Welcome former students, administration, coaches, teachers and friends of Ackerman High School!

Mark you calendars for Saturday, April 25, 2020, 2:00 p.m., and join us for the next Ackerman School Reunion. We will meet at the Ty Cobb complex on the Choctaw County High School Campus (formerly AHS campus). Registration opens at 12 noon.

Join Ackerman School Reunion on Facebook.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Ackerman School Reunion 2011




On Saturday, April 30, 2011, 143 former students, faculty, and friends of Ackerman School braved the extremely threatening weather situation by gathering at the Ty Cobb Complex for a time of renewing friendships and reconnecting with the current needs and goals of the School.

Alumni returned to the AHS campus from 7 states; Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, Alabama and Arkansas.

Former students, administration, faculty and friends were welcomed by Dick Burney (class of 1958) who filled in for Reunion President Sonny Ellis who was out of state on business. The posting of colors was done by Sgt. Curt McGee (AHS Class of 1997) and Specialist Chris Newlin followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Dick Burney.

Choctaw County Superintendent of Education Donna Shea welcomed everyone to campus and thanked them for their continued interest in and involvement with the school. Mrs. Shea expressed her appreciation to the Reunion Group for establishing the Ackerman Reunion Scholarship Fund.

The class with the highest attendance this year was the class of 1961 with 17 members present. The classes of 1957 BS 1971 tied for second place with each having 9 members present. 

The eldest man present was class of 1947 graduate Mr. Alvin Coleman. The eldest lady in attendance was Mrs. Ella Staples of the class of 1932.

The Ackerman Reunion Scholarship Fund was established in 2008 when four graduates were awarded a $500 educational scholarship to the academic or vocational school of their choosing. The 2010 Ackerman Reunion Scholarship recipients were: Brittnie Bell, Levias Simmons, Jessica Wilson and Dane McCulloch.

The 2011 Ackerman Reunion Scholarship recipients are: Eboni Suggs, Caleb McMinn, Jacqui Duran and John Taylor. These students will be present their scholarship letters during the AHS Awards Day ceremonies on Monday, May 16, 2011.

The scholarship recipients are nominated each year by their based upon their outstanding moral character and coupled with the following traits: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.


A silent auction was held at this year’s reunion to raise funds for the Ackerman Reunion Scholarship Fund. Funds in excess of $1000.00 were raised this year at the silent auction as a result of the generous donations from those who contributed items and those who made winning bids. 

The silent auction featured wood crafts, furniture, paintings, books, pottery, jewelry and more, with all proceeds going to support the annual Reunion Scholarship Fund. Among those donating for the silent auction were – Glendal Reid, Connie Beth Noblin, Dr. Mike Ballard, Carol Tenant, Marion Smith, Sonny Ellis, Margie Fiebig, Jimmy Crowder, Hank Taylor and Darnell Fulgham.

The Ackerman School Reunion group acknowledged the outstanding support of The Choctaw Plaindealer in support of our annual reunion event. “Plaindealer Editor Joseph McCain is always very helpful in promotion of our annual event,” said Ackerman Reunion Secretary Buddy Smith.

Reunion president Dick Burney asked the attendees to call the names of those who had died during the past year. Among the names called were –Charlsie Gilliam Miles, Doyce Hunt, Hubert “Buddy” Fulgham, Billy Albritton, Fay Wells, Christine Padilla, Marshall Wood, and Mary Ellen Green Oswalt.

One meaningful way to honor or remember your Ackerman School classmate, teacher, administrator or coach is through a donation to the Ackerman School Reunion Fund in memory or honor of that person. We will gladly send an acknowledgement of your gift (if desired) when we are provided with contact information. In addition, we will post this information on the Ackerman Reunion Website if desired. Our treasurer, Buddy Smith (69), will gladly assist you with memorials/honorariums and can be contacted at 126 Drive 1063, Plantersville, MS 38862.

Officers of the coming year were confirmed by the Reunion Group: Hazel Crenshaw Garrett (62) – President; Dick Burney (58) – Vice President; and Buddy Smith (69) – Secretary/Treasurer.
The Ackerman School Reunion Group elected three members to serve on the Executive Steering Committee: Jack Bowie– 2012, Sedgie Taylor – 2013, Joyce Vaughn – 2013 and Ruth Nowlin – 2014.

The Ackerman School Reunion group would like to express our appreciation to Joyce Erwin Vaughn (67) for  serving as our photographer for the day. 

Save The Date – Please mark your calendars for the 2012 Ackerman School Reunion – Saturday, April 24.

Teachers and Coaches in attendance:
  • Betty Sue Adams
  • Joyce Erwin Vaughn
  • Everett Adams
  • Martha Kilpatrick Stark
  • Troy L. Williamson
  • Madeline Wood
  • Mrs. Walton Williams

