reunion

The Class of '66, Deming High School, 40th Class Reunion
held June 24, 2006
Deming, New Mexico
Adobe Deli (old Lewis Flats Elementary School)

(Pictured here is the author of this little article, Ronald L. Donaghe)

I had never attended my high school reunion until this year. It wasn't because I wasn't close by. I've spent the majority of my life in Las Cruces, New Mexico, just 60 miles east of my hometown of Deming. I've even set my novels in this area. And it wasn't because I didn't enjoy my high school years, or like the people I graduated with. High school was one of those times that I will remember forever. I will cherish some memories, and I will regret other moments. But overall, it was a positive experience, and what I learned there set me on a road to my future, much in the same way that my family molded me into the person I was to become.

But enough of this. I'm posting a few pictures of the 40th reunion of the Class of 1966, and I hope others who attended will email me more pictures to put up on this site. Here's my email. You can attach .jpg files and I will add them. Please be sure to provide a description to go with the pictures. I noted that many of us had digital cameras, so it should prove to be a simple matter of emailing pictures to me.

	Many of us who went to Deming High School grew up on farms, and so the setting for the 40th reunion was kind of neat. In the foreground are the little Florida mountains, and the blue peaks in the background are the much taller and more rugged Big Floridas, rising to about 6800 feet. The Adobe Deli is off to the right of this picture (not shown, don't ask me why I didn't take a picture of the buildings in the compound. Maybe others will send me pictures??).
	Three of the numerous Reunion organizers, Allie, Carolyn, and Crystal. These are also the torch bearers of the Class of '96 who faithfully time and again attempt to contact all the graduates. Our hats (if we still wear them) are off to them.
	Robbie Gilmore (with Crystal Baker) was one of the spokespersons at the reunion. It wasn't very difficult to argue him out of a commemorative T-shirt for being, say, for attending for the first time, or being a great grandmother, or traveling the greatest distance to attend the event. He spoke with elegance, grace, and...no wait. This is Robbie Gilmore. He spoke with humor and a sense of enjoyment. Thanks for being such a loyal attendee yourself. You're well remembered.
	Jeannie Stevens, Linda Turner, and her husband, Gary Williams. Old friends and classmates, who have attempted to keep me apprised of the reunions I've missed. Linda and Gary drove all the way from Beaumont, Texas, to attend. Jeannie lives in Deming.
	Left (wife of Gerald Goss), middle, Walter Donaldson, right Gerald Goss. Ahem...I had a history project with Gerald Goss in high school. It wasn't a good match. One of us did all the work. Walter is a farmer in Deming, and it must be good for him, since he resembles himself after all these years, while a great number of us don't. I do have to say that there were only a few of us who had lost our hair.
	Judy Blanford (left); Nick Hervol (right). Somebody please identify the lady in the middle. Anyway, I went all the way from grade school through high school with Judy and Nick. We attended Sunshine Elementary south of Deming. Among my classmates at sunshine these two were among the nicest to me—always. And they know what I mean. Others were just as nice, but they're not pictured here.
	Now it's so refreshing to see a school administrator be so ebullient as Sandra Bean (sitting next to her husband). She probably remembers, but may not want to admit that she was my prom date one year. She was also Miss Deming.
	The woman with the red flower, the flag, and the surprised appearance is Donna Fergason. We also went all the way from grade school through high school together. She was also one of those who was nice to me in grade school. The gentleman to Donna's right is Alton Milligan. His family had a farm east of ours. He's a life time resident of Deming. Donna once summed up her own life in Deming. When she was in Sunshine school on the farm, she lived at the base of the Tres Hermanas mountains. When she grew up and married, she lived at the base of Black mountain. She is now busy with community service pursuits and helps keep Deming a friendly and welcoming home town.
	John Pelayo and... (somebody help me, here...). John was also a classmate at Sunshine Elementary. I recall that he was a pitcher for our baseball games. Of course, all the boys in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades had to play both baseball and football, to make up complete teams.
	Here's another invitation to have more pictures (with attribution) sent to Ronnie to be included here. If you want to find out more about your classmate who took these pictures, visit, here.