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Christopher Schuyler
I want to thank all of you that made the reunion such a great success. What made it a success was your participation of just being there. If you weren't there, you missed out.
One of the reasons I keep coming back is when we see each other after many years, it's just like we saw each other yesterday. There are no pretenses, no judgements- just life-time friends that truly care about each other. After each reunion, I find that I regret I didn't spend more time with so many of you when we were back in high school. So I never want to miss an opportunity to recover some of that friendship time that I missed out on 40 years ago.
A very special treat at our 20+20 was the attendance of our beloved football coach, Terry Postell. Not only the best darn football coach in the land, but just as good a man and a teacher. I spent as much time as possible with him and had several phone calls with him before the reunion. My already tremendous respect and love for him grew exponentially during our reunion week. I did my best to make sure Coach Postell knew how much he meant to all of us and even more importantly, what he did to shape so many of our lives. If that doesn't define the word "teacher", then I don't how to define it. And what a special calling to be a coach and especially a teacher. I know my words did not convey my thoughts adequately, but I had a feeling he understood.
One of the greatest aspects of our 1970 Football Championship was that it extended so much further than just the players, coaches, managers, cheerleaders, band and majorettes- it enveloped all of us as champions all together. Sure, the football team got to hoist the trophy, but the Championship was all of us; and the bond of sharing that joyous moment in our lives together as a class, is why it was so meaningful.
With all the other accomplishments as I've gone through my life, I still rank sharing that Championship as a member of the team and as a fellow classmate as one of the most important moments in my life.
The highlight and perhaps most emotional moment of the reunion was the testimony of Vicki Martin describing a secret event that took place our senior year that most of us knew nothing about. And it came down to just one more reason why Coach Postell was an even better man than he was a coach (and this is saying something in my book). In short, Coach Postell went against the decision of the school administration and his fellow teachers who felt that Vicki could not receive the MVP award for our Lady Bulldog basketball team because of her prenancy during our senior year. Coach Postell knew better and corrected an injustice and secretly presented the trophy to Vicki, who had earned it. What a remarkable statement from an extrodinary man to an extrodinary and deserving athlete.
I could go on and on about a wonderful 48 hours in my visit back to Murphy, and maybe I'll add more later, but for now, as several have stated before in their post.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sharon for putting the reunion together; putting the web page together, and being such a great host. It is not a surprise to any of us that shared our youth with Sharon as a classmate and our Valdictorian, that she could pull all this together while working a full time job and living over 3 hours away in Charlotte. Now even Sharon, as great as she is, could do it alone. Her outstanding lieutenant and just possibly the best hostess this side of Martha Stewart, Gail Walker was integral to the great success and great fun that we all were fortunate enough to experienced at the reunion and the before and after parties. I also want to thank our conscripted photographer, the beautiful wife of classmate Eddie Hughes, Cissie. She was everywhere taking photos so that we could enjoy time with each other and "skillfully" positioning us for the group photo. She was so gracious in taking on the role to help document our special event. And a speical thank you to #51, the quickest center and linebacker I've ever seen, Dr Bill Dyer for making the arrangements and acknowledgements for our team and class at the MHS Homecoming game the Friday evening before our reunion.
And a real thank you to all of you that made it a point to attend even though you live many, many miles away. Candy, Bruce, Brian, Tom Fisher, Tommy Alexander, Tommy Gill, and especially Mike Mauldin, who flew in from Memphis, venturing away from his concert/event tour just for the few hours to attend. I'm sure I may be overlooking some, but my thank you is for all of you.
Thank you Coach Postell for making this one more than special.
To my classmates, thank you so much for the honor of being your Senior Class President (for life). Far more than just an extra picture in our yearbook, it has meant so much to me to lead the greatest class to walk the halls of Murphy High School.
PS In private and totally unsolicited, Coach Postell told me our team was the best team he ever coached. Take that Class of 74 State AA Champions!
Chris Schuyler
President, MHS Class of '71
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