Published: November 09, 2005 11:32 am      

Homecoming: A home town point of view

Inside Navarro County

A crowd estimated between 250 and 300 gathered in the City Park the evening of Oct. 20 to either participate in or enjoy the homecoming parade and pep rally. The parade, led by our very own police chief Nicole McMahan, complete with fire trucks, tractors (BIG farm and restored antiques), one horse and rider, trailers, four wheelers, dignitaries (Mayor Sears and JP Donna Murray), homecoming queen nominees, DHS band, the All Stars Drill Team; and lots of candy preceded the pep rally with the high school band playing and the cheer leaders performing on the concrete slab for the new pavilion in the park.

The weather was nice, the park was clean, well trimmed, and beautiful. We had politicians shaking hands and meeting the crowd; and many old friends just meeting and visiting. It was the kind of meeting that makes you proud to be an American and a Dawsonite. It could be said, "A good time was had by all".

On Saturday Oct. 22 , following the Ex-Students activities many towns people attended the VFD Chili Supper and an estimated 200 stayed for the country band called Ira Bradford and "Bustin Loose". The 100 block of North Main was closed off and folks brought their favorite lawn chair to visit and listen to the music. Some even danced in the middle of the street. I'm told that's why it was called a Street Dance.

Dawson Homecoming 2005 held the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22 has now become history. No doubt it will long live in the minds of some 250 to 300 Ex-Students who came 'home' to be a part of the festivities. We all enjoyed the Friday afternoon gathering at the school cafeteria prior to the boys winning big over the Cayuga team. We got to see the Homecoming Queen and her court all arrayed in beautiful gowns with lots of homecoming streamers and things. The Band played and the Dawson All-Stars performed their best routine yet with the hoops.

The Ex's met for their annual meeting at 10: 00am on Saturday morning to a large crowd in the cafeteria, again. We heard the State of the School address given by School Superintendent Hugh Ellis.

Awards were given to several who came the most distance (June and Wayne Hasse from Phoenix), graduated the earliest (Ms Winnie Nesmith class of 1934), and finally the latest (Scott Heaton class of 1990). Then we had a great Bar B Q (140 served) meal with the Chuck Wagon served by Bill Waller and David Brown.

John David Waller was there with his 'git em up' duds on serving the brisket and sausage. I guess it just goes without saying, as they say, we all had a great time and look forward to next year. So many did so much to make our weekend a success it would be impossible to thank them all; but they know who they are and we do too.

I first came to Dawson in 1955. 1 came because of a certain young lady named Billie Sue Matthews. No question that she's the best thing that ever happened to me, and I'm glad she was born and raised in Dawson. We met in Dallas at The East Dallas Baptist Church and began to see a lot of each other even though I had no car. I first met her folks, Ott and Flora Matthews, at the Corsicana Bus station when we stopped there for her to spend the weekend with them and I was going on to Jewett, actually Buffalo, as that was as close as the bus got to Jewett, my home town.

We were married in the First Baptist Church of Dawson on July 14, 1956 with the ceremony being performed by Bro. W. 0. Estes who was one of Dawson's greatest pastors.

The first big function I remember attending in Dawson was the 75th Anniversary in 1956. It was a biggie. People were everywhere. We had a hard time finding a parking place for our 1953 Chevy. At that time we bought Mr. Alva Taylor's book about the beginning of Dawson. Mr. Taylor had made the pictures at our wedding; and we kept them as well as his book and cherish both to this day.

We lived in Dallas, Waco, Chicago, and back to DeSoto in 1973 until retirement in 1991. 1 worked for the same company, International Harvester, for almost 37 years during that time and spent most of my time on the road. Billie raised the two boys with what little help I gave on the weekends. Then in 1991 we moved to Dawson (Spring Hill) on the land that was once owned by George Washington Hill and eventually by Billie's dad. Our aunt Ora (Gig) used to say Spring Hill was the prettiest place in Navarro County, and we agreed.

In early 1994, some of Billie's classmates and others from the mid-fifties DHS classes began to talk of forming an alumni association. Finally, on September 30, 1994 a group of six meet in our home and the first dues were paid. Those meeting were: Don Burns, Don Sykes, Don Holliday, Joyce Rogers Kendall, and Billie and me. I believe we had five life members join that day of which I became the first life member who had never attended Dawson School.

Since joining and beginning to meet all the good folk who did attend Dawson School, I have enjoyed every minute of at least ten annual meetings and maybe 40 or so Board Meetings. So much good has been done by the Association for the school, community, the city, and so many young people who have received scholarships.

Since inception to date, something over $39,000.00 has been collected and used by the Association's Board of Directors to fund and/or help fund many worthwhile projects. Currently the Association awards four $500 scholarships to DHS seniors each year.

For the future, the greatest need as I see it is for younger Ex Students to become involved with those of us who are not getting any younger and keep this venture viable for years to come.