From the Heart
Hey next Friday is Homecoming for Noblesville High School! “We are the greatest forevermore, I’m part of the Class of ‘74.” Yep, 45 years ago.
I remember so much, yet needed a little help from Patrice Williams Lyttle to jog my memories.
As I read all of the remembrances of other columnists, I kept thinking, what else can I add to their stories?
I, too, remember the sound of the cleats of football players as they walked west on Harrison Street to the football field where North Elementary now stands. That was before the field was built just east of what is now Ivy Tech.
The huge mums from Repp’s Florist that covered our chests, if we were lucky enough to be asked to the Homecoming Dance. Future Homemakers of America often sold over 200 mums for Homecoming week.
Our mothers usually made our outfits if we did not find something at Mr. Ed’s or Nancy Lee’s clothing shops.
I can still sing every word of the Miller fight song. Oh the glory of NHS!
I know the words of “Give me a beefo, give me a bifo … give me a beefo bifo bum.” Yes, it’s a cheer.
We had a cheer block in high school that was seated in straight lines some 10 to 12 rows up. We wore skirts and matching blouses and sweaters. We were lined up by class. The seniors kept the rows straight. Heaven forbid we chew gum.
Cheer block was serious business. We were only allowed to leave to go the bathroom at halftime. Kids would have a “come apart” over that today. Mrs. Pam Burris kept over 170 of us in line as the cheer block sponsor. Let’s just say she had her hands full.
I worked on our class floats, stuffing tissue squares into chicken wire. I think we got the sympathy vote when we won with our Pinball Wizard float.
On Spirit Days we wore Senior Cords. We painted corduroy pants or had them painted with all the clubs and activities and jobs we were involved in. I still have mine. No, I cannot fit into them.
Jim Belden was our football coach. He was a football legend. Steve Coverdale was our quarterback. That kid could run.
We played the Lebanon Tigers. We won 28-10. And then we headed to our Canteen dance all dressed up, not in fancy dresses, but bell-bottom plaid pants. The guys wore plaid pants as well, with a white belt. We were so cool.
Lezli Glover was our Homecoming Queen. Her court included Patrice Williams, Janice Gilkey, Gretchen Anderson and Debbie King.
As I tell people who move here, it’s a good place to birth your babies, raise your kids and retire your weary soul.
If you are not doing anything on Friday afternoon, I invite you to the Homecoming parade. You will find me in my traditional place to watch all parades … in front of Randall and Roberts Funeral Home.
Trust me when I say that parades in Noblesville are a big deal. Homecoming is a big deal. I love our big deals.
Noblesville, oh Noblesville, Noblesville we’re all for you!