Refugio County Press (Refugio, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 19, 2012 Page: 3 of 18
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Hefugto (Emmtw Press
Thursday, July 19,2012
Page 3A
Barefield reunion lets former students share memories
(Continued from 1A)
remains his favorite.
Gipson, who now lives
in Corpus Christi, retired
in January after serv-
ing 24 years in the Navy
where he was a welding
instructor aboard Navy
ships.
Now he serves as a ref-
eree for high school foot-
ball games.
Sharon Allen of Desoto
began at RHS in 1967
but developed her love
of education at Barefield
School. She has devoted
her life to teaching chil-
dren.
“The teachers and
administrators were car-
ing and wanted you to do
well, and they made sure
we studied and did what
we were supposed to do,”
Allen said.
Following her degree at
Prairie View A&M, she
taught at every grade lev-
els from junior high to col-
lege. Following her retire-
ment, she didn’t give up
as an educator. Rather,
she began teaching incar-
cerated youth.
“Education is a part of
me - I’ve always wanted
to be a teacher,” she said.
Alvin Francis of Corpus
Christi came to the
reunion with friends.
“They really enjoy stay-
ing together as a group,”
Francis said “They still
keep in touch and it’s nice
to participate.”
Willie Mae Wills was
a majorette in the Tiger
Band. She remembers
that the teachers taught
so much more than the
core subjects.
“They taught us good
manners and to have
respect for each other,”
Wills said.
Bullying or picking on
other children had dire
consequences - there was
no sparing of the rod or
spoiling of the children.
She and her husband
Bobby Wills met at
Barefield, remained high
school sweethearts and
married. They will cel-
ebrate their 46th anni-
versary.
Not all the memories
are as sweet.
Johnnie Marie Green
went to Corpus Christi
with her father to pur-
chase a pair of black, pat-
ent leather shoes to wear
to 8th grade graduation.
“My daddy told me it
would be my last chance
to go so I went but I
missed my English test,”
she said.
The teacher had
already told the students
she would not make up
another test.
“I missed the test so I
didn’t get to walk with my
class,” Johnnie said.
The administrator
wouldn’t budge. Johnnie
received her certificate
of graduation but years
passed before her feelings
healed.
“Now, I look at it dif-
ferently,” she said. “They
couldn’t certify that I had
completed my studies
when I had not completed
my English exam.”
For Johnnie, bring-
ing together childhood
friends like Travis Jones
of Mobile, Ala. and Mary
Anderson of Los Angeles,
Calif, sparked excitement
and happiness at once.
“This was just won-
derful and I can’t thank
Ronnie Green for carry-
ing this through for all of
us,” Johnnie said.
For Lorraine
Cunningham Salone,
who began her teaching
career at Barefield, the
reunion instilled a spe-
cial blessing. Many of her
relatives and friends con-
tinue to live in Refugio.
“My mother wanted me
to be a teacher and she
worked hard at it,” said
Salone. “I actually want-
ed to be a nurse.”
Because it was diffi-
cult to land a teaching
job right out of college,
she worked a year at the
Refugio Hospital under
the Sisters of Mercy
until the job at Barefield
opened.
“I was only 22 so some
of the high school stu-
dents were close to my
age,” she said. “I didn’t
have a problem. I think
they related to me.
As the educator sat at
the long table, numer-
ous alumni greeted her
with her nickname, “Baby
Sister!”
The fifth of 10 kids, her
older brothers began call-
ing her Baby Sister and
the name stuck though
five more siblings came
later.
Salone taught for 36
years in Cuero, Victoria
Corpus Christi and final-
ly in Goliad where she
retired after 19 years at
that school.
“In those years, we
were patient,” she said.
Many of the students
shared one thought: when
a student walked through
the doors of Barefield,
they felt unity and love.
Hundreds of exes were
drawn to Refugio for the
reunion... they left with a
resolve to not wait so long
next time.
Kenda Nelson photo
Mary Anderson and Mary Kay Dickerson share some memories of Barefield School Friday night at
VFW Post 6290.
Kenda Nelson photo
Larry Gipson of Corpus Christi has traveled around
the world as a career Navy man before his retire-
ment. He now referees football games but looks
back with fond memories of his years at Barefield
School.
Kenda Nelson photo
Sharon Allen Chinn drove from Desoto
to attend the Barefield Reunion. A retired
teacher, she now works with incarcerated
youths.
g ’ ;rsR/s\rRJir>e of woodsboro
Board of Directors, Officers and Employees
cordially invite you to attend a
Retirement Reception
in honor of
Arfett D. Feftner
Celebrating over 42 years of Committed Service
Thursday, July 26,2012
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
320 First Street
Woodsboro, Texas 78393
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Nelson, Kenda. Refugio County Press (Refugio, Tex.), Vol. 52, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 19, 2012, newspaper, July 19, 2012; Refugio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth740682/m1/3/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dennis M. O’Connor Public Library.