CHAMPION—September 04, 2006

 

Saturday was a perfect day for the 24th Annual Champion School Reunion.  About forty people met on the old school grounds under a huge walnut tree to enjoy an excellent covered dish dinner, some good music and the pleasure of renewing acquaintances.  Many of those attending were alumni of the Champion #47 School District which last held classes in 1959.  There were some notable and lamentable absences such as that of  Ms. Esther Wrinkles who is mending from an injury to her foot and Wilburn Hutchison who is said to be feeling better but not quite up to par yet.  A pleasant surprise, however, was the arrival of former teacher, Mr. Arthur Porter.  Mr. Porter who currently resides in Seymour, taught at Champion in 1958 and 1959.  It was a one room school house and he taught all subjects including music.  Three of his students, Harley Krider, “Punk” Hicks and Larry Wrinkles, sang together as a trio under Mr. Porter’s direction and it is said of them that their voices blended so beautifully as to bring tears to the eye.  Mr. Krider was the only one of the trio present at the reunion this year and he and Mr. Porter enjoyed lengthy reminiscences.

Ruby (Slat) Davis of Huntington Beach, California celebrated her 95th birthday on August 31st.  She was Goldia Krider’s sister and is the last one of her family of twelve brothers and sisters.  She is the aunt of Vivian (Krider) Floyd, Donald, Lonnie, and Harley Krider.  Several nieces and nephews flew out to California for the party.  She is a very special lady.  She was raised at Brushyknob and went to school there.  She left Missouri at an early age.  She had two sons and made California her home.

Anyone who has information for the Champion ‘items’ is welcome to write it up and leave it at Henson’s Store with Betty Henson.  The notebook is there ready for anyone to write down a story or a memory of Ed Henson to share.  He teased everybody equally whether stranger, new-comer, or old timer.  One spring when a fellow was in the store complaining about the whip-poor-wills being so noisy, Ed said, “Well, do they holler after dark up at your place.”  The fellow allowed that they did holler after dark and so much so that a person could hardly sleep.  “After dark?” Ed asked. “Why, yes, they do!” the man replied.  “That’s funny,” Ed said.  “Around here they holler ‘Whip poor Will! Whip poor Will!’ ”

The Brixey Reunion will be September 9th at the Wagon Wheel Park at Drury.  It is hoped that all the family and friends can come visit and have lunch at noon.

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