| Seventh Reunion Held at Young/Denney House
The 2006 Drum Corps Reunion weekend was attended by more or less, forty people. This was the seventh reunion we have held. We started all of this in the year 2000. This year the dinner and the parade list include:
Mary Helen Catlett Allen, Jack Allen, Evelyn Byrd Struble, J.A. Reece, Donna Archer White, Faye Hilt Courtney, Edna Hilt Jones, Marilyn Doublin Conklin, Virginia Frances Coats, Wayne Coats, Rita Davis Sax, Donna Duey Hazlett, Vonna Duey Douglass, Elaine Shorter Caskey, Doris L. Moore, Beverly Moore Smith, Carol Hutchinson Scott, Betty Middleton Dale, Sondra Isenbury Mahoney, Judy Cantrell Stigall, Peggy Hancock Rogers, Janet Young Miranda, June Brixey Shannon, Dixie Isenburg Gaddis, Beverly Turner Thomas, Wanda Jane Gourley Rippee, Dixie Forbes Hutchinson, Carol Ann Coats Barnhart, Treva Robertson Collins, Larry Collins, Bette Bock Duvall, Louise Hughley (guest of Bette Duvall), Mary Ruth Headley Peebles, Jewel Hicks Spurgeon, Connie Hutchinson Bell, Nancy Austin Brocket, Judy Housley Richardson, Carol Watson Green and Paulette Mooney Reese.
Dixie Gaddis and Sondra Mahoney
Faye Hilt Courtney
L-R: Faye Courtney's back, Donna White. Paulette Reese, Kay Rogers.
Drum major Virginia Coats leads Mary Helen Allen, Carol Green, Judy Richardson and Carol Scott.
University of Missouri's "Golden Girl"
The focus of our 2006 Reunion was on our hostess, at the Young/Denney House, Janet Young Maranda. As we have learned from many of our alums, music has played a big role in many of our lives, both professionally and for enjoyment.
Janet attended the University of Missouri 1966-70 and was a Golden Girl 1966-1968. Mr. Charles Emmons was the band director. When Janet played in a high school conference select band with him she knew she wanted to study under him.
During his tenure, the band and orchestra were invited to appear at many national and regional music association meetings. Marching Mizzou also received national recognition performing on television and at bowl games. 
In Janet's words:
“I loved Drum Corps and Marching Band so much I wasnt ready to give it up. On to Mizzou...then I thought, why not try out for Golden Girl? After all, there was the Faurot Field connection to Mountain Grove! Don Faurot, hometown boy and my father's football coach, was a long time football coach at Mizzou and the stadium name was changed to honor Coach Faurot. My first day marching on Faurot Field, Don Faurot was honored at the halftime and Mother and Daddy were so happy to greet him and honor him as well as see a great half-time performance. I had a wonderful time marching at the games....nothing quite like a sunny October afternoon at a Missouri U football game. Practice was intense but that's what made Marching Mizzou so wonderful. 100 degrees or rain and cold, it didn't matter, we were on the field practicing every day for two to three hours a day. But the moment the band started down the field on Saturday afternoon playing the Missouri Waltz, it was worth every minute! So really, my life all goes back to Mountain Grove, Drum Corps and Miss Byrd. I grew up wanting to be Miss Byrd! Served as a Band Director for 15 years, then moved to Counseling...today, I'm a college counselor at Prestonwood Christian Academy, a Baptist K-12 school. Married to John and have two boys, John and Hans, both graduates of Texas A & M University. What a thrill it was for me to watch my son, Hans, perform with the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band for the first time on Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. I walked the sideline with him from end zone to end zone - in step, of course! So I've always felt connected to Mountain Grove at each stage of my life. I love those Dear Hearts and Gentle People who live in my hometown! Hmmm, I think they wrote a song about that!”
Margaret Worman, Wanda Jane Rippee, Sue Leighton and Marion Reeder pose in a circa 1952-53 photo provided by Wanda Jane.
Next Time!
The next event will be held on Friday, June 29th and Saturday, June 30th, 2007. Every year we have had people attend that haven't come before. Janet Miranda informs me that her brother, Dick Young will be hosting his Class of 1957 on Saturday night, but we can definitely continue with our group meeting on Friday night. '57 is Faye Hilt Courtney's class, too, so we will understand if she can't be totally involved with us at the parade on Saturday. I'll try to get post cards out to you before the first of July, the good Lord willing.
Mary Helen Catlett Allen
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