Knoxville East High School Alumni Association

All Class Reunion – 2020 – Canceled

We had hoped to have an all-class reunion this coming August, but due to the prevailing circumstnaces we have canceled it.  Our hope is that we can have one later in 2020 or in early 2021.  All Executive Committee meetings as well as Board meetings have also be cancelled until further notice.

The Virus

Bill Black’s note in the Spring of 2020

We are all a prime candidate to catch it – we are old!  Many of us have other reasons to catch it (I have been a Type-1 diabetic for 45 years now).  But, by the grace of God, we all hopefully will escape this dreadful disease.  On a more practical note, being retired like most of you also, let’s hope the economy recovers fairly quickly so all our savings don’t go down the drain.

Now, I’m going to ask you to do something.  No, it is not to ask you to send in a “memory” you have of your time at East, because you already have not done that even though I asked several times (Better late than never?).  What I want you to do is to shut your eyes in a few minutes to visualize what I will be describing.  Ready?  Who was your principal when you were there?  Shut your eyes and think back – is he standing in the lobby early before school started?  Do it – shut your eyes.  I saw Mr. Gardner.  Who was your favorite, or most memorial teacher?  Do it – shut your eyes.  I saw Miss Ruby Bird.  Who was your coach or music director or non-credit teacher?  Do it- shut your eyes.  I saw Coach Bible and Coach Hall.  Now, who was the person that perhaps changed your life or made a lasting impression on you?  Do it – Shut your eyes.  I saw Mrs. Bennett, the Librarian.  When Mrs. Bennett came to one (perhaps 20^th or 25^th) of our reunions, I sat down next to her and told her the story of how she changed my life.  We both were crying before I finished. But, that’s another memory for the future.  Now, wasn’t this exercise fun?

I have gotten in the bad habit of reading the list of people in the Knoxville News Sentinel Obituaries every day.  I am 75 so I look to see who is around my age to see if I recognize a name. Since I grew up in Mascot, I also look for folks from there.  My wife thinks I’m crazy.  She’s probably right!  Do you do this and are you crazy also?  By the way, 50% of the obits are usually older than me and 50% are younger.

WE will get through this virus crisis. I can’t wait to start giving everyone a hug again – well, at least the girls. In the meantime, keep your distance.

Oh yes, we hope to have an all-class reunion on Sunday, August 2^nd, at the Crown Plaza in downtown Knoxville. Watch for the Blue and Gray in late May or early June to confirm this.  You can also check back on this web site.  We just need to be sure life is back to normal before finalizing anything.  This will not be a Hall of Fame event, simply a gathering of “old” friends and classmates.  I hope to see many of you then if not before (please, not in the obits).  (This paragraph is now out of date.  The August 2020 reunion has been canceled!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Blessings, Bill

Springtime – First Blue and Gray of 2020 (not yet published, written before “The Virus”

Hello fellow classmates,

The year is _______ (fill in the year you graduated from East High). You will be graduating in just two to three months.  What are you going to do then?  Get a job?  Go to college?  Go to a technical/vocational school?  Join the Army/Marines/Air Force/ Coast Guard/Reserves? Get married? Travel? Become homeless? Join a family business? Start drinking and smoking (maybe more)? Whatever?

Wow, that was a long time ago!  What did you actually do – perhaps several of the above suggestions?  Would you do it the same way if you could go back in time?  Most of us would probably make a few modifications if it were possible.  But, here we are today, reading a high school alumni publication and we’re still above ground.  We all probably have a few aches and pains that remind us of getting old, but hopefully we have a few other things to keep our mind off them most of the time.

For those of us who live in or near Knoxville, we have the opportunity to stay somewhat connected to fellow East High classmates.  There are various class luncheons/dinners on a monthly basis and several annual gatherings.  If you haven’t participated in these in the past, I encourage you to do so in the future.  I am 100% sure you are not getting any younger.

Several of my 1962 classmates died this past year and surely several of your classmates did also. And, unfortunately, even more may do so this year.  Hopefully you have some family members who live close to you and help to keep you active.  If not (and maybe in addition), you can still seek out some old classmates with whom to have fellowship.  They will have memory problems and aches and pains too.  I know at our class of 1962 luncheons we do more laughing than crying. This helps exercise those smile muscles in your face.

The Knoxville East High School Alumni Association (KEHSAA) is still alive and active.  We have what we call an Executive Committee Meeting every first Friday of the month at 10:00 at the O’Conner Senior Center just off of Magnolia.  The first Friday of each quarter we have what is called a Board Meeting at the same time and place.  We need more people from all classes to attend these board meetings to have better representation of the various classes.  Everyone is welcome at any of these meetings and your input will be appreciated.  We usually have a group which goes to lunch following the meeting, so that is another good reason to attend.  Oh yes, KEHSAA will have another annual gathering this coming August.  See details in this newsletter.

We have a new “memory” to publish this time.  It was submitted by Anita McGuire Melia, class of 1966.  It is printed here and on our web site. Thanks Anita. There are now three of us brave enough to have written something up.  What about the rest of you ______ s?

With a smile on my face and love in my heart, Bill

Hello East High School alumni,

     I am happy to report that the 2019 All-Class Reunion was another great success for all those who attended.  Fourteen of the 17 classes were represented.  We missed many of you who have joined us in the past, but we hope to give you another opportunity next year.  The secret – stay healthy for one more year!

     I would also like to congratulate the six new members of the East High School Hall of Fame.  You will be able to read about them later in the Blue and Gray, but it is an impressive group.  Military service, foster care and adoption, and entrepreneurship were some of the main characteristics of these inductees.  Unfortunately, three of the six were given posthumously. 

     We had a special recognition at the reunion for one of our own – Frank Hall.  Frank was one of the first students at East High when it opened in 1952, is a 1953 alumni with both football and basketball awards.  He returned as an assistant football and basketball coach after college, became Head Basketball Coach in 1961, and led two teams to the state tournaments in Nashville.  Several of his players were present at the reunion to honor Frank as student, player, coach, teacher, legend and friend.

     We have a new “memory” to tell everyone.  Thanks to Lucile Heap Martin (’53) for submitting this.  Now, send us your “memory”, so we will have others to tell in the future.

     I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who worked so hard to make our all-class reunion such a success: Gail, Carolyn, Helen, Wanda, Wilma, Cheryl, Lucile, and Larry.  A special thanks goes to Loretta and her tireless husband Mike.

     In addition to sending us one of your “memories”, I would like to encourage you to tell us what you would like to see in future Blue & Gray’s, on the web site, or at the 2020 reunion.  This is an alumni organization for all 17 classes and we are all getting older. Don’t wait to do something!

Best regards, Bill

  A new Memory to post from Lucille Heap Martin, Class of 1953.

A New MEMORY to Post:  Submitted by Anita McGuire Melia, Class of 1966

There were always rumors and legends about most of our teachers.  One that I remember was Mr. Van Metre (Art & Civics).  It was rumored that once he met a student, he would always remember their name.

SEEKING NEW MEMBERS AND INPUT