Imperial Homecoming 50th Reunion
Buena Vista School Homecoming Reunion Included the 50th Anniversary for the Class of 1969
By Susie R Spann
Originally published in the Fort Stockton Pioneer October 2019
Homecoming festivities on October 4, 2019 marked the 50th anniversary for the Buena Vista Independent School District class of 1969. Alumni from 1949 to present day gathered at the Ivey Barn on FM 11 in Imperial, Texas to celebrate the event before heading to the BVISD stadium to watch the homecoming game.
Among the alumni were Atha Lee Boyd, class of 1949, who has attended the most reunions out of this group and Paul Bruce Ivey, the youngest alumni as a graduate of the class of 2000.
Former students flipped through pages of old yearbooks and shared anecdotes of days long gone. Some of them smiled quietly as they looked at the pictures of classmates that could no longer attend the reunions. Others shared their memories with more enthusiasm.
“I woke up with someone picking gravel out of my hands.” Jackie Carr, class of 1969, laughed as he described one of many escapades from his high school days.
“Imperial used to a thriving little town,” said John Strickland. He and his wife, Martha, graduated in 1970.
The Texas State Handbook Online states that Imperial grew from a population of 250 with eleven businesses in 1949 to a population of nearly 1000 with twenty-six businesses in 1968.
Conversation continued over a meal of barbeque pork, barbeque beef, potatoes au gratin, beans, and cake, prepared by Kari Ivey. After the meal, alumni disbursed and regrouped at the football stadium for pre-game festivities and to cheer for the home team.
“It was nice to see everyone,” stated Wanda Holladay Lewis, class of 1969. Ms Lewis, who works at the Imperial Library, coordinated the reunion and helped decorate the building for the event.
34 attendees signed the register and are listed by name, current city of residence, and year of graduation or last year attended.
