October 25, 2024
By:
The DCHS – Class of 1964, on October 5, gathered to celebrate the 60th year since the first graduation at the current DeKalb County High School. There was a great turnout at the reunion of classmates and guests. Attendees enjoyed this wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends, share memories and honor the lives of the ones who have passed away. Classmates and guests traveled from Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and many areas of Tennessee. The graduates who could not attend were truly missed.
1963-1964 was a unique year of consolidation of the high schools in the county and the beginning of integration. On September 2, 1963, the high schools in Liberty and Smithville were consolidated into a new DeKalb County High School. The Class of 1964 included 124 graduates; 53 have passed away.
In 1964, the new school was an example of modern design and conveniences, including air conditioning, television, modern laboratory facilities for science and language, new home economics equipment, an additional workshop, individual lockers, and an intercommunication system, which provided music before school and in the cafeteria and provided more effective communication throughout the building.
Over the past 60 years, many changes have been made to the DCHS building and the educational system has advance to continue to offer an excellent education to the students of today.
Seated left to right in photo – Jerry White, Kennith Beshearse, Jannie Thweatt Christenberry, Judy Thweatt Warren, Pamaline Vanatta, Elizabeth Young Smith, Gary Young, Kaye Billings Fedak, John David Green, Dr. Don Cripps, Jimmy Poss, Phillip Washer .
Standing left to right – Wayne Shehane, Eugene Haley, Mike Foster, Drew Fedak, Wayne Hill, Charlene Loring Foutch, Kay Turner Redmon, Sherry Taylor Fox, Brenda Womack Whittinghill, Walter Burton, Phyllis Braswell Frost, Sandra Russell Harville, Houston Turney, Larry Johnson, Billy Parsley, Betty Jane Cook Barrett, Donnie Tramel, Tucker Hendrix, Darvin Snyder, Larry Taylor, Billy Hendrixson, Jim Patterson, Norman Young, Kenneth Magness