We are approaching the graduation of our 2025 GHS Senior Class. I thought, “What does our 1975 class remember about their days in school from some 50 years ago?”
Taking that a step further, I wonder if I could locate any past GHS students that graduated 75 years ago in 1950. These graduates would be in their 90s. As I researched, I actually found three that live right here in Groveton. I spoke with two. I listened as these young graduates shared their fondest memories of high school.
I first spoke with Jolene Droddy Taylor. Jolene grew up in Glendale with two brothers and a sister. She rode the bus each day to Groveton from Glendale, with her dad often being the bus driver. After graduation Jolene would marry a classmate Harvey Reagan Taylor. Even though they had dated in school, it wasn’t till Jolene had completed Southwestern Business school and Harvey was attending college that they reconnected.
They married and had three children, Larry, Keith and Mark. Jolene said that she and Harvey dated in High school but did not really start dating till later after Harvey was attending college and she had completed school at Southwestern Business School. Sadly, Harvey passed away in 2003. Side note: Mr. Taylor was my coach in high school
When asked about her fondest memory of her days at Groveton High school, she said she described her class being small, with everyone being close friends and having very good teachers. She said she played the snare drums in the band and remembered once, when several of them were talking too much, the director, Melony James, threw pecans at them to get their attention.
Jolene specifically remembered Letisha Jones and Thelma Terry as being excellent teachers. She also remembered Mrs. Jimmy Bradley being very strict. She said everyone was scared of Mrs. Bradley. Years later her daughter Maurine Bradley, also taught at Groveton and like her mother she was also strict and feared.
Jolene remembered having Mrs. Bradley for Math following her PE class and she would always have to run to get to her class. Mrs. Bradley would be standing at the door with her arms crossed and close the door when second bell rang. Jolene did mention one of Mrs. Bradley’s favorites was Leon Dial. Jolene spoke highly of Mr. White, the superintendent, and praised him as nice and fair. She mentioned he treated everyone very good and made sure students, like her, that lived out of town were given opportunities to participate in activities.
She said football was a big deal and the team went to Regional her senior year. The team only gave up 40 points in the first 10 games and scored 308 points on opponents. Jolene was able to go to games, even living in Glendale, because she had older brothers that would take her. She remembered Douglas Hager getting a football scholarship to Rice University, which was a big deal.
She reminisced that school had an open campus, so you were free to leave at lunch, eat at the cafeteria in the Elementary school or walk to town. The Elementary school no longer exists, having been located north of the high school. If you could afford it, you could walk to Grove Café in town. She remembers walking right through the courthouse going to town.
I also spoke with Rachel Willims Stevenson. Rachel first marriage was to Bob Smith, class of 1951. They had four children, Susan, Bobby, Thomas, and Richard. Rachel later married Mack Stevenson class of 1952. Rachel and Mack were married 20 years. Rachel was the Salutatorian of her class, voted most likely to succeed, and a member of the cheerleader/pep squad and enjoyed attending football games. Rachel said she worked after school and Saturdays at the bank. She liked growing up with a small class and the friendship shared between her classmates.
Rachel went to Woodlake school until the fourth grade when the school closed and consolidated with Groveton. The Woodlake School was where Pineywood Camp is now located. She rode the bus to Groveton until they moved to town where she then walked to school.
Rachel remembers Mrs. Terry as being very young and a good teacher. Rachel said Mrs. Terry helped her by tutoring her one on one during study hall on bookkeeping and shorthand. Mrs. Terry was Cheer/Pep Squad sponsor and Rachel can remember her disapproval of the girls singing “Beer Barrel Polka.” Rachel remembers having Mrs. Jimmy Bradley for math, and if she called you to the board to work on a problem, you had better know it, or you would be spoken to very harshly. Rachael also said she had drama with Mrs. Compton and enjoyed the class because they put on plays.
Above all, she liked all her teachers. Rachael said she remembered riding the train to Galveston with Home Economics teacher, Mrs. Henson, for some sort of event. It was her first time riding a train and she had to catch it in Trinity. Rachel remembers having dances occasionally in the old sunken Auditorium. Not many students had access to cars. Sometimes they could use their parents’ car. She remembers Julie Ann Warner got to use her parent’s car and lots of friends would get in car with Julie and ride around town. She said she would walk to town with her brothers and go to the Grove Theater.
Rachael said in 2000, they had a 50th reunion where she said about 16 classmates showed up. The 1950 class had several high school sweethearts that married. Douglas Hager and Mary Jo James married, as well as Joe Frank Bergman and Julie Ann Warner.
It was such a pleasure speaking with Rachel and Jolene and hearing about the things they remembered from the good old days at GHS. I plan on talking to some 1975 graduates since they have been out of school for 50 years. I have one father and son combination, where father graduated in 1950, and the son graduated in 1975 that I plan on speaking with and sharing their memories. More to come on 1950 and 1975 classes.
•I would like to welcome four new lifetime members to Groveton Ex-Students Association — Johnny Rush, class of 1994; Barry Rush, class of 1996; Isha Rush, class of 2013; and Florence Hensley, former teacher.
<i>Tim Coker is president of the Groveton Ex-Students Association.</i>
