On Sept. 18, during its 50th Annual Celebration of Members and Awards Ceremony, Waterworks Visual Arts Center recognized seven individuals. Award recipients were presented framed photographs taken by photographer Jenn Selby which featured unique vignettes of sculptures displayed in the gardens at Waterworks.
Fifty years ago in April 1959, a group of 26 artists gathered to establish an arts organization in Salisbury. In commemoration of this milestone, Waterworks held a kickoff event, the Artists’ Invitational and Sale, in April. Three individuals worked for months to bring together more than 60 artists who set up shop in the F&M Trolley Barn. For their efforts, this year’s President’s Valuable Volunteer Recognition Award was presented to: Jane W. Gamewell, Babe Nobles and Ray Paradowski.
In 2008, Waterworks commemorated two patrons of the arts with an award named in their memory: Judy and Skinny Norvell. Today their children, Edward Norvell and Owen Norvell, continue that support and presence in the life of WVAC. The Lucile P. and Edwin O. Norvell Family Art of Teaching Award recognizes a person or persons for significant contributions to educational programming and the Waterworks Visual Arts Center.
This year’s Art of Teaching Award was presented to Deborah K. Hoffman.
In 1987 an award was established to honor Chuck Taylor, a member of the Waterworks’ Board of Directors from 1982 to 1992. His company, Taylor Clay Products, provided all the bricks for the additions and sculpture garden at Waterworks’ Water Street facility. The courtyard in the garden was named The Taylor-Johnson Courtyard in his honor and in honor of Frances H. “Billy” Johnson, who established the Waterworks Endowment. In addition to his financial and in-kind gifts, Taylor, who died in the mid-1990s, provided opportunities for emerging artists through several residency programs at Taylor Clay Products. He covered all artists’ expenses and provided the artists with an exhibition opportunity in the Waterworks’ sculpture garden.
This year’s recipients of the Charles D. Taylor Sr. Distinguished Patron Award were given in memory of Lucile Proctor Norvell and Katharine W. Osborne.
Lucile Proctor Norvell, affectionately known as Judy, was also a driving force for Waterworks as far back as 1977, when the City of Salisbury leased the old waterworks building to the Rowan Art Guild Gallery. She helped in many ways but mostly in donating the funds to buy up-fittings for the old facility. In the years following, she continued to support Waterworks, personally and through her family’s Proctor Foundation.
Katharine Weisiger Osborne supported Waterworks in many ways, both financially through memberships, sponsorships, and scholarships, as well as serving many years as volunteer treasurer and member of the board of directors.
Waterworks also presented The Christine P. Whitton Disginguised Leadership Award posthumously to Christine P. Whitton.
Boyden reunion
The 1943 and 1944 classes of Boyden High School held their 65th and 66th year class reunions Sept. 18 and 19.
On Friday, classmates met at the home of John Rink for dinner, catered by Gary’s Barbecue. On Saturday night, they met at the Salisbury Country Club for fellowship and dinner.
Attending from the class of 1943: Louise Ellington Raver, Patsy Proctor Rendleman, Lois Brown Carter, Martha D. Purvis Hudson, Patty Zimmerman Seay, Hope Willard Davis, Bob Weant, Nenie Henry Midyette, Bob Johnston, John Rink, Henry Bernhardt, Julia Hunt Barger, Jack Kepley, Arthur Shoe, Martha Lou Heitman Gascoigne, William Greene, and Tuck Gudger.
From the class of 1944: Ann Coughenour Boyd, Bob Cleaver, Geneva Beaver Kelly, Elizabeth Hardin Taylor, Frank Fuller, Helen Compton Newman, Bill Ellis, Miriam Cox Haynes, Larry Haynes, Jim Morgan, Charles Roberson, Jean Forbes Luther, Miles Smith, Ann Coggin, Rose Zimmerman Post, Bill Hall and Nancy Conrad Greene.
Special guests were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pinyan, coach and athletic director of Salisbury High School. He presented a plea for the classes to help “complete the plan” for the athletic complex at Salisbury High School by pledging support.
Henry Bernhardt was master of ceremonies with Ann Coggin, Elizabeth Hardin Taylor, William Greene and Martha D. PurvisHudson participating on the program.
Beta Sigma Phi
President Brenda Gobble presided over the first meeting of Iota Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi of Salisbury recently at the Rockwell Community building. Guests were: Gladys Joyce, Arizabeth Torres and BrittanyGilbert.
Gilbert, who is on leave from Iraq, talked about her duties there. She is a member of the Iota Psi Chapter on leave of absence, serving with the National Guard. Brittany returns to duty Sept. 12 after visiting her family, friends and her sorority sisters.
New member Gladys Joyce is being sponsored by member Karen Smith and will be joinng the chapter after initial training conducted by Vice President Diane Yates.
