Great Response to Coach Tarleton's Idea for the
Big "T.H.S. Black Bear Reunion", June 3, 2000 ! !

Estimates of total attendance are from 2,000 to 3,000 teachers, alumni, spouses and friends at the J. Oviatt Bowers City Park that began at 9am. The heat prompted Coach Tarleton to ask the classes in the outlying pavilions to come into the Belk Recreation Center earlier than planned. There all classes mingled in excited expectation. Friends from school days greeted each other with broad smiles and hugs.

Earlier an impromptu parade of Restored old '40's, '50's, and '60's cars, Cushman motor scooters and Harley Davidson motorcycles circled the park enlivening the sprits of the crowd.

Ward McFarland provided a store in McFarland Mall for Susan Rogers Elmore and Sandra Henry Baker to host a get together.  Classmates from 1961 attending the reunion or the 5:30pm '61 get together were:

The Big Black Bear reunion got its start from the retirement tribute for  former THS basketball, football and baseball coach Tom Taleton, who retired last year from Tuscaloosa Academy after serving as golf coach. Tuscaloosa News reporters, Ben Windham¹ and Mark Hughes Cobb², reported that "There were students there from many different years, and fellow staff members from throughout his career. A similar party for longtime educator Anna Brown brought together about 1,400 of a similar crew. So the idea began to coalesce: Why not have a mega-reunion, not just for one class, but for all the THS Black Bears?"²

"We're calling this the 'Tuscaloosa High School Black Bear Reunion,' " he said, "We want everyone who attended to come whether they graduated or not." ^"A similar party for longtime educator Anna Brown brought together about 1,400 of a similar crew. So the idea began to coalesce: Why not have a mega-reunion, not just for one class, but for all the THS Black Bears?"¹

There is already talk of organizing a ' Tuscaloosa High School Black Bear Reunion,'  on a regular basis. Local photographers from ZAP Foto were there to record the fun. For photo ordering information see below.

(roll 88020 - frame 7)	(roll 88020 - frame 22)	(roll 88020 - frame 17)
Click on first 2 photos for enlargement
L to R: Darroll & Barbara Hill Johnson, Raymond & Kathryn Epperson Dockery, Dan Stewart	Barbara Robertson House, Jimmy Walker, James Drummond and Ronda Drummond	Cushman Club Members;  Mayling George Smith (THS '60) and husband, Marbury Smith (THS '58), Barbara Robertson House, Jimmy Walker
*'61 T.H.S. Classmates in Title Block Collage= Susan Elmore & Harry Hammonds upper left corner = (roll 88020 - frame 8) Kathryn Dockery & Barbara Johnson lower right corner = (roll 88020 - frame 0) Click corners for enlargements or here   THS classes of the 1960's   Orders for photos can be requested direct by from ZAP Foto. Renewed friendship turns to marriage for 1950 THS graduates July 23, 2000, Tuscaloosa News article by ANITA DEBRO

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Revised: August 01, 2004