Class marks 50 years

Friday, Oct. 9, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Members of Margaret Brent High School's Class of 1959 gather during a class reunion last month, including, front row from left, Hodges Spence, Mary Marguerite "Peggy" Ryce Derrick, E. "Virginia" Pilkerton Payne, Mary Ann Wise Turner, Elizabeth "Betty Jean" Lacey Cusic and, second row, Aloysius C. "Al" Guy, Dorothy E. "Dot" Thompson, William L. "Lenny" Guy, Elizabeth Rose "Betty Rose" Guy Wood, Sidney M. "Sid" Wood and, third row, Donald L. "Duck" Thompson, Robert H. "Harry" Spence, Nancy Lee Hill Willis, Eugene B. "Genie-Buck" Morgan, Joseph F. "Freddie" Nelson. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Margaret Brent High School's Class of 1959 celebrated its 50th class reunion at St. Mary's Landing Restaurant in Charlotte Hall on Sept. 5.

Thirty-one people attended, along with Del. John F Wood Jr. (D-St. Mary's, Charles) and his wife, Barbara, and Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R). Maxine Wood Spence, treasurer of the MBHS Alumni Association and wife of classmate Harry Spence also attended. Classmate Betty Rose Guy Wood started the evening with a blessing. Classmate Sidney Wood served as the emcee for the reunion.

Del. Wood read official citation letters of congratulations and a citation was presented to each classmate. Jarboe read and presented a certificate of commendation to the class.

The class started out in 1955 with two separate groups of 55 to 60 classmates but, due in part to the opening of the Leonardtown High School, the class was reduced to one of the smallest classes to graduate from MBHS (30 classmates). To date, four have passed away and of the 26 remaining classmates, 15 were able to attend the reunion, some traveling as far as North Carolina and West Virginia to attend.

Decorations included a reunion banner, a "Remembering Friends" picture board, nostalgia pictures and posters done by Gene and Joan Morgan, an FFA jacket belonging to Sid Wood and yearbooks kept by Betty Wood. Class placemats and class pictures donated by Betty Rose Wood were enjoyed and everyone got one to take with them. Table flower decorations in the MBHS colors were given away as door prizes at the end of the reunion dinner. Classmate Mary Ann Wise Turner crocheted and donated an afghan in the class colors of maroon and gold for a fundraiser raffle. Classmate Donald Thompson was the winner. Classmate Al Guy's wife, Kathy, was the event photographer. The dinner included a buffet of stuffed ham, roast beef, fried chicken and all the fixings served by St. Mary's Landing.

On Sunday afternoon, classmates gathered for a picnic at the home of Al and Kathy Guy in Mechanicsville. Classmate Lenny Guy provided a tent for the event.

Five of the class members have made significant achievements, according to a release, including Sidney Wood, who designed the space shuttle radio navigation landing system, was a member of the U.S. Department of Defense team that developed the first GPS aircraft navigation receiver, managed the Navy team that developed the first digital moving map navigation system and who built an experimental aircraft.

Other achievements include Lois Ruth Bennett Stewart, who retired as community college dean; Donald Thompson, a construction superintendent for numerous government facilities and a U.S. Coast Guard approved licensed boat builder; Harry Spence, owner of a construction business; and Peggy Ryce Derrick, owner of a children's consignment store.