Recent Alumni Events

Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association

RECENT EVENTS

CFHS Alumni Do It Up Big
August 2008 Alumni Weekend
by Jimmie Houff

It was time for a change! After 11 years of fun and folly at local hangouts like the Clifton Forge Shrine Club on Douthat Road and the Virginia Elks Camp on the Cowpasture River, the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association turned to new venues for the 12^th annual all-alumni weekend, August 15-17. It was worth the change!

On Friday evening, alumni and guests motored up to Douthat Stae Park for a luau on the beach. Except for the absence of hula skirts, the leis, lighted decorations, deejay music, and beautiful weather transformed the setting to a tropical island with good food and drink for classmates while they renewed old friendships and recalled events over the past year or years. Douthat State Park has always been a fun place for the CFHS Mountaineers to spend their springs and summers, and this summer day in 2008 was no exception.

On Saturday morning at 9 AM, 11 teams of 6 golfers teed off at the Cliftondale Country Club. This annual tournament has brought back scores of alumni over the years to challenge for the Wood Family Golf Plaque. The team consisting of David Bradley, Carl Brinkley, Mason Cauthorn, Jim Eller, Larry Glover, and Harold Smested won first place, with teams headed by Herman Smith and C. J. Nicely in close pursuit. Many cash prizes and golf favors were provided to the participants.

The recently renovated C&O Freight Depot-- renamed the C&O Heritage Center-- in the eastern section of downtown Clifton Forge, has already brought many railroad buffs to the town to learn how the C&O railroad grew over the years, especially in the Clifton Forge railroad yards. On Saturday evening, the CFHS Alumni Association hosted an all-alumni gala at the Center. The free outing brought many alumni and guests to the festivities. The 60’s graduates used this event to donate $1,700 to the alumni scholarship fund, of which $1,000 was given in honor of Alma Watts, popular teacher and basketball coach. Chalk up another fun time at the newest improvement in downtown Clifton Forge.

To close out the weekend, the alumni association chose the Grounds of the old Clifton Forge High School for a midday picnic. This venue had not been used for a major alumni affair since the 2000 celebration. And in many years, the alumni association had chose not to have an event on Sunday since many alumni leave early on Sunday to return to their homes. This perception proved wrong as nearly 100 came and lingered on throughout the afternoon, not wanting to close out the memorable weekend. The last alumni left at 5:05 PM.

Twenty-five years have passed since CFHS closed down, but weekends like this one will certainly generate plans for 2009.

Mountaineer Classic 2008
The annual CFHS Alumni Association Golf Tournament was played August 16th at the Cliftondale Country Club with 60 golfers participating. The golf course was in perfect condition and the scores of the 6-man teams proved it.

The winning team, consisting of David Bradley, Carl Brinkley, Jim Eller, Larry Glover, Harold Smestad and Mason Cauthorn, shot a 52 through 18 holes for a 16-under par. Their names will be engraved on the plaque which will be displayed in the trophy case in the CFHS Alumni Homeroom. Two other teams finished with 53 and two others with 54.

The tournament committee wished to thenk the following businesses and individuals for their generosity without in making the tournament a success: Jim Eller, Alleghany Printing; Bryan Thompson, John Williams and H.C. Rhodes of Highland Community Bank; Tom, Mary Ann and Kelly Dean of Racey-Dean, Inc.

Also, Brandon and Gayle Nicely of Nicely Auction Company; Bob, Tommy and Kelly Slusser of Nicely Funeral Home; Glenn and Cindy Perry of The Club Car and Regional Home Health Care; Jimmy Walker, CFHS Class of '62 who sponsored a hole; C.J. and Bonnie Nicely, Tony Smith, Julia Bradley, Dave Terry, Donald Fitch and Greg Leitch.

May 2008 Reunion
Classes of the 60's