Photos courtesy of Lois Elliott

Pictured above in the group photo are: First row: Annie Bowyer Sink, Judy Hale King, Judy Patterson Gilbert, Virginia Wilhelm Nichols. Second row: Betty Drummond Chambers, Lois Kidd Elliott, Carolyn Hannah Phillips, Virginia Hayslett Harlow, Rita Bryant Vaughn, Linda Andrews Shorter; Third row: James Mason, Richie Hippert, Nancy Zell Calvert, Cletus King, Claudine Drewry Spangler and Louie Frango.

At left, Former teacher Bettye Boggs (left) and former principal H.D.W. Conner and his wife, Martha, were at the reunion. For more photos, visit The Notebook on botetourtview.com.

While the joy of impending new high schools spread across the county, the community ones that closed had a last year of seniors. Eagle Rock High School Class of 1959 celebrated their 50th Reunion on Sept. 18 at Natural Bridge Hotel. There were 33 seniors in the Eagles Class of 1959. The school sat where the Eagle Rock Post Office is located today.

The Class of '59 also hosted an all school reunion in September 1989 and in 1999 a 40th reunion for their class. Lois Elliott related that former principal H.D.W. Conner and his spouse were present and teacher Bettye Boggs also came to the affair.

Boggs helped the students get a trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City. Here is what Elliott had to say:

"In the fall of 1958, a new principal, Mr. Henry D.W. Conner arrived at the school. The classmates formed a committee to ask the new principal about the school's traditional senior trip to Washington, D.C. His immediate response was, "No" the classmates believed that they had a "Boggs" intervention. Mr. Conner came to our classroom to address the issue and said, "I have been approached about your trip and I said, "No." If you can't go to New York as well, you can't go anywhere." On May 13, 1959, after achieving the impossible to raise funds, the class left for Washington and New York City! A great way to end the legacy of Eagle Rock High School. Boggs traveled all the way from Rathdrum, Idaho for the reunion.

-- Cathy Benson