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I had the privilege of attending one of the most unique class reunions I have ever seen before. On Saturday, August 29th, 2009 more than 100 people gathered at the Community Building to celebrate their class reunion from the years 1951 - 1956 of the former Hough School that stood at the north end of town. The building gave way to progress once the new Bluffview Elementary School was built. Even though the building is no longer standing it was the place where many memories were born.
I too have many fond memories of that school although mine came in the mid 60’s, but what I gathered from this event, the school was far different than when I attended. What was really neat about the reunion is that I recognized many of the faces that were present, though they are the faces of parents of my school mates and friends.
The following information was taken in part or whole from the reunion booklet that was provided by Eva Williams & Chris Hursey of Expert Images Photography / Ozark Studios Photography. If you didn’t order a picture from them but wish you would have, their phone number is 573-631-0433 and email is ozarkstudios@sbcglobal.net
The memory book was dedicated to
Leslie A. White
Copy taken from booklet - I want to share that story because Mr. White was truly a unique principal that you just don’t find to often in this day and time.
The memory of Mr. White is dear to the Hough School students who were lucky enough to have attended while he was the principal. He did so much more than sit in an office and rule our school - he was our teacher, our coach, our bus driver and our friend.
He drove us to school every morning and back home every night. He was the baseball and basketball coach. He was the man who taught us how to be good sports when our team was defeated and how to be good winners without hurting the other team’s feelings. He drove that old bus to every game, picking up everyone on the bus route before the games and delivering then safely back home when it was done. He allowed us to talk and sing and have a good time on the bus; he let us know what we could and could not do without even saying a word.
He wasn’t a man to yell or preach at his students, yet we knew what he expected from us. If we crossed his line, a short walk to the library and a visit from that wooden paddle set us back on the straight and narrow. He was tough when he had to be, and a soft touch if a kid needed a friend. He bought many a poor kids a snack on the return trips from away games if they’d come without any money.
He was one in a million, and we were the lucky students who got him as our principal. Hough had other principals before him and many after he retired, but to the classes of the 50’s he was unique.
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