SHS 30th REUNION TRIBUTE/INVOCATION/PRAYER
NOTE
TO SELF:
Welcome Everyone & Acknowledge US
Military Vets (CLASSMATES & SPOUSES, DATES, SERVERS, etc.)-
Remembering
our classmates:
·
Kip
Armstrong
·
Eddie
Bodimer
·
Kenny
Bruner
·
Doug
Dean
·
Paul
Dinkel
·
Brad
Foster
·
Lisa
Fritch
·
Bob
Howard
·
Rob
Jones
·
Anthony
Pardue
·
Pam
Thomas
(Moment of Silence)
Their absence saddens us, but we’re
here for the magic of memories.
Hopefully, we can remember them sans the pain of loss. May we find
solace when we remember them and when we remember how much they enriched our
lives. They were our friends, classmates, teammates, fellow performing artists,
and they were more.
I would not be
so arrogant as to presume that I could adequately speak to their memories for
all of you here, but I humbly ask that tonight we do speak of them. Let them
live again in our memories, feel them in your smiles, speak their names and let
them hear our laughter. Those things are the essence of life and that is where
our good friends dwell. We should all be so lucky someday.
Remembering
our teachers:
·
-Mrs.
Leah Abrams
·
-Mr.
John Bainbridge
·
-Mr.
Paul Guernsey
·
-Mrs.
Phyllis Hughes-Stevens
·
-Mr.
Morris Pollard & Mrs. Bonnie Pollard
·
-Mr.
James Rollins
·
-Mr.
Clyde Sallee
·
-Mr.
Robert Wise
(Moment of Silence)
I would like to think that most of
us view good teachers as special people—probably because I’m a teacher.
Currently, I teach juniors & seniors at Lawrence
Central High School-GO BEARS! Yes, I’m one of those obnoxious people that won’t
allow you to start a sentence with a conjunction or end a sentence with a
preposition because those are things that I will not ‘up with put.’
Please forgive me, but this tribute will be a bit more
subjective and personal. Early in my career, I had the honor of working with most
of these very special people. And while I may have allowed myself to think of
some of them as colleagues, thinking of me as one of their peers
is unconscionable.
I hope you’ll forgive me for being presumptuous, but I decided to write a brief
thank you letter to our former mentors on behalf of the class of 1983.
Dear Teachers,
We
hope you look down upon us tonight and that you are able to see some of the
fruits of your labors. I think you all deserve at least that much. I did not
personally benefit from each of you as teachers, but as I reflect back on my
years at Speedway, my teaching career and my overall existence. I know that you
contributed to helping all of us along on our respective life journeys.
To Mrs. Abrams, those two summers I
worked with you at the high school were great. You taught me about how to show
“tough love” with kids who often need it the most especially when they deserve
it the least.
To Mr. Bainbridge, thank you for
encouraging me both as a student and as an employee at SHS. You were a great
boss and a good friend.
To Mr. Guernsey, years ago you were on
the cutting edge with computer math—what Doug Linville affectionately called
“Moo Math with Mr. Guernsey.”
To Mrs. Hughes, another English teacher,
thank you for putting up with me as a truly sophomoric sophomore in study hall.
I’ve used that same 1,000 yard stare you used on me many, many times with my
own students.
To Mr. Pollard, thanks for all the “ornery”
jokes at lunch & making a call to one of the deans at IUPUI so that I could
take a summer class that would keep me on my academic schedule. Forgive me,
Morris, I don’t have the time or words to thank you adequately for all the
other things you did for me and my classmates. Give Bonnie a hug for me.
To Mr. Rollins, thanks for giving me my
first real teaching job at the old Lincoln Middle School & for believing in
me too—it meant a lot. I wish you could have heard all the people at your
funeral services that said they didn’t always like you, but they were grateful
to have known you, play for you or have been taught by you.
To Mr. Sallee, who like Mr. Pollard was
a member of the Greatest Generation. We
thank you for your long years of service and for making Coach Taphorn end
practice at a decent hour.
To Mr. Wise, thanks for teaching me that
kindness, compassion and a love for music & the arts were the greatest of
strengths. I doubt that I will ever meet anyone that has a more gentle soul.
We
hope you’re all listening tonight and thanks for all the time you spent seeking
to understand teenagers. I know it
wasn’t always easy or fun, but we thank you for doing it with style and grace.
Sincerely,
The Class of 1983
INVOCATION: (please join me in giving thanks)
Heavenly Father, we thank you
for this night of reunion in a place that honors military service. We ask that
you bless all former & current military personnel. Please also bless all
here & the hands that have prepared this food along with those that will be
taking care of us tonight. May the food nourish our bodies and may the drinks
refresh our spirits. Finally, Heavenly Father, please continue to watch over us
& bless our absent friends—those who could not join us & those who
dwell in your house. In your name we pray. AMEN