Iota Psi will host a Halloween party for sister chapter Xi Alpha Delta Oct. 27 at Scotty and Kelly Lippard’s home at Lake Norman. A future trip in December to see the Rockettes perform in Winston- Salem is in the works, along with the chapter’s children’s Christmas party and a Thanksgiving dinner.
District West Civitan
The North Carolina District West Civitan held its 44th annual convention at the Crowne Plaza in Hickory on Sept. 11 and 12.
On Friday evening the Salisbury club received the Governor’s Award patch for participation in district activities for the year. A District Honor key was presented to club member Frank Goodnight for his activities in Civitan over the last seven years.
The club received an Honor Club patch from Civitan International for the 2007-2008 Civitan year, and Dr. Andrew Jeter, president of the club during that year, was recognized as a Distinguished President.
During the official business meeting of the district on Saturday morning, Goodnight was elected governor-elect for the 2009-2010 Civitan year. Dr. Mark Beymer was also elected to the position of district director.
Other recognitions were awarded to the local club including the Helmsman Award for participating in the Civitan International Research Center in Birmingham, Ala. The club received a silver medal for activities with Special Olympics, as well as recognition of support from the Boys and Girls Home of Waccamaw.
Former Governor Curtis Montgomery was presented the “Home of the Governor-Elect” banner for display during the coming year.
During the Governor’s Banquet on Saturday night, the club was recognized as having the largest delegation at the convention. Goodnight was honored with the Outstanding Cabinet Member award.
Elon Massey, a long-time member of the Salisbury club, was recognized for 47 years of continuous perfect attendance. Local club president Steve Clark received the President of the Year plaque and Bill Adams was awarded the Secretary of the Year award.
Gene Wall was installed as fund-raising chairperson for the district and Curtis Montgomery was installed as leadership trainer for the year.
International director of Region Three, Wayne Mullis, was also installed as a cabinet member.
The Granite Quarry Civitan Club was named the top club in N.C. District West Civitan at the convention. There are 69 Civitan Clubs in the district, which stretches from the piedmont to the Tennessee state line.
The club was recognized during the Friday club awards banquet as the top club in Area IV-East, Top Ten in the district, Governor’s Meeting the Challenge Award and Club Builder Award for chartering a new Junior Civitan Club. The club was also named the Top Club in N.C. District West at the Awards Banquet on Saturday
In addition, Club Secretary John Walser was named Best Club Secretary for clubs with 30-44 members. Don Livengood was recognized by the district as the member with the longest continuous perfect attendance at club meetings. He has amassed 50 years of perfect attendance. Livengood was also recognized by Civitan International for 50 years of membership.
Three members of the Granite Quarry Civitan Club were recognized with major awards. Past N.C. District West Gov. Bill Fisher presented Faye Harper with the District Citizen of the Year award. Faye was noted for her civic work in Granite Quarry, serving on several town committees and helping keep the town clean.
She was also noted for her work with Wittenberg Lutheran Church, where she is active in Sunday School, choir,and WELCA, as well as her work with Lutheran World Relief through the quilters of Haven Lutheran Church.
Fisher also presented the District Civitan of the Year award to Lanny Merrell. He was recognized for his work with Civitan over the past 35 years during which time he has sponsored in excess of 30 new members, was a club builder for the Spencer Civitan Club and was an associate club builder of the Rowan County Early College Junior Civitan Club. He has been Area IV-East lt. governor and currently serves on the marketing committee for N.C. District West.
Franklin Merrell was presented with the District Humanitarian Award. He was recognized for over 40 years of work with the Boy Scouts of America. He was noted for helping develop youth protection policies for his church, Union Lutheran.
Franklin Merrell is currently the scoutmaster of Troop 379 and advisor of Venture Crew 379, both chartered to the Granite Quarry Civitan Club. He was a club builder of the Rowan County Early College Junior Civitan Club and has helped his students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College gain job skills and helped with job placement after graduation.
He is a member of the Rowan County Human Resources Association, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the Central Piedmont Safety Council. He has been a member of the Granite Quarry Civitan Club for 32 years.
Center Stage
Dancers from Center Stage Dance Company in China Grove competed this summer in a four-day national dance competition in Charleston, S.C., Encore Dance Competition of the Stars, with dancers from the United States and Canada.
Soloist Dillon Stevens returned home as national junior solo champion, ranking first overall in the field of 82 dancers.
The solo competition began on Thursday evening and ran until 11 p.m. The solo competition resumed at 7 a.m. on Friday and concluded at lunch.
After the many hours of solo competitors, Stevens finished the competition on top with a diamond award, ranking first overall, receiving a large trophy and $100 cash prize. Dillon’s tap teacher at Center Stage is Sydney Overcash and was assisted by renowned tapper Jason Janas.