Roll call of class and number present:
  • 1932 - Ella Staples
  • 1945 - Everett Adams
  • 1945 - Betty Sue Adams
  • 1947 - Louise Draper
  • 1947 - Joan Smith
  • 1947 – Alvin Coleman
  • 1948 - Marion Smith
  • 1948 - Byron Stephenson
  • 1948 – June Jackson
  • 1948 -  Roy Bruce
  • 1948 -  Bobby Cooper
  • 1949 - Felt Montgomery
  • 1949 - Charlie Hunt, Jr.
  • 1949 – Hazel Hunt
  • 1949 – Mary Lou Cooper
  • 1950 - Roy Blanton
  • 1950 – Charles D. “Smoky” Oswalt
  • 1950 – Darnell Fulgham
  • 1951 - Billy Orr
  • 1951 – Ralph Bowie
  • 1952 - James A. McCulloch
  • 1952 – Johnny Faye Spears (Long)
  • 1952 -  Doyle Spears
  • 1952 – Libby Hamric Owen
  • 1953 - Jack Bowie
  • 1953 - Billy J. Garner
  • 1953 - Sammie B. Oswalt
  • 1953 - Thomas A. Black
  • 1953 - Billy McDowell
  • 1953 – Glendal Reid
  • 1953 – Randall Sullivan
  • 1953 – Bobby H. Prewitt
  • 1953 – Frieda McIntire
  • 1954 - Kenneth Smith
  • 1954 - Nannie Ballard Sullivan
  • 1954 - Bobby McClure
  • 1954 -  Ruth Nowlin (Staten)
  • 1954 – Bobby Black
  • 1955 – Kenneth Moss
  • 1955 - Don Porter
  • 1955 – Edwin Blake
  • 1955 – Jannie Fondren Tindall
  • 1956 - Pat Wood Bowie
  • 1956 – Pat Wood Bowie
  • 1956 – Tracy Griffin
  • 1957 – Thomas Moore
  • 1957 - Ina Montgomery Graff
  • 1957 - Sylvia Moreland
  • 1957 - Ruth Love Black
  • 1957 – Roselyn Glasgow Bryant
  • 1957 – Marlin Van Landingham
  • 1957 - Dan Wise
  • 1957 - Betty Robinson Carruth
  • 1957 – Johnny M. Fulce
  • 1958 - Dick Burney
  • 1958 – Felicia Moss Smith
  • 1958 - Ruby Collier Butler
  • 1958 - Tom Staples
  • 1958 – Russell McCool
  • 1959 - Charlotte Gaston Reid
  • 1959 - Brenda Wise
  • 1959 - Johnnie McClure
  • 1959 – Lanelle B. Hightower
  • 1959 - Willie Hightower
  • 1959 – Brenda (McClure) Wise
  • 1959 – Charlotte Gaston Reid
  • 1960 - Walker (Brother) Wood
  • 1960 - Gene McClure
  • 1960 – Betty Kilpatrick Davis
  • 1960 - Ann Edwards Bush
  • 1960 – Lanell Steadman Kilpatrick
  • 1960 - Waverly King
  • 1961 - Rhodena (Moss) Lang
  • 1961 – C.B. “Buck” Ray
  • 1961 – Shirley Ray
  • 1961 – Connie Noblin Kramer
  • 1961 – Etoyle (Brooks) Bowman
  • 1961 – Richard Stallings
  • 1961 – Linda (McLure) Tharp
  • 1961 – Ben Tharp
  • 1961 – Lamar Kilpatrick
  • 1961 – Pat Hudson Carter
  • 1961 – Betty Gayle Steiner 
  • 1961 – Ann McClure McCool
  • 1961 – Bertha Peacock Peterson
  • 1961 – Leonard Hugh Blanton
  • 1961 – Charlotte Curtis Taylor
  • 1961 – Tommy Love
  • 1961 – Donald W. Bruce
  • 1962 - Bruce Erwin
  • 1963 – Gary keen
  • 1963 – William Black
  • 1963 – Jerry Sanders
  • 1964 – Dale Dobbs
  • 1965 – Sue Gilliam Keen
  • 1965 - Keyland V. Tennyson
  • 1966 – Kay Staples Taylor
  • 1966 – Perry King
  • 1966 – Pam Miller
  • 1966 – Theresa Pitts
  • 1966 – Carolyn Bray
  • 1966 – Glennis James Wood
  • 1966 – Jerry L. Black
  • 1967 - Joyce Erwin Vaughn
  • 1967 - James M. Oswalt, Jr.
  • 1969 - Buddy Smith
  • 1969 – Jim Murphy
  • 1969 – Barbara Black Nelson
  • 1971 - Carol Erwin Smith
  • 1971 - Nicky Keeton
  • 1971 – Fannie Redwine
  • 1971 – Betty Harwell
  • 1971 – Sedgie Taylor
  • 1971 – Hugh B. Weaver
  • 1971 – Hughbert Collier
  • 1971 – Johnny McGaugh
  • 1971 – Carolyn Hood
  • 1980 - Lynn Wise

3 comments:

  1. I was doing a search of the internet to see if I could find anything about Felt Montgomery and was so surprised to find this site! When I was a child a man named Felt Montgomery used to come to Illinois to work for my Dad -- and in 1956 we visited Felt in Ackerman. I don't really remember how old Felt was when I knew him (I was only 4-5) but I guess it's possible that he graduated in 1949. Or perhaps the Felt who graduated in 1949 also had a father named Felt? If anyone associated with this site would be willing to post an answer I would really appreciate it. My Dad's name was Bill Yohnka, my name is Teresa. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Teresa,
      My name is Ina Joe Montgomery Graff. My father was Felt Montgomery and my brother is Charles Montgomery, some people call him Felt as well. My brother graduated in 1949 from Ackerman High School, not my father. My father was born in 1898 and passed away in 1959. I now live in Slidell, LA with my husband of 52 years and would like to hear from you. I can get email messages through my daughter in law's email address if that's what you would prefer to use. graff6461@aol.com I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for inquiring about my father. It was very nice of you. Ina

      Delete
  2. Hi Teresa,

    I apologize for the delay in answering your email. Felt Montgomery was at 2011 Ackerman Reunion. Mr. Montgomery is the gentleman in this photo on the right (my dad - Marion Smith is on the left) https://picasaweb.google.com/108745043528248641599/AckermanSchoolReunion2011?feat=flashalbum#5602554112550449298.

    You can scroll up to see where Mr. Montgomery signed in this year to the Class of 1949. He still resides in Ackerman.

    May God bless and keep you!

    Buddy Smith
    Ackerman School Reunion

    ReplyDelete