And now we have had the 70th Birthday Reunion (52nd Anniversary) to celebrate the rumor that some of our classmates have turned 70 (actually none of us are old enough to be 70).  Joyce Simmons Bourgeois returned to the helm as Chair of the Planning Committee along with Joyce Westmoreland Schoonmaker as chief sidekick.  Donna Maddox Saurage did an awesome job of getting the message out via e-mails, wrote some and decorated all of our letters or e-mails.  This three day reunion started off on Friday, April 17, 2009, with a delightful get-together in the Hospitality Room at the Holiday Inn South.  No ice needed to be broken here.  It is amazing how easily we resumed past friendships and camaraderie with those  we had not seen for many many years. 

Saturday was the day for another good old Louisiana Fish Fry at the UCT Club.  You're right, it is the same one we went to as teenagers.  The festivities included a Birthday cake and a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday to Us."  We even had our very own clown, thanks to Sue Frank Ferrara.   Sunday morning found some of us hardy folks who just had to have one more time with our classmates and their spouses at Breakfast in the Holiday Inn South.  It was a great time to renew acquaintances, cement new relationship and in some cases to make new friends. 

Welcoming Speech for Class of ‘57

By Irwin Shaab

You know I have a saying, that when we have reached the age that we are now "that when you get out of bed in the morning that you look to your left and then your right and if you don't see any wood it’s OK to get out of bed."

And well it looks like we succeeded and got out of bed and made it here to the Baton Rouge High School class of  '57 70n09 birthday bash.

The committee and I would like to welcome everyone who have come from far and near to be with us on this very special occasion.

We have all reached a very important milestone in our lives; we are now in our 70^th year of life.  In preparing for these remarks, I reflected on the many years that have passed through our lives.  We were born in the last years of the great depression.  Our parents were products of what has been called, "THE GREATEST GENERATION”.  They survived the great depression and World War II.  We probably don't really remember much of those years, yet our parents got us through them “ok.”

Then we got lucky, the fabulous fifties came around. Poodle skirts, flat tops, Hopper's drive inn, 57 Chevys, and the most important event of all,” rock and roll”.  And don't forget the 45 records, Elvis, Pat Boone, Buddy Holly and many more great artists.  We saw LSU go undefeated in 1958 and win the national championship in football, and you know we have seen it done twice since then. Who would have thought?

Well I am getting a little head of myself.

After finishing elementary schools like Highland, Southdowns, Goodwood, Dufroque, Bernard Terrace, Wyndotte, Sacred Heart and few I still can't remember – ok, yes and Fairfields too.  We head off to good old Baton Rouge Junior High.  We usually took special city buses to school.  Six classes instead of one.  Were we scared; but we got over it.  We had all the usual activities and classes, gym and the band.  A lot of us took band with Mr. Gaines, who by the way retired and became a pediatrician in New Orleans .  We would go to Victory Park , and head to Third Street for a coke at Liggets or Stroubes drug store.  Don't forget Picadilly Cafeteria.  It was a treat when our parents took us there.

And Third Street - That was the place to go shopping, and that was before malls.  There were stores like Daltons , Rosenfields, Welsh and Levy, the Varsity shop.  And don't forget Stones jewelry store.  I can see Stella behind the counter helping her father Hank.  On yes, Fifth Ave. Linen and Childrens shop - I had to throw that one in.  And don't forget Goudchaux’s at 1500 Main Street .

And we had the great movie theaters like the Hart, Paramount , Louisiana and on 4th Street, the Ogdens had the Gordon.  If you couldn't get to Third Street, we even had neighborhood theaters like the Varsity and Chimes in Tigertown.  The Tivoli, Rex, Dalton , Regina, and, of course, the Florida Drive In.  I know you spent a few hot nights there.  And of course our own BRHS neighborhood theater, the Ogden.  I can still see Randy behind the popcorn counter.

After 2 years of junior high we moved to Government Street , we became Baton Rouge High Bulldogs. What a fabulous four years.  Mr. Helveston was our first principal and then Mr. Burge. Did he ever work for the CIA in covert op's?  How did he always sneak around like that.  Of course we had our favorite teachers.  Mine was Mr. Lignos who just passed away recently.  I am sure you had one too.

Then we had the sports.  “Football”.  We had our own Friday Night Lights back in the fifties.  Memorial Stadium, the band, the cheerleaders, the boosters, and don't forget the majorettes in their short skirts.  Wow!  What a wonderful time that was. And don't forget the dances in the gym, Jimmy Clanton, Bobby Charles just to name a few and Fats Domino at Ryan Field.

We also had a great basketball team and we even won the state track championship that year.  I still remember the relay team.

After 4 years of not only living, but being in the most exciting times of our lives, and probably the best our county had ever seen.  And now it was time for graduation.  We got our diplomas, Peanut got a standing ovation.  I really miss him.  We went to the dance till dawn and came back to school for a last goodbye.

Some of us went to LSU and other colleges, some of us went in the armed services, and some of us went to work.

And then the sixties rolled around.  Many of us finished college and then we went to work, and raised a family.  Life just moved on.  We had our trials and tribulations but, as always in life, we made it through.

And now as we reach this age and can enjoy the wonderful treasures that life has brought us, We gather here in Baton Rouge to celebrate this occasion.  But we must not forget our friends and classmates who have passed on. I know we miss them all and wish they could be here with us today.

In closing, I would like to thank the committee and the hard work they have done in putting together not only this great affair, but the work the committee did in putting together the 50 year reunion two years ago. I thank G-d for the strength that He has given us to get here.

And most of all, he gave us the opportunity to be 1957 Baton Rouge High Bulldogs.