In the duet/trio competition, Stevens and his partner, Liza Eller, ranked third overall with a platinum award and received a special Creative Comedy Award for their jazz duet to “Cheater Cheater.”
In the teen category of competition, the Center Stage dancers in “On A String” received the highest award presented, a diamond award, placing third overall for teen competition. The dance “On A String” was also selected as the highest scoring number for the Best Choreography Award. The choreographer for the number was Sydney Overcash.
The entire competition team at Center Stage performed together in their production number “The Jailhouse.” This number received the coveted diamond award and ranked second overall in the production competition. They were second overall for the highest score of the entire day.
The teen dancers in the hip hop number “Anti Matter” received the diamond award for their performance and ranked fourth overall in the teen division. The comedic jazz dance “Way Too Sexy” was honored with a platinum award and placed second overall in the small group competition.
The junior dancers at Center Stage received a platinum award and ranked fourth overall for their presentation of the broadway number “Dancin’ Fool.”
Additional numbers that received the high honor of the platinum award were “Shout,” “Big Noise,” “Fly Right,” and “Bugle Boy.”
Accompanying the dancers to national competition from Center Stage were director Sandy Overcash, choreographer and instructor Sydney Overcash, and instructor Katherine O’Dell.
Rockwell reunion
Rockwell High School class of 1951 held its 58th reunion on Sept. 12.
The group met at the Civic Center in Rockwell. A social hour was held at 11 a.m. and a buffet meal was served by Debbie Suggs at noon. Red and white flowers decorated the tables, and were given by Jerrie Neale Peeler.
Thirty people, including 20 class members, were present. Mary Penley, class president, welcomed the group. Derwood Puckett gave the invocation.
A memorial for deceased class members (Mary Louise Peeler Joye and Hoyt Deal), was given by Lucille Patterson. Candles were lit and a story read, followed by a moment of silence and a prayer.
Penley had the program “We are Survivors” for all those born prior to 1945, considering all the changes in their years of growing up and now. There was also a series of “words to live by.”
Class members were asked what had made them survivors or what was the most fun thing they had done since retirement?
They sang the school song, and Jean Holshouser was given a special gift for remembering the words. Helen Taylor Earnhart and husband Alvin received a potted flower for being married the longest (58 1/2 years). Everyone received a door prize. A card was also signed by everyone for Darlene Kesler, who had surgery on Wednesday and was unable to attend.
Class members and spouses from Salisbury were: Annie Mae Winders, Bruce and Mary Penley, Jerrie Neale Peeler, Derwood and Mary Puckett, Eddie B. and Rita Johnson, Kenneth Honeycutt, Mary Williams, Jim Lefler, John and Betty Barringer.
From Rockwell were: Betty Holshouer, Bobby and Becky Beaver, Jean and Rex Holshouser, and Lucille Patterson.
Also attending: Rae Honeycutt from Faith, Carl and Miriam Fisher from Charlotte, John and Betty Earnhart from Surfside Beach, S.C., Helen and Alvin Earnhart from Misenheimer, Jim and Rita Gallimore from Ormond Beach, Fla.
The planning committee members were Mary Penley, president; Lucille Patterson, secretary treasurer; and Darlene Kesler, Jerrie Neale Peeler, and Derwood Puckett.
It was decided by majority vote to have the reunion at a restaurant next time on the second Saturday of September 2011.
New officers elected were Carl Fisher, Jim Lefler and Lucille Patterson.
Lyerly reunion
The Walter Adolphus and Minnie Morgan Lyerly descendants met for their annual reunion on Sept. 19 at the Faith American Legion Building. Thirty-nine family members enjoyed a barbecue and chicken meal hosted by C.C. and Dot Caskey and Lynn and Janet Caskey.
President Wesley Fulk welcomed the group and presided over the business. He reported on the following since the last reunion. Birth: Reese Elizabeth Coble, born Feb. 25, 2009, to Chad and Staci Burris Coble; Carson John Halpin, born July 26, 2009, to David and Sherri Lyerly Halpin; and an upcoming marriage on Oct. 24 for Daniel Benfield and Leah Caskey.
The following officers were appointed for next year: Rodney Fulk, president; Eddie Rogers, vice president; and Gaynelle Morgan, secretary/ treasurer.
Everyone enjoyed fellowshipping together along with a lot of picture-taking.
Traveling from out of town were Max and Deanie Webb of Madison; Dennis, Becky and Keri Anthony of Hickory; Ron, Betty and Diamond Hicks of Newport News, Va., and Christopher, Jennifer, Chad, Kimberly and Allie Hicks of Roanoke, Va.
The reunion for 2010 will be held on Sept. 18 hosted by Melvin and Gaynelle Morgan.