1985 SHS Class of 1955 Reunion

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June 12, 1985

The Soperton High School class of 1955 held their 30-year reunion. If you know anybody that age on internet, email this to them and ask them to identify the people. Or if you know someone that age without internet, show or snailmail a print to them.

Others that week: Gary Walden and Ida Bell Moore, Step-Up Shop, Tarrytown VBS, Erosion control at Christian Family Center, Lauren & Jordan Shurling, Mary B. Wheeler, R. H. Warnock, Lisa Love, Wayne Sumner, William Fulford.

1980 Microfilm Reader Donated

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June 11, 1980

Lions Club President Bob Sanford and Historical Society President Clayton Stephens represented the two organizations who bought a microfilm reader-printer, valued at $2500, for the county library. The UGA Libraries microfilmed all of the past copies of the Soperton News and the county government bought a set of the films and has continued to sponsor the continuing microfilming. The printer soon became obsolete as digital copiers took their place.

Others that week: Ditches being scraped along South First and Second Streets, triangle between Second Street and Mount Vernon Road was cleaned and beautified, Tonya Gillis won a huge stuffed lion from Busch Gardens, Daryl Walden kicked up dust planting soybeans under dry conditions, March of Dimes raised over $5,000, State 4-H Council.

1975 Tractor in the Ditch

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June 11, 1975

If the new bank had been built years earlier, the accident may not have happened, as there is no longer a ditch where Mr. Mark Little abandoned ship just before the tractor turned over in it. Mr. Elvin Young and Mr. Milt Johnson put the vehicle back in action. Richard's Service Station was alive with action. Can you identify more of the people?

Others that week: Hugh Gillis announced that John Lee would be the new hospital administrator, retiring teachers Laura Hall and Minnie Lou Raley, talent show, softball, and I-16.

1985 Bring on the Clowns!

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June 5, 1985

It was time for Vacation Bible School, and clowns were out recruiting. Can you name everybody in the picture? Please post your comments at the bottom of this blog post.

Others that week: Ballet students, Margaret Byerly's piano students, National Garden Week, Miss Mildred Sessions retired from DFCS board, UCWC honored two retiring teachers - Mrs. Eva Little (31 years) and Mrs. Lillian Smith (41 years).

1980 News Moves to Historic Building

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June 4, 1980
The Soperton News moved into the old two-story bank building constructed in 1912, the home of the Bank of Soperton until 1963 when they built the bank that became the County Annex.  The News office had been 106 South First Street (now MLK Drive). Robert Mann takes one of the first views over the decorative marble.  Robert lived upstairs at the bank building for a long time. He was an award-winning photographer, who learned every aspect of technology at Suburban Printing.  In 2010 he is living in his hometown of McRae and is employed by UniPress in the Treutlen Industrial Park.

Others that week: More News building pix and shots from the roof, TES students of the month of May,  an unidentified man, Courthouse trim scraped and painted, wrecked cars of Treutlen Waller and Franklin Joiner.

Pilot Dies in Crash at Phouc Vinh

I never knew the name of the pilot who died in a mid-air collision, but the scene always reminds me of Pat Hughes, an engineering student who did co-op sessions when I was working at Rockwell in Statesboro. He was a smart, friendly young man, the nephew and pride and joy of our senior engineer, Howard Hughes (not the aviator).  Mr. Hughes didn't have a son, so he loved his nephew like a son.  Howard was so proud of Pat, especially after he became a pilot who would serve in Vietnam. Pat died in a situation similar to the one depicted, and his uncle was a broken man.
My first photos at Phouc Vinh will appear in this week's slideshow.

1975 Women's Softball on Old Field

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June 4, 1975

Younger generations may not be fully appreciative of the outstanding sports and recreation facilities in Soperton. Here we see a women's softball game in progress at the old football field, which was used from the revival of football in 1946 until the new stadium was built at the high school. The scene is now a part of Jean Gillis Park. Men's softball games were being played at the site as early as 1950 with that same chicken-wire backstop.

Others that week: Candystripers meeting, Mickey Palmer and Cal Alford with chute-scale, B&PW Club officers and guests.