written by Damon Downey
Good Morning, Friends! It gives me great pleasure to be with
you during your graduation exercises. Many memories of my own school days in
this locality are recalled on such occasions, as I look around and see the changes
these twenty-five years have brought,-- the difference is unbelievable. Who
could have forseen that Minford, a mere country village not so long since, should
now supersede Portsmouth in size, and more that that, who could have foretold
the quarter plan of high school education now in operation. We thought when
we were graduating that we were doing the most unusual thing. But here, are
you people finishing up your high school work at the end of the calendar year.
Times surely change! young people do not lose track of each other. If you are
wise, you will continue the friendships and acquaintances formed during your
high school career. Our class each year has a reunion besides conducting a class
letter through our secretary. Considering the fact that many of you have known
or at least heard of some of our members, I am going to read you a bit of this
year's letter that their achievements may be an encouragement to you.
-New York City, N. Y.
January 5, 1950
Miss Minnie Dixon,
Belleview Hospital,
St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Minnie:
I am very sorry to have missed our class reunion last year, but I will try to
make up for my absence at that time by a real chatty contribution to our Annual
class letter. I suppose your duties as head of the Hospital Staff take up so
much of your time, that little is left for such a task as getting out the class
letter. However, here is my share. Just the other night I went to hear that
wonderful orchestra, Philharmonic of New York. It has been spending its last
four seasons in Europe; and because important business matters called me to
the West Indies and the Orient, my intimate knowledge of home affairs was rather
limited. What was my great surprise upon glancing over my program to see the
name of Lowell Oberly as conductor of that Orchestra. I said to myself, "Can
it possibly be the Lowell of the older athletic days?" After asking my
wife and friends to excuse me I decided to go behind the scenes and make inquiry.
What do you think? There was Lowell alright, but so changed. He never was very
tall but imagine, if your can, what the loss of hair and an additional seventy
pounds would do to his looks. Only his eyes and his smile are the same. At that,
he seems to be setting the style for other musicians of the day. He informed
me that my own girth was not what t used to be. I'll say for myself that I am
still masticating my food with my own teeth and I wonder how many other of us
can say the same. Such good old time chat as we had! He has heard from so many
more of the class than I, that I believe he'd be a good one to have for class
secretary.
I learned that Bertha Snyder is proceeding to get skinny and wise in her chosen profession as a principle of girl's seminary in a suburb of Chicago. Damon, with his talent for unfolding the mysteries of mechanics, drops into New York frequently in his special coach on business for the General Electric Company of Schenectady. Through his patronage of arts and music, he and Lowell see each other frequently.
I heard about Katharine the other day from Lowell, and he said that she visited the beauty parlor quite frequently now adays, that have her hair colored. She is still familiar with the powder puff and mirror. Lowell said that she is employed as a stenographer for a large law firm in Chicago. Of course we all know that is what she would be with her ability to spell. I found that he is conducting a correspondence course in Physical Culture and advising the high school youth's of the land as to the proper positions they should play in basketball. As a means of extra coin he permits his picture to be published as a recommendation for Jones' Sister's "Elixir of Life". Wonderful isn't it, to see how high that boy has gone? Oh, yes, what do you know about it? Earl Giles, the "Salesman Sam" of youthful days, stopped me on the street the other day. How's this for news? His weight reaches the two hundred and fifty mark now. Is it any wonder I failed to recognize him at first?
By the way, can i give you some more news, first hand. Last fall while in that part of the world, wee ran over to Calcutta India, to see Lucille and her family. Her duties as wife of the American Consul are so many, and varied that they made my brain whirl just to hear of them. At the time of our visit she was in the midst of plans for the annual Ambassadors' dinner and ball. She begged us most prettily to stay and join them, but business elsewhere was too pressing. She sent her love to all her old classmates back in the States.
There remains only one of the old class of whom I've not heard. Do you hear from Margaret? I suppose she will write her bit to the letter as usual. Last year I remembered, she had her beauty parlor in Aztec, Mexico. I wonder if she is still there?
How many do you expect at the reunion this year? It ought to be a "regular" celebration.
Well, I sincerely believe I've told you all the new I have. If
I can be of any assistance in the furtherance of the reunion plans, let me know.
Yours with best wishes,
Damon Downey.
Young people isn't this a truly encouraging record? What better
example could I give you of achievement? Others may give you Lincoln, Washington,
and all the other stellar lights of History as guide posts for your talents,
but I give you the Class of 1925 of Minford High. I thank you.
--DAMON DOWNEY