THEBES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Alexander County Illinois Genealogy Trails

Contributed by J. C. McNelly



HISTORY OF THE EARLY ALUMNI
by Miss Lulu Clutts, Class of 1917

    In 1915, the first class graduated from Thebes High School.  There were only five graduates in this first class:  Gladys Brown, Albert King, Helen Margrave, Victor Spann, and Leslie Wallace.  All of them did well after graduation.  Many of you will remember Leslie because he became one of Thebes' most respected doctors.  Everyone knows Gladys Drews.  This was the class which gave the first Alumni Banquet in the year of 1916.
    Helen Margrave was the first president.  She and one of the high school teachers, Miss Alta Frost, made out the first menu.  They also cooked the meal and the juniors served it.
    The first banquet was entertained by the superintendent, Mr. Harry Wilson.  He, being an Illinois Senator, had many tricks up his sleeves.
    Each year the Alumni have given the graduating class a banquet.  The first few years it was very difficult to do this for we had no money and no cook!  Finally, the association gained strength and its future looked brighter.
    The only year there was not a banquet was the first year of World War II.
    Reminiscences of the early banquets bring pleasant memories.  The association has worked hard to make each banquet enjoyable for the guests.  In the early years we tried to carry out some theme which would add excitement and interest to the evening.  Once, the theme was a "South Sea Island."  Grotesque figures lined the walls while dim blue lights added an eerie feeling.  (The figures wee made by Mrs. Charles Goforth.)  Another time, the theme of a circus was carried out.  The tables were decorated with miniature animals.  For some reason elephants wee in greatest supply and thus dominated the collection.  When the guests arrived, one man (not an alumni) remarked, "I didn't know this was a political convention!"
    This is a very brief history of the origin of the Thebes Alumni Association.  We strongly hope that the new graduates will take intrust its responsibilities and keep the association going.

(Note:  A some point in the 1960s the Thebes school was consolidated with the Egyptian Unit School and the alumni association became known as the Thebes-Egyptian Alumni Association.)


MEMORIES OF THE EARLY YEARS
by Laura Worthington, Class of 1920

    Reminiscing:  Very few projects or organizations start with a large group.  My first knowledge of the Alumni Association was in my junior year.  Nineteen had graduated from Thebes Township High School during this year; five were to be added to the list.  The young ladies of the preceding years prepared the food for the banquet and the junior class served it.  In that day not any of us had any experience, but we were asked to serve.  For many years the group remained small and help was needed. One year the Baptist Church ladies would serve and the following year the Methodist Church ladies would serve and this practice continued until the Association outgrew their efforts.  Then, the school began serving the noon meal, and the banquets thereafer were served by them.  The senior classes became larger, and so did the association, until it grew into the large organization that it is today.