Homecoming is different 56 years later

Published 4:30 pm Monday, October 9, 2023

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Last week I wrote about Church Homecoming.  This week I want to write about high school Homecoming.  They were similar in nature, yet very different. One of my spare jobs is doing the broadcasting of Martin County football games on Friday night.  So, I got to witnessed one and tell you about how it compared to mine in 1967.

The girls wore long gowns Friday night!  Back in 1967, they wore ladies suits and were nominated by the football team.  They were escorted by the senior members of the team and were nominated by only football players.  One father escorted his daughter onto the field and that one played for me in 1984, and he still looked like he did in 1984. Oh, they had the parade, pep rally and bonfire that week and every day was a different theme like hat day, pajama day and dress like your favorite teacher day. The students made a week out of it!

Terry Gerringer (Ciccone) was our Homecoming Queen in 1967, escorted by Terry Smithwick. There was no King like there was that night in Williamston.  Coach Wagner allowed the football team to escort the court onto the field and that is not what I did.  The last year’s queen crowned the queen.

The college students were home and sporting their college style haircuts and wearing their college sweat shirts proudly!  Similar to a church homecoming, the parents invite out of town guests to eat the best food their wife can cook.  The former team had their jerseys from last year and were so proud of them and the gate was open to all that could pay their own way in.

There was a dance after the game and the metal detectors were on and that is what I was not used too; that a person would go through a metal detector to enter the stadium. What a difference 55 years makes.  Young people; go to your homecoming games. You will only live once!!

Tracey has ordered more books. Got three signings this week and they will make great Christmas gifts. Help us promote Washington!

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington, N.C.  The Original Washington!

Harold Jr