Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

McRae Reunion is July 3-6

It's almost time for the McRae School Reunion.

The reunion is scheduled for July 3-6, with plenty of events on tap, including the Marching Cobra Band from Kansas City, Mo.

The Cobras are led by Willie Smith, who is an ISS teacher in the Kansas City School District. Smith graduated from McRae High School in 1963 and founded the Cobras in 1969.

The band is a nationally and internationally known performing unit known for dynamic and colorful routines.

It was created in 69 when Smith was hired by the KCMO Board of Education as a seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher at Lincoln Jr. High.

"When I first came to Lincoln," he said, "I immediately became concerned about the lack of constructive outside activities available to the children of the inner-city' area. I saw the need for a positive, structured activity that would provide both a social outlet and some meaningful experiences for the young people as an alternative to hanging round on the streets.

"In Sept. 1969, I entered 13 young boys in a school talent show and the won first place. Within a year's time, the number in the group had tripled and has grown steadily ever since.

"Originally," he continued, "an all boys unit, girls were admitted in 1976 and Wilma Cain, one of our most valued supporters, came on board as my assistant."

In the early years, the group was simply known as the Lincoln Jr. High Boys Drill Team. The school's librarian, Leacy Hollingsworth, jokingly said the group should be called the Cobras while watching them perform one day, because they were "swift as a snake."

The name stuck and the Cobras were officially born.

It has been said, Smith said, instead of it being simply a "drill team" the Cobras are also dancers because of the routines performed.

"Most people think they're going to see a left-right-left marching drill," Smith said, " but the Cobras are all over the place. It's not a drill, it's not a dance. It's actually a swinging drill, dance, patty-cake and twist. The Cobras don't march  they perform."

While volunteers have come and gone with the Cobras, Smith has been a constant since day one throughout its 34-year existence.

For 17 years, the Cobras were sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, with the help of a grant from the United Way. The "merger" of the Cobras and Boys and Girls Clubs have been a benefit to all involved.

However, on March 27, 2003, Smith decided the Cobras should "spread their wings" and stand on their own.

Other events scheduled for the reunion include registration and a hospitality hour at the MMS gym at 6 p.m. July 3.

On Independence Day, the opening session will start at 10 a.m., with the reunion picnic scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at MMS.

A basketball shoot-around is on tap at 2:30, while there will be individual classes meeting at 5 o'clock. The reunion dance will be at 9 p.m. at MMS.

On Saturday, July 5, the parade will fill streets of downtown Prescott at 10 a.m., with those in the reunion scheduled to tour the Prescott High School Sports Complex and Depot Museum at noon.

The reunion banquet and talent show will be held at 8 p.m. in the MMS cafetorium.

The reunion will conclude with morning worship services Sunday, July 6, at 11 a.m. This will be in the PHS auditorium.