Fifty years!

Can it be true?

Time has tested both me and you.

Oh, how the years have come and gone,

From 18 to 68; they really have flown.

Seems only yesterday, you and I stood,

Receiving diplomas from one in a hood.

Crossing the stage at the old Township;

Giving our tassels the appropriate flip.

Innocent babes cast in the Lion's Den,

Our real educations about to begin,

With each new day the pitfalls were rife,

We went down our roads and lessons of life.

Some walked with us, then went other ways,

Others shared their full earthly stays.

Life has awarded us chuckles and frowns,

Each has endured unique ups and downs.

Now we return with friends from the past

Savouring moments and holding them fast,

Each with our wrinkles, time is to blame,

But peering with eyes that twinkle the same.

Names bounce around like echos off rock,

Hicks, Graham, Godbold, Little, Babcock.

McSwain, Dantzler, Pitts, Pearlstine,

Whitmire, Borders, Lugenbeel, Carter, Dean.

McDearmon, Gibert, Loadholt, Pinkerton,

Purvis, Webb, Piner and Allison.

From here we go forward, later to meet

as a smaller class, the Lord will delete

A few more souls from our waning number,

'Til we too shall join the eternal slumber.

Hold your head high as onward we go,

Tho' hair become whiter and pace become slow,

Carry this with you, the message is clear;

For Columbia High '56 WAS a very good year!

C. Joseph Roof

Class Poet