By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

Six decades have passed since members of the Dawson-Bryant High School class of 1964 walked across the stage to receive their diplomas as they embarked on their next phase of life. It was apparent to those in attendance at this weekend’s class reunion events that the close-knit nature of the classmates made it seem as though no time had passed whatsoever.
Reunion events were held at The Depot Saturday evening and Paul Porter Park on Sunday. Class member and reunion organizer Sue Richendollar Lunsford said, “this one’s pretty special.”
“Everyone is getting older,” she said. “It’s special every time we get together now. We’ve already lost 55 of our classmates out of 106.”
Lunsford said some class members were unable to attend due to health while others live across the county.
“We’re so thrilled to see the ones who are able to come who can enjoy themselves and visit one another while we’re all still doing well,” she said.
One of the special memories for the class was how it held proms on a ship going up and down the Ohio River.
“We were all dressed up and dancing. Of course, a lot of the guys went down underneath and played cards the whole night,” Lunsford said with a laugh.
“Our class was more like a family,” she said.
One of the class members who lives farthest away is class President Dee Deeds who lives in Florida.
“I don’t get to see these people very often,” he said. “When I come back to shake a hand, get a hug, get a kiss—it means all the world.”
Deeds said among those in attendance at this reunion are ideas and backgrounds that have “conquered everything there is.”
“There are teachers, preachers, those with buildings named after us, to truck drivers to whatever you want—they’re in there,” he said. “They’ve done it; they’ve done a great job at it.”
Deeds said he wouldn’t miss the 60-year reunion for anything.
“They’re just good, good people,” he said.
One man in attendance came to Deeds’ house every day they were in school to wake him up and get them to school. It was Dave Conley.
“We walked to school together every day,” Deeds said.
The class was bound by sports.
“I lost six ballgames in four years in high school,” he said. “You don’t do that. The last two years we were undefeated. I can look around here and see five or six of the teammates. Coal Grove had that reputation, and they’ve kept it.”
Class members spoke of several of their teachers during the reunion.
“I go to church with Gary Duty,” Lunsford said. “He was our history teacher. Also, our teacher Lloyd Richmond is 104! Syble Shaffer lives in Ironton. She’s in her 90s.”
One class member, Judy Fliehman Profitt, brought her trumpet she played while in high school to the reunion—playing the Coal Grove Hornets fight song for everyone.
“She did great, even after 60 years,” Lunsford said.