Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

McRae Reunion History Is Given

The time has come for the McRae School reunion. It will be held this weekend beginning Friday morning and continuing through Tuesday, July 4.

The idea of a McRae All-School Reunion began as a dream. At the nucleus of the dream were Homer and Edna Robinson Hopson, member of the class of 1961.

As they expressed their dream to others they were soon joined by a small group of individuals who shared the same dream and had the courage and far-sightedness to say, "Together, we can make it happen." The word went out. Others heard of the dream and connected with the dreamers. From this small body came the official organization that was to be known as the McRae Reunion Committee.

The Hopsons were asked to chair the reunion committee. Plans were formulated for a reunion to include everyone who had ever attended McRae.

The first reunion was planned for July 2 and 3, 1988. Committee members began to hustle addresses. Letters were mailed. Committee members were astounded at the response. By the date of the reunion 400 alumni had answered the call. From all over the United States they came to pay homage to their alma mater.

At the close of the reunion the reunion committee donated $500 to the Prescott Parks Association for the development of the James Johnson Baseball Complex near Prescott High School.

After such a successful reunion it was decided that July 4-7, 1991, would be the dates for the second all-school reunion. The Hopsons again agreed to chair the event.

Again the response was tremendous. Close to 350 came home to honor the school that no longer bore the name McRae. A memorial fund to perpetuate McRae School was begun.

Three years later, June 20 through July 3, 1994, the third reunion convened. Again McRae alumni turned out in big numbers. 300 were on hand to fellowship and reminiscence about school days at dear old McRae. Johnny and Mae Hamilton had received the torch from Homer and Edna Hopson to chair the reunion committee. At the close of the third reunion it was decided that July 2-5, 1998, would be the dates of the fourth reunion.

Four years would elapse before McRae alumni would gather to honor that one place within their hearts they never shall forget.

The Hamiltons again chaired the fourth reunion.

During the four-year span between the third and fourth reunions, the reunion committee was working diligently to make the fourth reunion even better.

In July 1998 Prescott was flooded with an influx of McRae alumni. Once more 300 former students, teachers and the last surviving principal came together as sons and daughters of the school they loved, then and now. A glorious time was concluded by agreeing to meet in the millennium year 2000.

As soon as the fourth McRae School reunion ended in 1998 plans were begun for the 2000 reunion. The reunion committee selected Herbert and Verion Redic Adams to receive the torch from Johnny and Mae Hamilton as chairpersons of the fifth McRae School reunion. Herbert was a member of the class of 1953 while Verion was a graduate of the class of 1955.

Prescott Middle School was renamed McRae Middle School earlier this year to commemorate the former high school at that site.

One only has to mention the upcoming reunion to either Herbert or Verion to feel their enthusiasm and zeal for the very special fifth reunion.

The Adamses have stated that the last few days before the opening of the reunion have become very hectic as each committee goes about seeing that everything is in order to greet the great number expected this weekend. The registration count is over 250 with another 50 expected by the opening session on Saturday, July 1.

They stated that they just couldn't praise enough the work done by the different committees. They congratulate each committee for a job well done. The support given by each committee has been overwhelming.

The McRae Reunion Committee is made up of Herbert and Verion Adams; Homer and Edna Hopson; Johnny and Mae Hamilton; Rev. Ivory Curry, assistant coordinator; Patricia Blake, secretary and registration chairperson; Elaine Williams, treasurer; Martha Butler; Mary Flenory; Bobbie George; Patsy Gillard; Maxine Green; Helen Gulley; Opal Hall; Freddie Hamilton; Josephine Henderson; Murrel Johnson; Olen Johnson; Gladys Kirby; Vernon Meeks; Doris Pearson; Finis Purifoy; Ola Mae Sandifer; Oree Simmons; Robert Smallwood; Sam Stafford; Regina Tanner; Yvonne Thomas; and Mattie Tidwell.