines gives a guided tour for his wife and their daughter’s family from Texas. From left are Travis Williams, Sandra Williams, Karen Hines, Matthew Williams Franklin Hines and Tyler Williams.

Special to The Saline Courier RIGHT: Bauxite High School Class of 1958 poses for its traditional annual class photo at the Bauxite Reunion. From left, in the front row, are Wilson Duvall, Herbert Kitchens and Clyde Chenault; back row, Bill Wilson, Paul Crowson, Ginger English and Phil Daugherty. For the past several years, the patriotic shirt worn by Clyde Chenault has become an expected tradition for the group photo.

GINGER ENGLISH/SPECIAL to The Saline Courier ABOVE: Marian Stuckey and Jack English discuss memories of the past in Bauxite.

GINGER ENGLISH/ Special to The Saline Courier Catching up after all the years are Jimmy Crowson, of Conway, and George Anderson of, Clarksville, Tennessee, friends since grade school in Bauxite.