"Grandiose" describes the celebration held at Glade Spring Resort in Daniels, WV, by the Mullens High School class of 1956 at its fifty-year graduation anniversary. Sixty-seven of the 120 class members attended a reunion on Friday and Saturday, August 4-5.   

     During the 1955-1956 school year Robert E. Kuhn was principal and senior class sponsors were Mrs. Madge Kamen and Lee Hodson. Senior class officers were Willie Akers, president; Paul Whitt, vice president; Richard Yates, secretary; and Gene Chenoweth, treasurer. Student body president was Robert Lipscomb. Class colors are blue and gray. The class flower is the white rose, and the class motto is "Let's keep on living." The first reunion -committee meeting was held at Ryan's restaurant in Princeton, WV.  Attending were Barbara Caldwell, chairperson, and Pat Davidson, both of Salem, VA; Marion Fox, Beaver, WV; John Rinehart, Shady Spring, WV; Robert Lipscomb, Roanoke, VA; Doncia Franklin, Rock, WV; Janet Weaver and Phyllis Worley, both of Mullens, WV. Festivities began with a picnic held in the tented pavilion at the resort.  Rev. John Rinehart gave the invocation and asked the blessing. Round tables covered with white linen tablecloths and surrounded by white wooden chairs decorated the pavilion. Class members received a disposable camera, as they entered the pavilion.

    The menu consisted of crispy cole slaw, southern potato salad, barbeque pork ribs, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings, baked beans, corn on the cob, grilled Italian sausage with onion and sweet peppers, grilled vegetables, country style corn bread, fresh bakery rolls, and buttermilk biscuits with sweet butter. Desserts consisted of freshly baked apple pie, passion cheesecake, and sliced watermelon. A selection of soft drinks, lemonade, tea, coffee, and water was also part of the menu. Special guest and faculty member attending the picnic was legendary coach Lewis D'Antoni, accompanied by Anna and Frank Liuzzo of Mullens.

      The banquet was held in the main dining area of the resort hotel with Willie Akers serving as emcee. He welcomed each class member and his/her guest and asked Rev. John Rinehart to give the invocation and the blessing. The dinner began with the singing of the Rebel fight song, "On Ye Rebels," led by former cheerleaders Joette Brooks Greene and Betty Cook Shumate. The dinner menu began with a wedge salad with vine -ripened tomatoes, diced red onion, bacon, and topped with a selection of Blue Cheese, Ranch, or Italian dressing.  Entrees for the dinner consisted of Haricot Vert beans, roasted new potatoes, herb rosemary chicken breast, fresh bakery rolls with butter; the drinks served were coffee, tea, or water. The choice of desserts included warm peach crisp with vanilla ice cream or blueberry creamed Brulee'.    Carol Murphy McQuain of Beckley, WV, decorated the dining room for the banquet.  White linen tablecloths, topped with white place mats trimmed in gold, covered large round tables. The place mats were compliments of Lynelle Bailey Brooks. The centerpiece on each table consisted of lighted glass bricks placed on a large square mirror that held three lighted votive candles surrounded by tree ferns. Each place setting was graced by a gold vase with an arrangement of a single white rose surrounded by white Limioium tied with a golden ribbon.

    Class members were to take their place mats and rose arrangements, as they left the banquet.  They were also given a white photo album with the words "Mullens High School, 50th Class Reunion, 1956-2006" engraved in gold. Jim and Joette Greene, of Leesburg, VA, presented each class member with an eighteen- month, personalized calendar that contained 1956 photos and current photos of each class member. Jim Bench, St. Petersburg, FL, made a CD with popular tunes for the year 1955-1956 and presented it to each class member.  Rev. John Rinehart provided everyone a pillbox, and Lu Mays Wright of Roanoke, VA, designed and printed the programs.

     A memorial board, designed and framed in gold by Phyllis Worley, Mullens, WV, featured a large round mirror surrounded by small cut out pictures of each deceased classmate.  Beneath the mirror, spelled in gold letters, were the words, "Reflections, Past and Present." As the class members looked into the mirror, they saw their reflection as well as the pictures of their deceased classmates. The twenty-seven deceased class members are Delano Bishop, Gaylord Bower, Dwayne Canada, David Christian, Mark Cook, Pauline Cox Bankenship, Anna Ruth Elkins, Robert Green, Barbara Hall Russo, Stanley Harvey, Creola Hood Cantrell, Basil Johnson, Robert Lipscomb, Imogene Logsdon, Linda Newsome Field, Sharon Rinehart Canada, Hershel Shrewsbury, Phyllis Sizemore Lambert, Jennings "Buddy" Skidmore, Judith Smith Marsh, Roger Smith, Jannie Snyder Garbarino, Roy Stone, Mary Jane Taylor, James Thomas, Harold Yates, and Richard Yates. A memorial service was conducted by Rev. James Greene.  He read Ecclesiastes 3:1-2; and as he read the names of the deceased, Lynelle Brooks, Connie Chenoweth, Janice Williams, Phyllis Worley, Betty Shumate, Patsy Yates, and Pat Davidson lighted small candles from a Unity candle that had been lighted previously by Barbara Caldwell. The smaller candles were then taken to each table, where one individual's candle was lighted. That person, in turn, lighted the candle of the person seated next to him/her.

    Next, Gail Cook Wallen, Mullens, WV, read a poem entitled "The Class Reunion."

