Terriers celebrate 70th anniversary

Members of the Reddick High School Class of 1954, from left, William “Billy” Heagy, D. A. Lewis, Ann Dryden Preston and Lois McRay Atkins. [Photo by Annabelle Leitner]

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Posted November 7, 2024 | By Janice Ray, Special to the Gazette

Seventy years ago, Reddick High School was the heart of a small farming community in northwest Marion County. The red brick building that once stood on old Highway 441 was demolished three years ago, as the aging Terriers gathered on the front steps of the gym one last time to sing the alma mater and the school’s fight song. The high school had closed its doors when it was consolidated with Anthony and Fort McCoy high schools to form North Marion High School.

On Nov. 2, about 110 Terriers gathered again, three miles away, for the annual RHS Reunion in the North Marion High School auditorium where 18 members of the Class of 1954 were honored. Representing the 1954 Terriers were class president, D.A. Lewis Jr., homecoming king and queen Billy Heagy and Lois McRae Atkins, with Ann Dryden Preston, class secretary and cheerleader.

The NMHS auditorium stepped back in time, as it was festively decorated with RHS memorabilia. On display were old yearbooks, class photos and glory day display boards, alongside faded letterman and cheerleader sweaters, basketball uniforms and a majorette outfit that belonged to Pam Simpson Girard. Alumni had a chance to walk down memory lane once again. A special video and a written class history highlighted the Class of 1954 achievements through the years, followed by much laughter and some tears.

The oldest alumni, Nora Lou Heasler Gibson, from the Class of 1947, was crowned Queen for the Day, as she led the group with her still beautiful voice in singing the alma mater and the fight song.

Jim “Mr. Terrier” Stroup, former mayor of Reddick, NMHS football chain gang member and Reddick librarian shared stories about former teachers and students while keeping the crowd alert with his wit, wisdom and humor. Doris Spears Farnbach, a home economics teacher at RHS, was recognized, along with George Keep, who was a RHS grad, coach and then principal at North Marion High School.

The RHS Reunion Committee initiated a scholarship fund five years ago to keep the Terrier spirit alive by awarding outstanding NMHS seniors with $1,000 toward their college education. A special tribute this year was the renaming the scholarship in honor of D.A. Lewis Jr., a 1954 RHS graduate. Henceforth, the scholarship will be known as The D.A. Lewis Jr. RHS Scholarship.

This year, the Dukes family, Wanda Dukes Godwin and Wayne Dukes, RHS graduates, donated a full scholarship in memory of their brother, Donald Lamar Duke. Donald graduated with the RHS Class of 1955 and enrolled at the University of Florida, where he joined the Gator band and worked with the band director in developing some interesting programs for the Gator marching band. In 1959, he lacked one semester of completing his doctorate degree in pharmacy when he received his U.S. Army military orders to report for active duty, where he spent the next 20-plus years. In the 1970’s, Donald was living in Washington, D.C., where he was program manager of the first wireless extension of the internet. He went on to become program manager of what is now known as the world wide web computer system. He died Feb. 20, 2019, from Agent Orange illness. Many thanks to the Dukes family and other alumni who so generously contributed to the RHS scholarship fund this year.

Another big thanks goes out to North Marion High School Principal Matt Johnson for the time and effort he put into helping make the reunion a day to remember for all the Reddick High School Terrier alumni.

Until we meet again in 2025!