Contributed by
Lathan Rhame Luna

Photo by Jack Owen Photography

Graduates of Dreher High School’s Class of 1955 had their 50th class reunion September 30, 2005. The festive, catered occasion was held at Leaside Convention and Reception Center in Columbia, SC.

Registration began at 5 pm. The class president, Ron Melvin, welcomed the classmates and commended the reunion committee on their hard work in locating the classmates and planning the event. Lamar Hammett gave the invocation. Heavy hors d’ouvres and cocktails were served during the evening with background music furnished by “Sweet Thang” Eddie Brown and his band.

It was a fun evening catching up on the events of the last 20 years with classmates not seen since the last reunion in 1985. Many classmates did not attend the last reunion so it was quite a challenge attempting to recognize each other as we had matured in such different ways. Added weight, loss of hair, graying hair did not help because we tried to remember each other as we had looked during our senior year.

According to the 1955 Dreher annual there were 240 classmates. There are 48 deceased and 31 unable to be located. Of the estimated 175 people attending, some came from as far away as California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas. There were also classmates from several of the other north/south eastern states and the Carolinas.

There was a memorial table, with burning votives, in honor of all deceased classmates with a miniature framed picture and their name.

All agreed we should plan another in several years and not wait another 10–20 years. If any classmates have not been contacted, they can get in touch with Lathan Rhame Luna, 3324 Wilmot Avenue, Columbia, SC 29205.

Classmates attending 50th reunion

Jerri (Alyward) and

John Greene

George Bailey

William and Ginger Barron

Frank and Raejean Beattie

Townsend Belser and

Margo London

Sally Bolton Norris

Ann Boyd Dunlap

Pat (Bozardt) and

Carey Brazell

Joe and Elaine Brantley

Betty Jean (Broughton) and Jimmy Massey

Bill Callaway

Patti (Cameron) and

Bill Rivers

Merwin and Alice Camp

Charles and Paula Carriker

Madeline (Caughman) and Tom Richie

Charlene (Cheeks) Cook

Sam and Cynthia Clarke

Virginia (Clarke) Dixon

John and Cookie Cloyd

Barbara (Connelly) Caldwell

Mary (Craighill) Yellowlee

Leonard (Sonny) Daniels

Pat (Davidson) Lee

Leeton and Brenda Lee

Patsy (Davis) and

Gilbert DuPre

Henry (Bud) Edens

Betty (Edwards) Dyches

Walter and Janie Edwards

Alice Enright

Bryson and Ida Marie Epting

Elinor (Fishburne) McConnell

Jimmy and Martha Freeman

June (Fulmer) and

Malcolm Dunn

Jimmy Galletly

Josie (Geiger) and

Charles Velick

Arthur Gross

Gloria (Guyon) and

Frank McAulay

Lamar and Dian Hammett

Pat (Harden) Lackey

Archie and Sally Hardy

Katherine (Harman) and Karl Brandt

Saundra (Harvin) and

Randy Smoak

Roger and Margie Hogg

King and Alana Holmes

Frances (Hudson) Granger

Nan (Hughes) and

Jim Rogers

Bob and Pat Humphries

William Hunt

Betty (Ingram) and

Walter Procko

Curtis and Elaine Jones

George and Joyce Karnazes

Harriet (King) and

John Iiames

Ann (Kirven) Moore

Charles and Mary Lesesne

Gene and Anne Lesesne

Page Lever

Grady Lindler and

Brenda Smith

Ray Littlejohn

Mary Lucas

Mac and Linda Lupold

Nancy Sue McCutcheon

Dick and Joyce Melton

Ron and Nancy Melvin

Nick Moore

Carlisle and

Fran (sister) Oxner

Joe and Joy Padgett

Julie (Petoskey) Smoak

Danny Phipps

Marigene (Player) and Mansfield Simmons

Ted and Cheryl Revenel

Aimee (Reese) and

John Kornegay

Lathan (Rhame) Luna

J C Rhine

Jan (Rocky) and

Nancy Rhodes

Phil and Helen Richardson

Ken and Happy Richmond

Maxcy and Judy Rivkin

Janie Lee (Robinson) and Gary Banks

Richard and Carol Sasnett

Thomas Sayetta

Julian Shand

Jimmy and Barbara Montjoy

Joe Tom and Iris Smith

Camille (Starling) and 'Whitey' Burdick

Jim and 'Rosi' Swan

Byron Taylor and

Betsy (friend)

Nancy (Terry) and

Francis Faulling

Jo (Toland) Heslin

Nancy (True) Crain

Peaches (Watson) Page

Sally (Watson) Thomas

John and Ann Wells

Civila (Whittle) and

Bruce McCarrell

Al and Patricia Whitworth

Betty (Witherspoon) and

Ray Howe

Emily (Yates) Jordan

Robert Zeigler

Invited Columbia High School 1955 graduates

Ray and Mary Ann Antley

Frank and Raejean Beattie