I tell you what, our class played the meanest two-hand touch football ever played. Kids nowadays, with their pads, we would have sent them home to momma crying.”Charles Kenneth Bowen
CULLMAN – On Saturday, Jan. 16, members of Fairview High School’s class of 1963 held their 53rd reunion. The group met at Ryan’s restaurant in Cullman and filled it with conversation, laughter and lots of wonderful memories. There were 81 students who graduated from FHS all those years ago, but sadly, 23 of those members have passed away. The remaining classmates took a moment of silence at the beginning of the evening to remember their friends who could not be with them.
Life was a lot different in 1963 than it is now. The room was filled with big smiles as people sat together, sharing a meal and reminiscing about the good ole days.
“1963 was a wonderful time to be in school; there was a whole different value system back then,” said Class Vice President, Gary Reid. “The Vietnam War was going on then; beyond that we grew up in a time where most people could realize the American dream. We all wanted to aspire. We were a good bunch of kids and had some wonderful teachers and administrators. It was good times.
“I taught school for 31 years,” he continued. “I started in 1967; I was four years out of high school. The kids back then was (sic) a lot like my generation, they were raised to respect authority. It’s a whole different thing now.”
Football was really different in 1963, especially in the county schools!
“I tell you what, our class played the meanest two-hand touch football ever played,” said Charles Kenneth Bowen. “Kids nowadays, with their pads, we would have sent them home to momma crying. We could have played them in their pads and would have whooped them,” he chuckled. “We graduated before football went to the county schools. We played two-hand touch football and had tackle rules. We worked hard, long hours and we played rough. Kids nowadays, they are just not tough anymore.”
The Vietnam War touched the FHS class of 1963 personally.
“We had our groups we ran with,” Bowen added. “Our class was hit hard with the draft for Vietnam. We lost two guys in Vietnam from our class. One of the guys quit school and joined the Army. He was killed in ‘Nam. He was like a brother to me.”
The bonds of friendship were formed way before senior year, and those same bonds are still holding strong.
“For nine years, several of us went to school at Baileyton and had to go to Fairview for 10th, 11th and 12th grades,” said Melba (Stidham) Clark. “When I first went to Fairview in 10th grade, I thought it was such a big school and I was so nervous at first,” she giggled. “I found out a lot of people had come from Welti and we all became friends. It was enjoyable. Our class was one of those that everybody just fit right together, like family,” she smiled.
Visiting with old friends is always fun. Luckily the class of ’63 has a chance to get together on a monthly basis.
“Our class meets here at Ryan’s on the third Friday of each month at 1 p.m.,” said Joyce (Williams) Rodgers. “We usually have a pretty good crowd. It’s a great way to keep up with each other and maintain contact. We meet every month except for November and December because of the holidays and bad weather. Everyone from the Fairview class of 1963 is welcome to come,” she grinned.
At the end of the evening, the classmates posed for pictures before they said their goodbyes, with everyone vowing to see each other again “real soon.”
To find out what’s going on at Fairview High School now, visit http://qrne.ws/fhs.
