Mangum High School Alumni

Well, it's over for another year. The 2010 MHS Alumni Celebration has come and gone
and it was one of the largest in many years as folks came from all across America to celebrate
the 100th Anniversary of the Mangum High School Alumni Association.
Over 450 bought tickets for the banquet and between 600-700 were on hand for the
weekend activities in Mangum. Alums began gathering in Mangum early last week in
preparation for the big event.Things kicked off Thursday evening as classes began to
gather to share memories of their time at Mangum and tolet classmates know what has
been going on in their life since they last met. The Class of 2010 graduated
Thursday evening at 7:00. Following graduation it was time for more visiting as former
graduates got together for snacks in various homes. The annual Slicks Fish Fry was
enjoyed by 200-300 people as memories of past years began to flood our minds.
Early Friday morning the annual Alumni Breakfast was held at the American Legion
Building where they met to eat, get tickets and to share pictures of their time at MHS and throw
in a few pictures of their children and grandchildren just for the heck of it.
Golfers had the choice between two Alumni Golf Tournaments and those who just
wanted to "sit a spell" could do so at "Camp Tigers" located on the southwest corner of the
square where alumni brought their motor homes and set up camp for the weekend.
Others began to gather at Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center where most
of the rooms had been rented by Tigers. By 6:00 folks were gathering
in the lobby and it was apparent this would be one of the largest crowds in recent history
as there were six tables which had been set in the foyer to accommodate the overflow crowd.
Following the meal alumni were treated to a series of videos. One showed 2010 graduates
Kolby Miller and Jarred Stockton taking former grads on a tour of the High School.
Another showed Tiger Alums who had come "back home" to teach in our schools and also
showed future Tigers sending their greetings. A third was a humorous one featuring
Alumni Board Members hard at work, preparing for the 100 th anniversary.
The attendance award went to the Class of 1965 who were celebrating their 45 th anniversary.
Then it was on to the awarding of four scholarships provided by the Alumni Association
to college juniors. Those scholarships were given to Allison Ford, Kylie Gahagan, Allyson Rogers and McKensey McDaniel. Each of these girls was given a $1,500 scholarship.
As the banquet itself came to an end the Alumni members joined hands for the traditional
singing of Auld Lang Syne. For most Alumni reunions the singing of that song signifies
the end, but for Mangum Tigers it pretty much signifies the beginning.
Folks had the choice of two separate dances, one featuring Hillbilly Stu, and the other
featuring Mangum's own Changing Times/Illusions. It should be noted that the
Changing Times began their own scholarship this year and presented it to Don Coffman at
the Awards Assembly. The scholarship, aptly named the Mangum Rocks scholarship
was given in memory of all the neighborhood bands that used to dot our town. And of
course, for those not dancing, there was the opportunity for more-you guessed it- visiting.
Things wrapped up around midnight (or later) for some and we headed home to get as
much sleep as possible before heading back downtown for even more celebrating.
Huge crowds were on hand for the Annual Ray Hogan Barbecue. Those who had not been to
Mangum in the past few years were surprised and very pleased at the work around the
square and the addition of several new businesses. They were given a tour of Artists
Alley and the Loft apartment owned by Neil and Greta Kane.
Small groups of people could be seen gathering on the streets to reminisce and wait
for the parade that began at 4:00. During the time between the noon meal and the parade
several anniversary classes gathered for their own minireunion. Gospel music was
provided by various churches while folks visited and waited for the next event to take place.
The parade winners were 1st place- Class of 1960; 2nd place-Class of 1965; 3rd place-
Class of 1970. But we still weren't through, Dale Clayton won the drawing for the Alumni Quilt and Jim Reeves won the 50/50 drawing put on by the Class of 2011.
If that is not enough, there was one more barbecue and a
street dance before the weekend came to an official end. Wow! I'm tired just thinking
of all we did this weekend. It reminds me of an old saying: " How do I know my youth is
all spent? Because my "get up and go" has got up and went! But on my face you'll see a big
grin- As I think of the places my "get-up" has been!" We'll see you next year at
the 101St MHS Alumni Celebration! Only 10 of the classes since 1939 were not represented at
this year's celebration.

Click here for a list of those who purchased tickets

Designed and maintained by

Bob Bratton '63

For Andy

and Michael Crouch, Jimmie (Coffman) Crouch '70

Designed and maintained by

Bob Bratton '63 For Andy and Michael Crouch, Jimmie (Coffman) Crouch '70

Bob Bratton '63

For Andy

and Michael Crouch, Jimmie (Coffman) Crouch '70