RUSSELLVILLE - When the Class of 1949 graduated from Russellville High School, 76 students moved beyond the walls of their alma mater to make their marks in the world.
So, as classmates gathered together last Thursday for their annual reunion at Taylor's Restaurant, they reflected on their 50 classmates who have passed away. Ten classmates attended last week's luncheon, a pretty good showing considering they graduated 67 years ago.
Rose Floyd French, a 1949 RHS grad who lives in Columbus, GA, has become the class's unofficial reunion organizer. French and her husband Thomas, a land surveyor/engineer, ran his business together until they retired last year. Each reunion, a few more names are added to the list of deceased classmates, but French doesn't dwell on the future. She's enjoying life too much at present to do that.
“I love my life, and I just live by doing what needs to be done that day," French said. "I don't reflect on my age or where I am in life. I'm thankful for each day."
The Class of 1949 held its 60th reunion seven years ago, and classmates decided to have some type of get-together every year since. Each of them has an interesting story to tell, full of life lessons that are invaluable to younger generations.
Bill Foster didn't enroll at Russellville High School until midway through his junior year, when his father became part of a 'three-way' job swap with the United States Postal Service. Foster, who transferred from Hackleburg High School, found himself in the big city of Russellville.
His career plans after high school called for him to become a teacher after graduating from Florence State Teachers College. One year into college, though, Foster had other ideas.
“I decided that wasn't for me, and I joined the United States Air Force for four years," he said. "After the Air Force, I returned to UNA and earned my accounting degree. I was able to return to Russellville and opened up an office in my hometown.
“It's interesting that I decided I didn't want to teach and then I spent four years as an Air Force instructor at Jet Mechanic School in Amarillo, Texas."
Foster echoed the thoughts of several classmates about the problem of today's top RHS graduates leaving their hometown to begin their professional careers.
“I don't think there's as much opportunity here, unless you work in one of our local industries,” Foster said. “After high school we see our young people getting their college education or leaving the area for work.”
When Foster's accounting career began, most of his clients were local merchants and professionals. Over the years, his firm gained more out-of-town clients and saw its local professional clientele decline.
Sue Hammock, another 1949 graduate, saw her grandson Cameron DeArman graduate from Russellville this spring. She said the mind frame of local graduates differs today from her era.
“We didn't want to leave Russellville like so many do now,” Hammock said.
Jo Ann Duncan and her husband Donald lived both in Russellville and away from home during their marriage. But they returned so their children could graduate from Russellville High School.
After their children graduated from college, though, their employment opportunities came elsewhere.
“My son was an engineering student, and he started a heavy equipment company in another community," Jo Ann said. "My daughter earned an economics degree, and she married and moved to Somerville. Now I live in Hartselle.”
Although it's been 67 years since she was a Russellville student, Duncan said she still receives some 'friendly fire' when it comes to her Hartselle neighbors.
“Hartselle people don't like Russellville," she said. "They tell me that 'Y'all beat us every year.'"
RHS '49 alum Martha Sue Newton has lived in Russellville most of her lifetime, but she's built a passion for travel in her senior years. Newton often travels with the 50-and-older CB&S Bank travel group. Their vacations have taken them to Georgia, Branson, MO, New York, Washington, D.C. and beyond.
“I like to go places I've never been," Newton said. "If I had to pick one place to visit, I'd like to visit Ireland."
Although she didn't graduate RHS until 1950, Bill's wife Judy Foster shared the best example of how life has changed in the last 67 years. Judy's maiden name was Scharnagel, as in the Spruce Pine Scharnagels, and that was the community she grew up in. Needless to say, there was no school bus route from Spruce Pine to Russellville.
“I rode the Greyhound bus everyday to school,” Judy said. “In my day, they ran on the hour. We lived in Spruce Pine, and we got to know the drivers. They picked me up when they saw me."
The cost of a one way ticket to RHS from Spruce Pine? Twenty cents, but it was well worth the cost. No Greyhound bus ride to school meant she never would have met the love of her life in Bill. Her mother had different motivations, though.
“My mother wanted me to be in the band, and Phil Campbell didn't have one," Judy said. "That's why I came up here to Russellville after attending Spruce Pine through eighth grade."
