Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

"Sweethearts" to perform at McRae Reunion

A couple of high school sweethearts will be the entertainment for the McRae Reunion.

The reunion is scheduled for July 3-6, with plenty of events on tap, including a worship service Sunday, July 6.

On Saturday night, July 5, Chuck and Tena Miller, who were sweethearts in high school at McRae, will be performing in the talent show.

They have been solo acts at past reunions, but this year the duo entered as a family.

In addition to preparing for the reunion, the Millers have been working on their soon to be released CD project, entitled "Changes for Tena".

"Tena has been the main supporter or driving force behind my progress in music and other events in my life," Chuck said. "She has been there through all the university studies, through all the bands, all the ups and downs, and although there were good times and bad times, she remained true and faithful to be progress of our family."

The inspiration for the CD was inspired by her confidence in Chuck to record music people would consider a pleasure to listen to, he added.

The title track of the album is dedicated to her and to highlight the hard time she endured when the couple left Omaha, Neb. to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey.

"It is without hesitation," he said, "I am able to say the changes Tena went through to uplift her family were centered around this statement: What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.'"

A television documentary about the Millers is being prepared from Omaha. It will commemorate their lives and contributions to the musical arts in Omaha.

The reunion banquet will be held Saturday, July 5, at the McRae Middle School cafeterium.

The program opens and closes with Rev. George Easter providing the invocation and benediction.

Following dinner will be entertainment, greetings from former MHS Principal Dr. Joseph Hale, a tribute to Mae Haimlton, induction into the McRae Hall of Fame, followed by the talent show, introduction of the reunion committee, announcements and the alma mater (performed by Charles Miller on piano).

On Sunday, July 6, services will be held at the Prescott High School auditorium, with Rev. C.D. Stuart delivering the message.

Stuart, the pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Illinois, has written about his experiences throughout his life and brings them to the pulpit.

He is the product of Munn's Chapel Baptist Church in Prescott, where he was first introduced to religion.

Stuart has been the pastor at New Life, Hermitage, Calvary, Ivan, Macedonia, Sparkman and First Baptist churches across southwest Arkansas.

The services will begin at 11 a.m. with a song by the McRae Reunion Choir. This will be followed by a prayer by Rev. Willie Flowers and scripture by Rev. Robert McCoy.

Olen Johnson Jr. will be the master of ceremonies for the service.

Other events during the reunion include 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.

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.

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.