TCCHS’s 60-Year Memory Lane captured the interest of folks, both alumni, current students and staff, and the general public as the beloved center hallway at TCCHS was aglow with memorabilia from the first 60 years of TCCHS’s existence. Through the efforts of Mrs. Brandi Francies, TCCHS’s guidance counselor, Mrs. Camille Dillingham, and members of the TCCHS Alumni Foundation, a collection of “artifacts” scattered throughout the six decades of TCCHS’s past became the spotlight for the night as folks attending the TCCHS Homecoming on Friday evening, October 6, strolled by to recall many past memories and years spent at TCCHS. Mrs. Joyce Darby, treasurer of the TCCHS Alumni Foundation, messaged, “I was amazed at the amount and quality of the memorabilia available from the first 60 years of Todd Central’s history. The people I saw browsing through the displays expressed delight at the many memories evoked.”
Mrs. Dillingham, who is currently working at TCCHS in a leadership role, shared, “It was a wonderful evening, and so many people enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane!” A member of the TCCHS Class of 1986, Mrs. Ginger Simons, a Social-Emotional Behaviorist at North and South Todd Elementaries who has become active with the Alumni Foundation, added, “School pride was on full display all over campus. The current staff and students were making memories that will last a lifetime, and the many alumni present were reassured that being a Rebel truly is so very special.” Of interest as well for all in attendance were the familiar hall composites that capture the 60 years of classes who have attended TCCHS. The only hall composite missing at this time is the one for the TCCHS Class of 2023, one that should be soon added to the very popular center hallway area. As tailgating was also a spotlight of the evening, the TCCHS Class of 1981 collected outside for their tailgating and then strolled down “memory lane” sporting t-shirts making everyone aware they were also “established” in 1963 when TCCHS first opened its doors.
Several items of interest included a framed newspaper collage from the Todd County Standard highlighting details about the construction of Todd County Central High School. Contractor for the building was R.B. Elizer Construction Company of Goodlettsville, Tennessee with a general construction cost of the building being $579,710.62. The construction cost per square foot was $8.59, and the total cost per square foot was $10.27. The total campus area was 43.53 acres, and the floor space of the facility was 67,500 square feet with the classroom capacity being a total of 700 students. Of interest is that in the early 1970s four additional classrooms were added to the s
chool plant because of the increased number of students who attended TCCHS during those years. Also on display were framed pictures of Mr. Henry Malone, superintendent prior to and during the early years of TCCHS; Mr. Robert N. Bush, TCCHS’s first principal; and Mr. Mark Thomas, current superintendent.
Other items showcased for the evening included yearbooks from almost all years of TCCHS’s history as well as bound copies of the Todd County Standard for at least one year of each decade. Of note was that the bound volumes of both 1963 and 1964 were on display to highlight the first school year for TCCHS. Another item of interest was a framed collection of items familiar to students of the 1970s. That framed collection focused on Lawman Without a Gun, a film starring Lou Gossett and filmed in Elkton with several TCCHS students and townspeople having appearances in the movie.
Memorabilia showcasing proms, FFA, band, sports, teaching materials including stencils used in TCCHS’s early years, trophies, textbooks, an adding machine and typewriter, pictures from the 1989 Project Graduation at Libby’s Steakhouse in Daysville, the Glenn Robertson print of TCCHS, a collection of boys’ basketball tickets from 1981 when the TCCHS basketball team played in Rupp Arena in the Sweet 16 Tournament, a video display, Mr. Billy Lear’s FFA jacket from 1964, and a well-recognized Converse tennis shoe used by CLW to teach adjectives in English classes. One youngster in attendance questioned if the shoe was used as a paddle while others immediately connected the shoe to past “grammar” lessons. Larry Killebrew, who now makes his home in Bowling Green, brought for the tailgating for his class the barbecue grill he made in agriculture classes when he was a TCCHS student.
Mrs. Anna Jo Parmley, president of the TCCHS Alumni Foundation, messaged, “Strolling down memory lane would not have been possible if not for the assistance of so many who shared their collection of items for this event.” She also extended appreciation to Mrs. Charlotte Myers of the Todd County Welcome Center, who allowed several items to be checked out of the Welcome Center to be on display for the evening, and to Mrs. Darby and Mrs. Simons, two who devoted many hours assisting with the display. Others who supplied items were Fred Harper, the Todd County Public Library, the Todd County Board of Education, several alumni, and the journalism class at TCCHS. Thanks is also extended to the staff of TCCHS for their assistance with this very memorable 60th Homecoming effort.
Article and photos submitted by Carolyn Wells
