The Falmouth High School "Class of 56" that were present for their 50th Year Anniversary Reunion, at the Falmouth School Center gymnasium on September 16, 2006 were Robert Martin, Class President, "Best Personality", Jimmy Justice "Most Talented Boy", Ernest Richie, "Most Popular Boy", Esther Ballinger Buckler "Wittiest Girl", Tommy Delaney "Most Handsome Boy" Dora Helen Caldwell Fields, Salutatorian "Most Studious Girl", Nedra English Marksberry "Best Disposition", Pauline Hyatt Chalfant "Juliet", Ted Monroe "Most Likely to Succeed", Don Adams "Most Mischievous Boy", Tom Woolery "Most Ambitious", Johnny Monroe "Best Sport", Joe Chalfant "Romeo", Larry Clark , Class Treasurer "Most Studious Boy" and Richard Crawford, Class Vice President, "Best All-Around".
Gallery Three Gallery Four Gallery Five
Falmouth Red Devils return home to share memories
By Roger McKinney, reporter
Falmouth High School's "Class of 56", held a reunion at their alma mater on the evening of September 16, 2006. Over the last five years the group has met at the Cold Spring Roadhouse, but for their 50th Year Anniversary Reunion, they decided it would be nice to come home. The long-time friends and their spouses met in the gymnasium, where they ate a delicious dinner prepared by Wyatt's catering and reminisced over things gone by. Many of these former classmates spent all their student years together, for the school building had housed 12 grades.
There were 33 graduates in Falmouth High School's "Class of 56". Eight of those individuals are deceased: Melvin Claypool, Rose Marie Delaney Crawford Leurck, Carol Jean Boothe Sorrell, Lindsey Craddock, Carol Frances Johnting Jackson, Ronald Cookendorfer, Carol Jean Wyatt Ockerman and Larry Sorrel.
Class President and Master of Ceremonies, Robert Martin, asked for a moment of silence to remember those classmates, who had passed on and those who were unable to attend the gathering. Don Adams said grace and gave the invocation. Mr. Adams thanked God for blessing the Class and prayed that He would continue to do so.
After dinner, JoEllen Mitchell, who is the Pendleton Director of Adult, Community and Migrant Education, gave the "Class of 56" a tour of their former school building, which is now the Falmouth School Center. The Center houses an impressive number of educational and social programs. The building is also utilized by the Kincaid Regional Theatre and by various Pendleton athletic groups. Director Mitchell took the class throughout the building and explained its numerous programs. As they toured the Center, as they entered their former classrooms, many memories rushed through the minds of the 1956 graduates. In telephone interviews, conducted days after the reunion, group members expressed how pleased they were that their former school building had remained so viable. They were impressed with the programs and wanted to thank the Pendleton County School Board for supporting the new Falmouth School Center.
The following information was drawn from an interview with Ernie Richie: During their 1955-1956 basketball season the Falmouth Red Devils were undefeated in conference play. The team's overall record was 29 and 5. The Red Devils won the Pen-Sa-Gran Tournament in February and the 38th District Tournament in March. In the Regional Tournament, Falmouth defeated the favored Harrison County in a sudden death game by a score of 53 to 51. Forward Joe Chalfant made the winning basket. Seven players on the Red Devil Basketball team were seniors in 1956: Johnny Monroe, Joe Fields, Richard Crawford, Ronald Cookendorfer, Lindsey Craddock, Ernie Richie and Joe Chalfant. The year 1956 was full of glory days for the Red Devils and for the city of Falmouth. Three separate movie theatres were in operation downtown. Falmouth had a skating rink, a bowling alley, several groceries, two pool rooms and a number of restaurants. The town was always brimming with people on Friday and Saturday nights.
The following information was taken directly from printed text provided by Pauline Chalfant: "Times were good at Falmouth High for this class! Life was simple, everyone was like family. Driver training classes were offered and when we turned 16, everyone got their license, though very few of us had cars to drive. Some of the guys even borrowed or rented cars for the prom and graduation exercises. This group had three couples, who married their high school sweetheart-classmates. Carol Jean Boothe and Larry Sorrel were married in June, 1956, shortly after graduation. They became the proud parents of two children, Joanne and Joe, and grandparents of four grandchildren. Carole Jean and Larry are both deceased. Carole Jean passed away in January, 1993 and Larry in December of 1996. Pauline Hyatt and Joe Chalfant (who were voted Romeo and Juliet by their class members), became engaged on prom night and were married in October, 1956. They became the proud parents of one son, Tom, and have two grandsons. Joe and Pauline will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on October 14. They reside near Falmouth. Rose Marie Delaney and Richard Crawford were married June 21, 1957. They were the proud parents of five children, Beckie, Debbie, Katie, Nancy and Rich. They enjoyed numerous grandchildren. Rose Marie passed away in July, 1990, and Richard resides in Cincinnati with his wife, Phyllis.
Near the conclusion of the reunion ceremonies, each classmate shared his or her favorite memory from their years at Falmouth High. And just before saying goodbye until next time, each member of the "Class of 56" made a generous contribution to the Falmouth Alumni Scholarship Fund. Everyone agreed that having the 50th anniversary reunion of their beloved Falmouth High School had been a joyous experience.