1956 Class Reunion 1996

LYNDA SCURLOCK

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After graduating from Center, I attended Centenary College and graduated from SMU in 1960 with my teaching certification. I have been employed by the Dallas Public School System for 36 years. During that time I achieved my Masters and went into counseling in the schools. Presently I work at W. T. White High School.

I have been fortunate to travel on my vacation times and have had wonderful experiences all over the world. However, it is still wonderful to keep the ties with all of Center. I look forward to seeing lots of friends there this fall and appreciate all those who are working on the preparations for all of us.

Lee or Lucretia--Thanks to you for everything. Use what you want of this letter.

FRED ALAN (PETE) SPANN

Personal history for the last 40 years:

Connie and I have been married 32 years (October 2, 1964.) We have three grown daughters, Becky, born in 1966, Vicki, born in 1969, and Frances, born in 1971.

I have worked for the Santa Fe Railroad since 1969, and have traveled a great deal with this job. It kept me away from home much of the past 25 years. I have worked close to home and have slept with my wife for the past four years, which she really seems to enjoy. I am now foreman of a bridge gang with the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad.

Becky married Brian Harkness in 1990 and they have one handsome son, Justin Alan, who is 6 years old, and a beautiful little girl, Sara Ashley, who is two. Sara is just learning to talk and we believe that she is making up the time she missed. She is a constant jabber.

All of my children graduated from Center High School and live in or near the Center area. Frances is currently enrolled at SFA and is pursuing a degree to teach school. Vicki lives in Nacogdoches but never seems to leave my house. I thought she moved out two years ago, but always seems to be at home.

Becky's husband, Brian, is in the logging business and Becky drives a school bus for Center School and also substitute teaches.

Connie and I followed every band bus that had a child of ours on it for may years and look forward to following each activity our grandchildren pursue. Little league baseball is the highlight of the early summer and not to brag, but the little kid named Justin was the best player on the team.

CORA LOVE TUCKER EVERAGE

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I graduated from SFA and moved to Houston. Married Tom Everage and we moved to Baytown. We have two daughters; Daphne and Cynthia. We moved around to Maryland, New York, Ireland, England and Germany when the girls were little and have now lived in Houston for over 20 years.

Daphne is a lawyer in Biloxi, Mississippi. She was also in the Navy for a while. Cynthia lives and works in Houston and is an environmentalist. She has had many exciting travels in far-a-way places -sailing down the Amazon, etc., and met may exciting folks like Allen Alda and Clint Eastwood.

I am teaching 5th grade.

Both my girls have October birthdays and have planned to be at my house for the celebration - so I doubt I can make the homecoming.

BARBARA WALKER PARKER

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Jim and I will be married 41 years this Dec. We have four children: Larry, Jerry, Sherry and Terry.

Larry lives in Hot Springs, Ark. He has been with Sears over 10 yrs. Ten more years and he can retire and do what he has dreamed about, making movies.

Jerry began drawing from the first time he picked up paper and pencil. He drew the nativity scene at Christmas. Mrs. Conway said that he could become an artist. He never got the chance. He drowned twenty one years ago. There will always be an empty space in our hearts.

Sherie is a nurse. It was very hard for her. She has three children: Sherry, and twins, April and Chrysal. She took care of them at home, plus she became and LVN. Now she is going back to college to become a counselor to help abused children.

Terry was born with a cleft pallet. He had two surgeries while in school. He went to school and graduated. He had a love of writing and painting. He wrote a book. With encouragement from Stephen Spielburg, he sent his book to four different publishers. One of them is considering his book. Also, he has already sold ten of his paintings. When he is not writing or painting, he buys and sells at flea markets in different parts of the state.

As for me, my accomplishments are my children, on whom I am very proud.

The booklet you wrote about sounds great. Please let me know how I can get one. I probably will not be able to attend because of Jim's band health. I don't like to leave him alone.

OVIA DELL WALKER BIGGAR

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

My children are: Mona McSwain

Mona's children: Eric, Vickie, and Jamie. Eric & Mandy Perry are expecting. Vickie & Mitch Sneed have a little girl, Taylor, 18 Mo. Son, Jamie Perry - not married

Tammy Stanaland married to Terry Stanaland, they have one son, Stephen, age 10.

Mona and Tammy's dad died in 1972.

I married Joe Biggar and he has two children:

Marvin Biggar - has Kennie Joe and April Biggar

Debbie Biggar Crump - has Grover & Krystal Anthony

Joe and I have a poultry farm out on the upper Arcadia Road and we stay very busy.

Hope to see you at the reunion.

JANE WARR CUPIT

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

It would take a "great big" book to just highlight the past forty years of my life. I am so blessed!

Vernon D. Cupit and I were married April 13, 1956. That is 40-1/2 years ago. He is still that handsome guy.

Our children are: the oldest, a daughter, Janet Cupit Parker, school teacher in Nacogdoches. She and her husband, Tony, have our only granddaughter, Abbey Jayne (16 yrs.), a twirler at Nacogdoches High School; two sons, Cade (8 yrs.) and Alex (2 yrs.). Our son, Jeff Cupit, is Director of Inspectional Services/Fire Marshall for the City of Nacogdoches. Jeff and his wife, Shelia, have three boys, Ryan (16 yrs.), J. Cole (8 yrs.), and Cody (5 yrs.).

Vernon and I retired in 1976 from the United States Air Force. I have lived almost everywhere except Zimbabwe. After college, I taught special needs children: was Administrative Assistant for the Regional Day School for the Deaf, Nacogdoches: DETCOG Summer Counselor; Director of Katherine Sage Temple Day School, Diboll; and served as Director of Lottie & Arthur Temple Civic Center, Diboll. I retired early to assist with my grandchildren while their parents were finishing their educations. This is my very best, and most prestigious job!!

