Class of 1954
Luncheon on April 17

At our last class luncheon, those attending felt that I should notify the class a little earlier before the next luncheon. They also thought we should get together around the middle of April. 

I have checked with Jim's Place on Perkins at Poplar Ave on Tuesday, April 17th for lunch, arriving around 11:30 but not ordering until around 12:00 noon. That way we can gather and greet before sitting down for lunch. 

Please RSVP to our email address central5404@yahoo.com or to my personal address at harry423@yahoo.com if you would like to attend.
Please contact any classmates that you know do not receive the emails or can read the website. Or, if you know someone who has recently changed their email address, you might contact them and RSVP for them.

Wishing you all good health,

Harry Murchison

A most interesting slide show on Memphis

Things must be going well for most of you, or there is a failure to communicate. Hopefully, the former is true as it is always depressing to hear bad news.

I received permission from the website which is run by June West. Her Mom, June Waddell, went to Bruce Elementary, Bellevue Middle and Central HS and graduated around 1942.

Frank Land

Class of 1954
Informal Luncheon

We are planning a luncheon at Colettas Italian restaurant on Wednesday November 2nd for an informal gathering of classmates. If anyone from out of town will be here please let us know. Leann MacDonald Barber will be in town from Wichita Falls, Texas and will be glad to see old friends. We plan to gather around 11:30 AM and order around 12:00. We will order individually and have separate checks. 

Please RSVP to harry423@yahoo.com or phone 901/377-8405 if you would like to make a reservation for the luncheon. If you know of classmates who do not have email, please pass the word about the gathering.   
 
Thanks,
Harry Murchison
___________________________________________  

2011 at a glance

My 2011 resolution was to stay in closer touch with friends and classmates this year. Four months later, I admit that my good intentions haven't been kept. As the year moves forward, hopefully there will be more news to report and more to share with you folks.

Note about Facebook

Since initially signing on to Facebook a few years ago, I have resisted posting personal information on it – this was partly the result of being asked to be "friend"s with people whose identity escaped me but they had several hundred "friends" in their account.

From time-to-time, I have reluctantly acknowledged requests from classmates, old friends and family members by responding on FB like last week when my 75th came around.

To me, it is much more fulfilling to write a personal note directly to people who wish to be in contact. My email address is available to most people reading this website and is also posted on the gmail account.

Since I maintain this and five other websites (mostly as a volunteer these days), I try to be especially careful with where and when I send out information and from whom it is received. This policy has served me well for the past 20+ years when communicating online.

Drop me a note and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Frank

Some Important Information

Recently, we learned from Harry what many of you had already found out:

Dear Classmates,
Some weeks ago our central5404@yahoo.com database of addresses and emails was hijacked and all the addresses and emails were deleted.  You probably received an email from supposedly me in Scotland and that I was ill and requested that you send money so that I could get home.  I was not in Scotland and didn't need any money. Luckily Jo (Cammack) Cain realized what had happened and she called me to verify that it was a SCAM and she forwarded an Email to you letting you know that it was not me.  I did have a Backup of the Address file but Yahoo has changed their simple procedures for Importing a saved database. So after a few weeks trying to restore the Database, I just created a new one on GMAIL.  The new one is central5404@gmail.com. 

If you need to contact me, you can Email me at central5404@gmail.com or harry423@yahoo.com.
 
For those of you who aren't aware,  Frank Land is still continuing to maintain our memphischs1954.com Website.  He would love to here news from you to put on the Website.  There is also information on six or eight other classes.  He had recently received news from Charles Rodney Lee and Don Johnson.  Check it out!  You can email Frank at frankland@mac.com.
 
Harry  

Thanks for the reminder about the website. Last night, I did hear from classmate Sol Kirschner who shared this "funny" story:

Frank,
A few years ago I was in Memphis to see some friends and was staying at the Hampton Inn off Poplar. The motel has free transportation to the airport. On the day I left, I took it and on the way, the driver and I started to talk. He asked me where I was going and I told him. As we were talking, I told him that I once lived in Memphis and when I was very young, we lived at 902 N. Evergreen. He looked at me and pulled out his drivers license....it said 902 N. Evergreen. That is where he has lived for many years. It was something to meet someone who lives in the same house that I lived in sixty five years ago.

Sol Kirschner

April 2011 Meeting in Memphis
A joyful occasion recently occurred in Memphis when our class mentor, Harry Murchison, returned to action after months of fighting a serious health problem that began last summer.

Thankfully, Harry is back at it again having organized another gathering
of '54 classmates in Memphis.

According to Dot (Adams) Watts,

“Harry organized a luncheon for CHS luncheon for those that could make it....we have not had one since his health problems started. Boy, was it great to see him! It was held on Tuesday, April 26th  at Jim's Place East. The food and fellowship was so great, we all stayed a couple of hours!” 

Those attending included:
Sam Cole, Mark Coleman, Claire Tansey Coleman, Cynthia Baine De Maagd, Alice Greenberg Drake, Jim Eason, Peggy Salky Evensky (& husband, Sidney), Glenda Condrey Hartmann (& husband, Jim), Milton Knowlton, Sara Hamilton Morris, Harry Murchison (& wife, Vivian) and Dot Adams Watts (with husband, Frank).

As Dot relayed, "Sorry you don't live close enough to be a part of these get togethers!" That goes for a whole lot of people (both far and near) they'd like to see on a regular basis.

Keeping in touch with Rev. Don Johnson
During the holidays, Don Johnson shared a Christmas remembrance with us and in February, an article about President Reagan. A little late, in March, I thanked him., He followed up with a link to LifeChoices, a website which tells about a story about a special ministry that he helped start 25 years ago in Memphis ....one that is really worth looking up..

Congratulations, Don, on this wonderful mission!

You can hear more regularly from Don – he is the producer and host of Afterglow, a weekly half-hour music production. In 2002, he received the National Religious Broadcasters ‘Milestone Award.’

Update from Don Johnson received on March 30, 2012

Six months ago my life was unexpectedly interrupted by triple bypass heart surgery and a pacemaker operation. For nearly three months my work as Chaplain of Kirby Pines Retirement Community and Producer/Host of Afterglow was put on hold. In December I started to reinstate my ministry work. It is now stronger than ever.

My cardiologist has now checked my recovery progress and says everything is great. No "events" on the pacemaker, meaning I didn't need it to click in at all since it was put in. My current state of health is excellent.

All of this has been the result of great doctors and medical care, an "angel" nurse, Cheryl, and the grace of God abundantly supplied through the prayers of so many. I love Prophet Isaiah's words, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall ruin and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31) Thanks for being a part of this. The love and concern you have shown has greatly inspired me.

Someone said, "We can't go back to make a new beginning; but we can start now to make a new ending."

I thank God and you for everything.
In His Love,
Don Johnson