As proud Bulldogs, the Class of ‘67 continues to leave an indelible mark on our alma mater, embodying the spirit of determination and unity that defines the South High School community. Cruise our website to learn more about our history!

55th Reunion

We met in the party room at Classics Sports Bar on S. High Street in the Brewery District on August 20, 2022. Two videos looped on the big screen and Don Cary, SHS ’64, and classmate Jack Fox played live (and recorded) tunes from the stage. It was a summer Sunday, 5pm to 8pm, so everyone could drive home while it would still be light outside. Best-laid plans ended when a huge rainstorm hit downtown C’bus. Classmates were stuck in their cars in the parking lot during the torrential downpour. Gail Crombie Bennett sat in hers for 55 minutes before coming inside. Kim Miklos drove home when pieces of rooftops blew past, overhead and we never got to see him. By 8pm trees were down, CPD had major intersections closed, and it was dark! Classmates had to take detours driving home.

Classmates celebrated inside, safe and dry. Ria Genoozis Harvey served as emcee and announced our thanks to Valerio Dalicandro for donating THE ROCK, our lasting legacy to South High School. We did not take a group picture, but we have good singles. Al Willhite sold 50/50 raffle tickets, and Beverly Lambert Stump was the grand winner. Additional tickets were selected for bottles of red wine, donated by Joel and Ada Wilson Kent and tagged with the label 1967.

Our 35-year old banner, BRING BACK THAT BULLDOG FEELING, was affixed to the wall but came tumbling down early. Could that have been an omen?

ROCK ON, BULLDOGS!

Our Class of 1967 proudly gifted South High School and celebrated the installation of THE ROCK on October 27, 2021. Sitting in front of South at the street, THE ROCK announces SHS’s street number (1160), and in its lower quadrant is engraved: SOUTH HIGH, CLASS of 1967.

Thanks to its generous donor Valerio Dalicandro, Bishop Hartley ’64, who transported the two-ton beauty from his farm on Summit Road in Licking County to an engraver on Williams Road, THE ROCK unfortunately sat idle. Months later, Valerio once again picked up THE ROCK and hauled it, this time to Lang Stone in the Brewery District on Short Street, a connection made by classmate Bob Miller. Lang Stone took over, transported it to another engraver on Hague Avenue, and finally delivered it to a prepared site on Ann Street—a journey of 15 months from the fall of 2020 to the fall of 2021.

An excited group of classmates, including Frank McCathran, Sylvia Holland, Gail Crombie Bennett, Frances Beasley, Valerio Dalicandro, Al Willhite, Ria Genoozis Harvey, Brenda Reese Willhite, Vivian James Peterson, Ada Wilson Kent, Tom Culver, John Cheatham and Dan Hoffman showed up for THE ROCK’s dedication, singing and dancing to many recorded tunes, including “We Will Rock You” and “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” It was Records Day at SHS; students were not in attendance, and we had the entire front walkway to ourselves for a private celebration!

Generous classmates sent donations to pay for the THE ROCK’s engraving. And we officially thanked Valerio for his generous gift at our 55th Reunion on August 20, 2022.

Epilogue: Classmate Gail Crombie Bennett was the driver behind our gifting the school with a lasting legacy. Few remember that our class left a gift to the South in 1967 (and no one seems to remember what it was). Gail insisted that we leave a gift for the ages, and THE ROCK has become our lasting legacy. Rock on, Bulldogs!

Remembering Li’l Abner

The musical “Li’l Abner” was a talent show of actors, singers and musicians the spring of our senior year in 1967. Seniors captured major roles in the production: Li'l Abner, Daisy Mae, Marryin’ Sam, Moonbeam McSwine and Mammy and Pappy Yokum. Seniors rocked the stage and 50-plus years later remember: Carol Stonerock Curry “GOOD TIMES!”, Ada Wilson Kent “I thought of Carol and remember a corn cob pipe in her mouth” and Mike Latham “I was a cop.”

Underclassmen were dancers and background cast members; juniors shared memories 50-plus years later: Ronald Eugene Hairston “We got to dance with girls”, Dee Dee Hendricks Lewis “I was a dancer and Steve Zwilling was my dance partner” and Patty Thornhill Hook “Such wonderful memories for me and I was just in the orchestra side of it.”

SHS advisors were Reita Cornell, Drama and Masquers; George Steadman, Vocal Music; and Sid Townsend, Instrumental Music.

Click to see the complete program for our production of Li’l Abner!