Alumni, family and faculty gather for 'Remember the Raiders' reunion

"Remember the Raiders" was the theme of the Wilkes Academy Reunion held Saturday, June 24, at the Washington-Wilkes Country Club as more than 500 alumni, spouses, faculty, staff, parents and grandparents gathered to remember the Academy years from its opening in the fall of l970 to its closing in the spring of l991.

Festivities began earlier in the day with a morning golf tournament at Washington-Wilkes Country Club. Approximately 50 golfers participated in the event with many of the players being awarded various prizes at the end of the tournament.

Also the former school building was open for the day and a number of people enjoyed touring the building and reliving a million memories.

The evening reunion festivities began as so many of the Academy family - the alumni, spouses, faculty, staff, parents and grandparents - gathered at the clubhouse. As they registered before entering, they were presented souvenir cups and were able to buy t-shirts and later videos shown during the evening.

The colors, red, white and blue, were used in decorating and all were welcomed at the front door by a basket of flowers in these colors.

The main dining room featured a blue color scheme and the focal point in the center was a round table, overlaid in white and centered with a large red, white and blue arrangement. Round guest tables, also covered in white, were centered with cobalt blue bottles filled with greenery and red Gerbera daisies. Mantles were decorated with pillar candles in cobalt blue pedestal vases and cobalt blue bottles filled with greenery and Gerbera daisies. Magnolia filled the fireplaces. Also in the main dining room were tables filled with delicious heavy hors d'oeuvres prepared by Brian and Lavenia Henderson and Newton and Pam Gunter.

The main bar room featured the red color scheme and white clothcovered tables held pillar candles in red pedestal vases. Tables held sports memorabilia and guests enjoyed a special video presentation that ran during the evening of students, parents and events. Of special interest in the video was a memorial segment giving tribute to many students, parents, faculty and supporters.

The dessert and coffee room in a red, white and blue scheme, continued the dcor with cobalt blue bottles with greenery and Gerbera daisies, more memorabilia including old programs, pictures of alumni and red sequined majorette uniforms. Desserts were enjoyed from silver and crystal appointments.

On the lawn a large white tent provided covering for more round tables overlaid in white and centered with mirrors topped with silver vases of greenery surrounded by tea lights. Also under the tent was the stage and dance floor. Faculty member, Laverne Kilgore, and Debbie Bennett decorated for the event.

During the evening a special toast to Wilkes Academy was offered by Todd Blackmon who also gave a special tribute to the late John Boyd Jr., beloved headmaster, teacher and coach.

"The Surf," a band with alumni Stephen Blackburn and J. B. Hopkins, reunited to play for the festivities.

Alumni from each of the 21 graduating classes had class photographs taken by Heather Hammond. They are pictured in an advertisement found elsewhere in the paper along with a "Wilkes Academy: A Tribute" written by alumna Allison Gunter Hale, Class of l981.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
The Office Cat	1
Family escapes death in semi hit-and-run	1
Feed a family of four for $10 a week	1