    Door prizes were contributed by the following: Dean Hight, Jacksonville, FL, wood crafted pens; Doncia Weaver Franklin, Rock, WV, oil painting; Ron Franklin, Rock, WV, a framed photo of Mullens High School; Nancy O'Dell Lewis, Henderson, NV, MGM tote bags; Betty Radford Sheriff, Palmetto, FL, Avon Basket; Marianne Dishner, wife of Brad Dishner, Fayetteville, GA, Mary Kay Basket; John Rinehart, Glade Spring, WV, Honey in the Rock tickets. Pat Davidson and Barbara Caldwell conducted the drawing for door prizes.   Various class members were recognized to receive "awards."  Charles Allen, Richmond, VA, presented an award to Virginia Boninsegna Little, Broadview Hts., OH, for the first to respond to the reunion invitation. Virginia received a 1956 Vintage tee shirt. David Robertson, Glen Allen, VA, won the award for being the hundredth class member to register. Time was running out for David, so he was presented a collection of toy watches. Charles also presented gag "Gold" awards for the most spirited, most glitzy, most sophisticated, and Golden Boy. Awards for "Senior" Superlatives were presented for Best Looking (under the circumstances), Most Improved Cholesterol Score, Most Likely to Need a Nap, Best Short-Term Memory, Most Athletic After Hip or Knee Replacement, Best Preserved (Physically), Best Preserved (Mentally), Biggest Lottery Winner, First to Retire, Most Computer Illiterate, Most Body Piercings, and Most Tattoos.     Connie Chenoweth presented Barbara Caldwell with a monetary gift and a bouquet of white roses for her efforts to make the 50th Mullens High School Reunion for the class of 1956 a success. Ms. Caldwell thanked everyone who attended and those who offered gifts, door prizes, and monetary contributions. "Without you, there would be no reunion," she said.     The banquet concluded with the benediction by Rev. John Rinehart and a dance with music provided by Dave Runion and his band, "River Chase."      Those attending the class reunion were: Willie Akers and Linda, Logan,WV; Charles Allen and Rose, Richmond, VA; Maurice Anderson and Barbara, Virginia Beach, VA; Jack Arnold and Annabelle, Scott Depot, WV; Lynelle Bailey Brooks and Gordon, Virginia Beach, VA; Pat Ball Johnson and Pat, Middleport, OH; Pat Bateman Davidson, Salem, VA; James Bench and Sharon, St. Petersburg, FL; Wilburn Blankenship and Judy, Huber Heights, OH; Virginia Boninsegna Little, Broadview Hts., OH; Ernestine Brooks Prentice and Jim, Crab Orchard, WV; Joette Brooks Greene and Jim, Leesburg, VA; Phyllis Browning Worley and David, Mullens, WV; Rhonda Bryant King and Jack Bland, VA; Gene Chenoweth and Connie, Mt. Juliet, TN; Charles Clay and Wanda, Hernando, FL; Wallace Compton, Lady Lake, FL; Betty Cook Shumate, Mullens, WV; Doug Cook, Asheville, NC; Gail Cook Wallen and Jack, Mullens, WV; Marvin Cook, Westminister, MD; Fay Cox Hash and Jim, Marion, VA; LeVeta Caft Dykes and Bill, Vinton, VA; Curtis "Pug" Crotty, Evanston, IL; Marion Cullop Fox, Beaver, WV; Bradley Dishner and Marianne, Fayetteville, GA; Joanna Flaim Frey, Vineland, NJ; Phoebe Floyd Cartos, Norfolk, VA and sister, Kay, Mullens, WV; Connie Foster Chenoweth and Gene, Mt. Juliet, TN; Barbara Graham Gaertner and John, Marina Del Rey, CA; James Greene and Joette, Leesburg, VA; Edna Halsey Sieber, Jeffersonton, VA; Jack Harless, Durham NC; Dean Hight and Linda, Jacksonville, FL; Elbert "Tinker" Humphrey and Doris, Stafford, VA; James Keith, Montgomery, AL; Barbara Lane Caldwell, Salem, VA; Lu Mays Wright and John, Roanoke, VA; John "Skip" McClure and Emily, Catawba, VA; Charlotte Moorefield Trent, MacArthur, WV; James Morgan and Shirley, Goose Creek, SC; Carol Murphy McQuain, Beckley, WV; Nancy O'Dell Lewis, Henderson, NV; James Powell,Lindside, WV; Betty Radford Sheriff and Bruce, Palmetto FL; Peggy ReedPayne, Beckley, WV; John Rinehart and Sheila, Shady Spring, WV; DavidRobertson and Connie, Glen Allen, VA; John Robison and Sherrill, CanonCity, CO; John Russell and Ellen, Las Vegas, NV; Lewis Rutherford andMary, Parkersburg, WV; Patsy Shrader Yates, Chapin SC; Velda ShrewsburyJones, Shady Spring, WV; Larry Steele and June, Dickerson, MD; SherrillStewart and Kay, Hernando, MS; Phoebe Tennant Bostic, Montgomery, WV;Patsy Terry Dent and Jack, Charleston, WV; Rosemary Tolliver Whittemoreand Ben, Charles Town, WV; Janet Toney Weaver and daughter, Susan,Mullens, WV; Doncia Weaver Franklin and Ron, Rock, WV; Janice Williamsand friend, Wayne, Bristol, TN; Ray Winfrey and Ella, Mullens, WV; NancyWinkler Wingret, Wyco, WV; Roy Young and Mary Lou, St.Petersburg, FL;Samuel Burnett, Okmulgee, OK; Charles McKinney Callahan, FL; MichaelBarnard and Dee, Greenville, SC; and James Redden, Lenora, WV