Published: October 29, 2008 02:54 pm

Bradley School Reunion Held

The Annual Bradley Reunion was held Sunday, October 5, 2008 in the Lindsay School cafeteria. Fall decorations greeted the approximately 100 alumni, family, friends and past residents of Bradley and the Bradley schools. Joy Covel Riley served as this year’s President and Mistress of Ceremonies. Rush Springs Bed and Breakfast catered the noon meal that was enjoyed by all.

The President called the meeting to order and Dr. Jerry Nye of Weatherford, Oklahoma, led the invocation. The crowd joined in the flag salute and lunch was served. Following the lunch, Joy Riley made announcements and read the names of those included on the memoriam page this year. Those names of deceased friends were as follows: Aaron “Cracker” Stucks, Horace “Hoss” Crow, Bob Burkes, Carrie Ellen Morris, Earnest Parker, Newt Elmore, Jr., Warren H. Rodgers. Gerald Perkins; Mazie Parker, John McKenna, Margaret Elizabeth Morris, Kyle Ledford and Ray Knapp, spouse of Marie McCord Knapp. A moment of silence was held for these friends. Our sincerest sympathy to the families of these loved ones and our apologies to any families whose name was omitted from this list.

The entertainment for the reunion was furnished by The Happy Rodgers Trio: Linda Rodgers Cope, Jeannie Rodgers Griswold and Nancy Rodgers Goleman, daughters of B.A. “Hap” and Audrey Nye Rodgers. The program was a musical tribute to the eras from the 1920s-30s until the time of the closure of the Bradley High School in 1968. The program was very entertaining and informative due to bits of Bradley history presented during the program. The Happy Rodgers Trio is a gospel group sharing their testimony in song.

Special recognitions for the reunion were as follows: Recognition of the most senior man in attendance went to Roy Powell. Mr. Powell was also recognized as the oldest Bradley high school graduate in attendance from the class of 1938. Mr. Powell was also celebrating his 70th anniversary of his graduation. The most senior lady attending was Mary Jane Adams Eubanks. The person traveling the farthest to attend the reunion was Mary Beth Bennett Bertrain from Yucca Valley, CA. The largest family in attendance was recognized as the Rodgers family with the following members present for a total of nine: Nancy Rodgers Goleman, Linda Rodgers Cope, Jeannie Rodgers Griswold, Debra Rodgers Hamilton, Mary Rodgers Dimmitt, Wade Rodgers, Joann Rodgers Coffey, Bill Hogan and Sue Tedder.

Recognition of former teachers were Dwaine and Wanda (Motley) Schneider and Kermit Selzer. Representing the class of 1943 were: Delois Hicks Taylor, Frankie Selzer Anthony and Mary Beth Bennett Bertrain. Jay Mann was in attendance representing the class of 1944. K. O. Selzer and Edna Dye Ridings represented the class of 1947. Iona Kirk Renner was in attendance for the class of 1948. Class of 1949 representative was Earl James Branch. Virginia Jones Cunningham represented the class of 1950. Dr. Jerry Nye represented the class of 1951 and presented a special tribute to the class of 1958 relating to a story about the basketball team for that year. L. B. Hoyle and Bryan Branch represented the class of 1952. Dwane Farmer was in attendance for a short while, representing the class of 1953. The class of 1954 had Inadean Rodgers Hoyle, Bill Branch and Max Lance in attendance. The class of 1956 was represented by Merlene Branch Jones Robertson and Wanda Motley Schneider. A special recognition of the class of 1958 on the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Bradley High School. Those in attendance were Bernard Wright, Helen Tannehill Badertscher, Earl Coffey, Margie Powell Lutke, Bob Badertscher, Gerold Taylor and Emmett Tobey. The class of 1958 held a get together prior to the reunion with a large portion of their class in attendance. The class of 1959 was represented by Shirley Hearon Davis, Sue Branch Wilhelm and Mary Sue Rogers Lathrop. Jim Logue and Edward Hoyle were in attendance from the class of 1960. Robert Coffey, Wade Rogers and Sammy Nye represented the class of 1965. Jo Ann Rodgers Coffey represented the class of 1967. The class of 1968 who celebrated their 40th reunion this year included Mary Rodgers Dimmitt and Freda Jo Dennis Barrington. Many other past residents, students, friends and family were in attendance.

Election of officers for the 2009 reunion was as follows: L. B. Hoyle, President by acclamation, and Sharon Nye Russell, Coordinator, Vice President and Treasurer.

A special thanks to Doyle Greteman and the Lindsay Schools for their support of the Bradley reunion. Also special thanks to the Happy Rodgers Trio, Rush Springs Bed and Breakfast, to Jim Russell and Joseph Morris and all those who helped clean up after the reunion.

Source: Chickasha Express Star