By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

It’s been more than 40 years since the closing of Reedtown High School in Russellville, but July 2-4, the school will come to life again when, for the 27th Reedtown Roundup, the Reedtown community will see the return of dozens of alumni and their families.
“We just get together and have a good time,” said 1960 graduate Howard Hillman Sr. “It’s just a lot of fun. Everybody seems to enjoy it so much.”
Hillman, who emceed the first Roundup event in 1988, said it’s a weekend of festivities that allow the Reedtown graduates, their families, the community – and really anyone who wants to be involved – to laugh, reminisce and enjoy one another’s company.
“Team 15” is the committee that has worked to organize this year’s event, headed by Chairwoman Gwen Rorer, who attended first grade at Reedtown, which was a first through twelfth grade school.
“This was on my bucket list – I wanted to someday help with the Roundup,” Rorer said.
The following festivities will be offered:
Meet and Greet, July 2, 4-7 p.m., at the old Reedtown schoolhouse
Talent Show, July 2, 7:30 p.m., at the Chucky Mullins center
Fun Day, July 3, all day at the Chucky Mullins center
Banquet, July 3, 7 p.m., at the A.W. Todd Center
Parade, July 4, 10 a.m., in the Reedtown Community
Street dance, July 4, 7-9 p.m. in the Chucky Mullins parking lot
Folks travel from all over the nation to return to Franklin County for the special event, and what draws them here is “the love we have for Reedtown,” said committee member Ella West, who was part of the last graduating class of Reedtown school.
“There will never be another Reedtown,” West said. “We had so much unity back then.”
Friday night’s banquet – which costs $20 per person or $30 per couple – will feature guest speaker John “Buddy” Sargent, whose thoughts will center on “Celebrating a Legacy.”
The talent show – which costs $2 per person – will come in two parts: the first half will be a variety show; the second half will be a Motown tribute, featuring the musical stylings of greats like the Supremes, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and the Temptations – brought to life, of course, by some talented Roundup attendees.
The Reedtown Roundup will also have T-shirts at a cost of $10 ($13 for the larger sizes).