MADISON – Members of the Class of ’74 at Bob Jones High School have witnessed phenomenal changes to their town during the past 50 years.

At their upcoming 50th class reunion, they can reminisce about grabbing a burger at their favorite hangout, The Patio; their groovy clothes in paisleys, plaid and patterns; and who was dating whom in 1974.

Members of the Class of ’74 were the first graduates of Bob Jones, the newly constructed school that now houses Discovery Middle School.

“It’s an honor to be a member of the charter class of such an outstanding school. We had 80 graduates in 1974,” spokesperson Cindi Whitworth Sanderson said.

The Class of ’74 will conduct their 50th reunion on Nov. 2. “We need reservations made by Sept. 13,” Sanderson said.

“We’re also planning to participate in Bob Jones Homecoming Parade on Oct. 10,” Sanderson said. “We may be the smallest class to have ever graduated from Bob Jones, and probably one of the most unique, but one thing is for sure . . . We are the ORIGINAL Patriots!”

One of the graduates had an unconventional way to receive her diploma. Dianne Jones could not attend the graduation ceremony with her classmates, because she was hospitalized after an automobile accident.

However, she accepted her diploma by a special delivery. Matthew Hall, who was Madison County Schools Superintendent, and Elbert Beason, Bob Jones Principal, visited with Jones in her hospital room and presented her diploma.

At the graduation ceremony, U.S. Congressman Bob Jones, namesake for the new high school, spoke to the seniors. (“Huntsville News,” June 1, 1974) “The community has honored me in selecting a name for this new high school,” Jones told the graduates. “I am most grateful and shall strive always to be worthy of the trust.”

“Education places you in a position to be a reasoning person. If a person has developed his ability to reason his problems out, he can cope with whatever may come his way,” Jones said.

Congressman Jones also conducted the presentation of Bob Jones Patriot Award to the first-ever recipient, senior James Sanderson. The Patriot Award goes to a student who has demonstrated high levels of character and citizenship. Samuelson’s interests included Patriot football and baseball teams.

For more information or to share classmates’ contact information, email Cindi Whitworth Sanderson at cws56@aol.com or Theresa Binford Nelson at mrsnel01@aol.com.