CUMBERLAND -- The
annual Cumberland
Alumni Banquet took
place May 23 at
Viking Enterprises
(the old Cumberland
High School
Building).
John and Peggy
Whited, owners of
Viking Enterprises,
had a slide show of
graduation pictures
from the honored
classes running on
the stage throughout
registration and the
banquet.
They also had all of
the class pictures
along with other
Cumberland High
Viking memorabilia
displayed in the
cafeteria.
The alumni president
gave the welcome and
led those present in
the invocation.
Following the
invocation, the
dinner was served by
T&J Market.
Toward the end of
the meal, a bird
came in through one
of the gym doors. It
made a few passes
over the gym floor
and then left the
way it came in.
There were no
causalities at the
tables (the wall
wasn't so lucky).
After the meal, the
alumni president
recognized those
present who would be
graduating in 2009.
There were two 2009
graduates in
attendance: Dawna
Bebout from
Meadowbrook High
School and Tyler
Driggs from
Tri-Valley High
School. Each one
told about their
plans for furthering
their education.
The alumni president
along with alumni
secretary read the
letters from alumni
in the honored
classes of 1939,
1949, 1959, 1969 and
1979. Alumni from
the honored classes
who were present
were given the
opportunity to add
to their letters or
briefly tell about
their lives after
graduation if they
didn't submit a
letter. There were
23 in attendance
from the honored
classes: 1949,
seven; 1959, ten;
1969, two; and 1979,
four. The earliest
class represented
was 1938 with one
member present,
Doyle Ellis Howell.
When the class
reports were
finished, the
president
re-introduced Tyler
Driggs. He talked
about his family
connections to the
Cumberland area and
sang three patriotic
songs.
During the business
meeting, it was
moved that the slate
of alumni officers
(president, Sandy
Wickham; vice
president, John
LePage Jr.; and
secretary/treasurer,
Jim Moore) be
re-elected for the
coming year.
The answers were
given for the trivia
game in the program.
The game was won by
Dawna Bebout.
Door prizes donated
by over 30 area
businesses, families
and organizations
were distributed.
The president wished
everyone a safe
journey home.
The honored classes
gathered briefly for
group pictures after
the banquet. Many
alumni lingered in
the gym and in the
parking lot to visit
not ready to let the
evening end. Some
are already making
plans for 2010.
The colors for the
evening were red,
white and blue. The
gym was decorated in
a patriotic theme.
The alumni officers
would like to thank
the other members of
the decorating
committee Pam Moore,
Darla Moore and Carl
Wickham.
