A Step Back in Time            By Bobbie Sue Shelton

On the evening of June 17th the 1955 and 1956 graduating classes of Eagleville High School held class reunions at the Eagleville Community Center. The graduating class members, former classmates, guests and two former teachers enjoyed an evening of reuniting, by visiting, discussing school memories and catching up on all the family news. All in attendance also enjoyed a delicious meal.


Class of 1956 and Former Classmates—L to R: Front Row: June Marshall "Richards", Doris Johnson "Daniel", Nancy Morris "Tomlin",Nell Foster "Lynch", Alma Vincion "Hazel, Irene Frost "Locke", Roy "Pete" Tucker, Alline Pruitt "McCall". Back Row: Charlie King, Dick Batts, Lanny Turner, Lonnie Holladay, Alice Pressgrove "Redmon", Bithie Sue Taylor "King", Bob Hatcher, Bobby McElhaney

This year marks the 50th year since the class of 1956 received their diplomas. Bob Hatcher, the former senior class president continues his leadership role in keeping these classmates close through the years. This 50th year celebration was their seventh class reunion, celebrating in 1969,1978, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2006. Bob was presented a gift and a plaque for all his hard work organizing the class reunions. The plaque, presented by Pete Tucker was a picture of the senior class on their Washington D.C. senior trip with special engraving.

Of the 1956 graduating class of 24, 11 classmates went to school together for the entire 12 years. They are: Dorris Johnson (Daniel), Alma Vincion (Hazel), Bithie Sue Taylor (King), Alline Pruitt (McCall), Nancy Marshall (Peck), Alice Pressgrove (Redmond), Roy “Pete” Tucker, Lanny Turner, Jim “Sonny” Redmon, Don Shelton and Ronald Marable. One classmate, Billy McElhaney started with them in the first grade but attended another school for a while and returned to graduate with this class.

Other members of the class of 1956 were: Bobbie Knois (Griggs) (Boyd), Bob Hatcher, Lonnie Holladay, Louise Watkins (White) (LaChance), Irene Frost (Locke), Nell Foster (Lynch), Alvin Jackson “Jack” Ralston, Nancy Morris (Tomlin), Mary Ann King (Moore), Barbara Ralston (Russell), Fred Covington, and Richard Anderson.

This class of twenty four has eight deceased members: Mary Ann King Moore 1963, Barbara Ralston Russell 1974, Jim “Sonny” Redmon 1982, Fred Covington 1991, Billy McElhaney 1998, Don Shelton 1999, Ronald Marable 2001 and Richard Anderson 2004.

Twelve of the sixteen surviving class members present for the recent reunion were: Dorris Johnson Daniel, Bob Hatcher, Alma Vincion Hazel, Lonnie Holladay, Bithie Sue Taylor King, Irene Frost Locke, Nell Foster Lynch, Alline Pruitt McCall, Alice Pressgrove Redmond, Nancy Morris Tomlin, Roy “Pete” Tucker and Lanny Turner.

Former classmates, June Marshall (Richards), Dick Batts, Bobby McElhaney, Charlie King and their guests were also in attendance.

The majority of the above classmates are still living in the middle Tennessee area: Those who make their home in Eagleville are: Dick Batts, Alma Vincion Hazel, Bithie Sue Taylor King, Charlie King, Nell Foster Lynch, Alline Pruitt McCall, Bobby McElhaney, Pete Tucker and Lanny Turner. Franklin Tennessee is home to Dorris Johnson Daniel and Irene Frost Locke. Bob Hatcher lives in Brentwood. Nancy Morris Tomlin lives in Nashville, Lonnie Hollady in Murfreesboro. Bobbie Knois Griggs Boyd makes her home in Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee. Jack Ralston lives in Biloxi, Mississippi and Louise Watkins White LaChance lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Alice Pressgrove Redmon lives in Missoula, Montana and June Marshall Richards lives in Kissimmee, Fla.


Class of 1955 (L-R): Eunice Frost Hall, Carol Brisby Billingsley, Jean Hall Holladay, Donald Floyd, David Crockett Ralston, Larry Redmond, Robert Underwood.

Two former teachers were greeted by their former students. Mrs. Alene Russell Hall taught Home Economics and Science. She and her husband live in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Mr. Carl Perry was the agriculture teacher in 1955 –56. His wife, Lea Perry was the fourth grade teacher during this time. They presently live in Fayetteville, Tennessee.


Class of 1956, 6th Grade Class - 1950 L to R: Front Row: Billy McElhaney, Nell Foster, Irene Frost, Larry Tucker, Dick Batts, unknown, Don Shelton; 2nd Row: Lemuel Manier Teacher, Roy "Pete" Tucker, Bobby McElhaney, unknown, Jim "Sonny" Redmon, Bobby Joe Dalton, Glenn Vincion; 3rd Row: Margie Parker, Doris Johnson, Alma Vincion, Alline Pruitt, Mary Ruth Maupin, June Marshall; 4th Row: Charles Maxwell, Nancy Marshall, Evelyn Dalton, Lanny Turner, Ronald Marable, Richard Anderson; 5th Row: Geraldene Hayes, Barbara Wiley, Martha Jane Johnson, Bithie Sue Taylor, Alice Pressgrove, Billy Putman.

Six members from the class of 1955 also reunited for the first time since graduating. Those attending were: Robert Underwood of Brentwood, Carol Brisby Billingsley of Nashville, Donald Floyd of Murfreesboro, Eunice Frost Hall of Knoxville, Jean Hall Holladay of Murfreesboro, David Crockatt Ralston of Smyrna, Larry Redmond of Missoula, Montana and their guest. The remaining members of this class of fourteen were: Alvin Bellenfant, Mary Burnett, Sara Burnett, William T. “Billy” Chick, John M. Dyer Jr., Carl Nolen and Treva Rivers.

In a short business meeting after the meal, the classes of 1955 and 1956 voted to give contributions to the Eagleville Community Center, the Eagleville Park and to the Eagleville High School Library. Also in this meeting, Larry and Alice Redmond were recognized for traveling the most miles (approximately 2110) from Missoula, Montana to attend the reunion. June Marshall Richards came in second, traveling 690 miles from Florida. It was decided that Pete Tucker lived the closest and traveled the shortest distance. Charlie King has the largest number of children and grandchildren and Lonnie and Jean Holladay has the most great grandchildren. Larry and Alice Redmond have been married the longest, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on the 16th of June. Alline and Jack McCall celebrated 50 years on the 25th of June. Lots of pictures were taken and a lot of memories were shared among friends from the school days at Eagleville High School.

Senior Class Trip to Washington D.C. 1956—Front row (L-R): Gordon Jackson (bus driver), Ronald Marable, Fred Covington, Bob Hatcher, Billy McElhaney, Don Shelton, Jim “Sonny” Redmon, Lonnie Holladay, Lanny Turner, Jack Ralston, Roy “Pete” Tucker. Back row: Alma Vincion, Irene Frost, Barbara Ralston, Alline Pruitt, Alice Pressgrove, Mrs. Martha Elmore, Urban Elmore, Mrs. Minnie Dyer, Bithie Sue Taylor, Mary Ann King, Nancy Morris, Nancy Marshall, Louise Watkins. Not pictured: Nell Foster, Doris Johnson, Richard Anderson and Bobbie Knois.