Vern is the City Manager of Diboll, Texas. We have lived in Diboll thirteen years. However, we still have our home in Nacogdoches. I spent time at both homes. If and when we can ever retire, we will come back home to Nacogdoches.

My family and I are all Christians. Our life is just so beautiful! My mother, Nell Warr, passed away in 1985. My Father, E. H. Warr, age 86, lives near my home in Nacogdoches. I have many relatives in Center and lots of nieces and nephews that have and still attend Center schools. I visit Center often. I love and am thankful for the groundwork that Center Elementary and Center High School instilled in my life. "Good ole" Center is the greatest!!

I want to say that Lee Gayle and Lucretia aren't good candidates for the F.B.I.! ha! Also, a big thanks to Lee & Cretia for all they do for our class!

CECIL WATLINGTON

Personal history of last 40 years.

Graduated from CHS and entered the Navy with Drennon Yarborough, Billy Ray Goodman and Bobby Jernigan. Had 48 weeks of aviation electronic school. Spent 3 years stationed in Hawaii. Discharged in 1960.

Came back to Center to attend school and work in a parts store.

Married Virginia Lampley in May, 1961. Son, Jasen, was born in 1963. Daughter, Hope, born in 1969.

Sept., 1967, I started my own business-Toledo Automotive.

Jan., 1990, Our granddaughter, Elizabeth was born.

We travel quite a bit in our motorhome. Our granddaughter goes with us whenever she can. I play golf when I can and enjoy life as much as possible.

Our son is the manager of our store and our daughter is the manager of the furniture dept. at Foley's in Houston.

BOBBY DOYCE WATSON

Personal History for the last 40 years:

I have been married to Linda Samford for 36 years and most of this time, we have lived in Center. I have worked in the Port Arthur/Beaumont area for many years---(refinery construction,) Linda teaches Special Education classes at F. L. Moffett Primary School.

We have two daughters---Lisa Verrett who lives in Buna and TEna Hathorn who lives in Center. We also have 5 grandchildren who are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

ROBERT STEVEN (STEVIE) WEBB

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Betty and I have two sons:

Barry works for Massey Brown and his wife, Kim, is a coach for Nacogdoches High School. Barry has 1 daughter, Emily, age 5.

Darin is the head basketball coach in Harmony (near Gilmer.) His wife, Wendi, teaches 1st grade there. They are expecting their first child in May.

We have always lived in Center. I drive a truck for Tom's and Betty works at Farmer's State Bank.

SHIRLEY WIGGINS LOUT

Personal history for the last 40 years:

I didn't get to graduate with my class in "54". I have been married to J. H. Lout for 42 years. We were married in June of "54". We have lived below Shelbyville for all those 42 years. We had 4 sons, Mike, Ricky, Shon and Barry. We lost one son in a car accident in 1990 at the age of 29. That has been the greatest loss in our lives. There has been a lot of happiness and joy also. We have 6 grandchildren, 3 girls and 3 boys. They range in age from 5 to 17 years.

My husband and sons have a chip mill in San Augustine. J.H. is semi-retired and the boys take care of the business. I would enjoy having one of the booklets to learn what the lives of the rest of the class has been.

DOWLIN WILSON ARNOLD

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

After college (August, 1959), I married Sammy (November, 1959), and we lived in Houston and then Dallas where Michelle, our daughter, was born in 1963. We moved to Longview in 1965, found our niche, and have stayed for over 30 years. Michelle attended Pine Tree schools, is married, and lives a few miles from us.

For many years, I worked for an oil pipeline company, but now I mostly stay home. Sammy continues to work and, so far, will not agree to move to Shelby County with me.

Our welcome mat is always out to all of you.

KENNETH A. WILSON

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Having always planned to return to Shelby County on retirement, we were able to do this in the summer of 1995. I had 34 years of teaching in Orange, and Helen needed to teach another year before she could retire. She taught at CJS last year.

Helen and I have been married 32 years. Our marriage was the result of a junior high romance at Carr Junior High in Orange. It was not the typical junior high romance for we were both teachers.

We have two children. Allen, who is a University of Texas graduate, chose a military career. He and his wife Chris are currently at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey where he is a navigator on a C141 plane with the rank of captain.

Our daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Todd, live outside College Station were they both work. As they are A&M graduates, they do not want to live far from A&M.

We have bought a place 8 miles from Center, a mile of it is a dirt county road. After living in subdivisions in Orange for all those years, we are enjoying the peace and quiet of rural living.

CHET WINGER

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I moved to Nacogdoches in my junior year of HS and graduated there, but I have always considered center and the '56 class "Home."

In June '56, I joined the air force for 4 years & graduated from SFA 3-1/2 years later. I moved to Houston and was a CPA with Arthur Anderson & Co. for seven yrs. I moved to Lufkin/Diboll in 1970 to take advantage of a great opportunity with Temple. I am Tax Director/Asst. Treasurer of Temple-Inland, Inc. and have watched our company (Fortune 250) grow to several $billion in sales, and my staff grow to 15 CPA's and attorneys.

I have a daughter, Kimberly, and a son, Kyle. Kim is a teacher and librarian with Spring, Tx, ISD, with great son-in-law, Kurt, and 1st grandbaby in Feb., '96. Kyle is an accountant in Ft. Worth and is getting married August 31. Both kids have masters degrees from U. of Texas.

I was married to Judy Williams for 20 years. Am now married to Lisa, who, most of the time, thinks my jokes are funny.

We plan to see everyone on Oct. 12--40 yrs. is a long time! By the way, we enjoy a good red wine-Does Center have any of that? See you then.