Last week, five members of the Morgan County High School Class of 1951 gathered to commemorate their 73rd high school graduation anniversary. Pictured left to right, Barbara Ryland White, Jean Foote Miller, Dot Self Maples, Lucia Cooper Johnson, and Virginia Turney Howell reflected on their shared history and the journey that has spanned more than seven decades. 

The class, originally 56 graduates strong, now counts 18 living members. Despite their advancing years, these alumni remain vibrant and connected by the experiences that shaped their youth. 

In 1951, their senior year was marked by economic hardship. Due to severe crop failures over two consecutive seasons, the local economy struggled, impacting school finances. The Hartselle Chamber of Commerce requested the students forgo a yearbook to save costs, and instead students sold advertisements to local businesses to offset the costs, earning them the moniker “the class who cared.” The class spent their senior year hosting a talent show and the play “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Both events were resounding successes, filling Riddle Auditorium and showcasing the students’ talents. 

Absent from the gathering was Noah Webster of Hartselle, who was unable to attend. Nevertheless, he sent a heartfelt gift to be used as a door prize: a hand-carved wooden walking cane, intricately inscribed with the names of all 56 graduates from the Class of 1951. Johnson won the prize and said she was “thrilled.”  

During the reunion, Maples shared a poem she penned about their unique group. Reflecting on their shared history, she noted that they were born during the Great Depression, were second graders when Pearl Harbor was bombed, and seniors when the Korean War began. They have witnessed North Alabama’s transformation from an agricultural hub to a region bustling with space industry jobs—opportunities they never had but hoped their descendants would. 

As they reminisced, the five women expressed gratitude for the lives they’ve led and optimism for the future. They look forward to many more years of joy and accomplishments for their great-grandchildren, embodying the resilient spirit that has carried them through the decades.