Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon Graduation All Wet

All the persons involved in the 2001 graduation ceremonies for Gurdon High School will hold this one in their memory for some time.

In special memory in part for the unique, inspirational and endearingly firm Academic Hall of Fame inductees, Lila and Gaines Thompson.

An unusual memory due to the unfortunate torrential downpour received by all attendees alike during commencement.

Mr. Gaines gave an uplifting and Go-Devil loyal commentary for the seniors and audience members. Referring to the most fortunate moment in his life, meeting and the wrangling it took to get a date with the future Mrs. Thompson.

Commenting the success of their soon to be 55 years of marriage were purely the work of Mrs. Lila, Mr. Thompson gave a brief history of how he came to be a Gurdon Go-Devil by choice. He challenged the graduates to take pride in being a product of Gurdon High School.

The crowd, now thinned out by a steady shower, enjoyed an acappella performance by graduate Ebonee Crow singing Hero by Mariah Carey. While the crowd couldn't follow the count of the music, Crow could.

Only bits and pieces of salutatorian Joe Plyler's speech were heard over the run of persons across the walkway of the stands. While the rain continued, co-valedictorian Jodi Purifoy spoke under principal Leonard Gills' umbrella of the classes love for lost classmates.

Thunder was heard more than the sound system, but the graduates and faculty stoically stood the rain. Little to nothing was heard of co-valedictorian Jordan Freer's speech due to the bottom falling out about that time.

During a let-up in the rain Leah Edwards and Leslie Baumgardner tried to carry their voices with not much luck. Most of the planned ceremony stopped at this time with the threatening skies gearing up again.

The graduates began to cross the stage with out receiving the diploma covers to keep them dry. Graduates shook Jesse Runyan's hand and the first few tried to return to their seats with their bent and drooping caps. When the winds could no longer decide from which direction they wished to blow, the graduates in their shining, dripping and three shades darker gowns, ran across the stage and off to the cover of Cabe Middle School or under the over hang of the concession stand.

While many students and parents commented on their discontentment with the administration's decision to continue with the ceremony outside, the graduation was over and there was little to do, but go home and dry off.