75th Birthday Party

In 2017, members of Dobyns Bennett High School Class of 1960 turned 75. Can these classmates - some of whom began elementary school together in 1947 - really be 75 years old? The milestone called for a special party.

The idea for the 75th Birthday Party grew from the 55th reunion in 2015 when classmates decided they didn’t want to wait a full five years to gather again. Sue Shaulis Thomas volunteered to chair the committee that came up with the "75th Birthday Party" theme and planned the event. Committee members included Judy Neff Stapleton, Patty Bray Faris, Katie Taggart Driskell, Nancy Ellis Baldree, Chris McConnell Barker, Margaret Ketron Colley, Doris Cox, Jane Beck Harris, Barbara Young Bevins, Martha Ward Duane, Sondra Dotson Bridwell, Sandy Kaylor Ekren, Barbara Williams Coughenour, and chairperson Sue Shaulis Thomas.

On June 16, 2017, 92 classmates, spouses and a few other family members gathered at Meadow View Conference Center for dinner and renewal of friendships. While many in attendance came from the Kingsport area, classmates from other parts of Tennessee, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida also joined in the fun.

There was no formal program. A few classmates made short remarks and the group joined in singing the DB school song and Happy Birthday, but the majority of time was spent visiting and catching up on the important things in life: kids, grand-kids, travels, retirement activities and general health and well being. The final activity was agreeing to hold a 60th Reunion in 2020.

Thanks to planning committee members and everyone involved in making this a marvelous event!! Thanks also to Rich Thomas, Ben Harris and others for taking, collecting and organizing photos from our 75th birthday Party.

We missed all who could not attend, and hope you can participate in our 2020 gathering!

If you took photos or have photos related to our birthday party or other DB Class of 1960 activities, we would love to include them. Please send them to us at photos@dbhs60.org.