PB Class Of ‘64 To Have Reunion

The Philip Barbour Class of 1964 is celebrating 60 years since graduation on May 29, 1964. The reunion is scheduled for PB Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, September 21, at Noon at the Taj Moe Hal in Philippi.

The seniors of this special class were from Belington, Kasson, and Philippi schools. This first year at the new high school housed only 10th through 12th grades. The graduating class was made up of 210 classmates. The 2024 graduating class numbered about 144.

Many changes have occurred in the last 60 years. For example, there was no Career Technical Center and no Fred Eberle/Tri-County Technical Center. There were no computers, Internet, cell phones, video games, or white boards. Classroom technology was nearly non-existent. There may have been an overhead projector or movie projector.

Some students arrived on early buses while other rode later buses and stayed later at the end of the day. There were six class periods and lunch.

Students could still be punished by spanking! Girls and female teachers could not wear slacks (jeans) or shorts to school. Boys could not wear shorts and often wore shirts and ties. Male teachers always wore dress pants and ties.

The boys in the class of ’64 were part of the largest military draft in US history because of Vietnam. There were no school sports teams for girls. This class was among the first children to receive the polio vaccine and many still show the little vaccination scars on the upper arm. Also, alcohol use was somewhat common, but there were no drug addiction issues.

In addition to the conflict in Vietnam, during the 1963-64 school year, on November 22, 1963, classmates experienced the news over the PA system by Principal Freeman that President Kennedy had been assassinated. After graduation, in July, the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed.

A highlight was the fact that yearbooks were received before graduation in time for classmates to write notes over the pages. Now, those yearbooks come after graduation. Those notes are considered to be a very special keepsake. These are just a few of the highlights of “then and now.”

No reservations are needed for the 60th Reunion on Saturday, September 21, at Noon. Dress is casual. Lunch will be on your own.