PCHS alumni plan annual reunion

On the three-month anniversary of the deadly tornado outbreak in Franklin County, many people have started to realize the importance of keeping in touch with family and friends, which is why organizers of the Phil Campbell Alumni Day say this year’s gathering is more important than ever.

The Phil Campbell Alumni Association will sponsor their annual Phil Campbell Alumni Day on Sunday, August 7, at the Phil Campbell Elementary School cafeteria. The event will start at 10 a.m. and last until 2:30 p.m. A catered lunch will be served at noon.

Donna Kent, who serves as the vice-president of the Phil Campbell Alumni Association, said the event this year will definitely be different than in year’s past.

“It will be sadder because of the people we’ve lost and because of the damage to the school,” Kent said. “I’ve always taken for granted that the school is just there and anytime I wanted to go to the auditorium or walk the hall or see the gym where we had our proms, I could just go there. Now it’s all damaged.”

Kent said that even though the event might be sad, it was still important for everyone to get together and remember the school and those who were lost and remember all the good times Phil Campbell alumni have experienced over the years.

“We started this event for anyone who went to school at Phil Campbell to come together and reminisce about the school and things we did back then,” Kent said. “It’s always a lot of fun to see everyone and where they are now. I really enjoy seeing the older ones who were probably in high school when I was in grammar school – people I looked up to. It’s just a great experience.”

Kent said they plan the event for a Sunday each year because many people use the alumni weekend to host class reunions so they set aside Friday and Saturday for classes who want to do that as well.

“We open the doors around 10 a.m. for people to start mingling but we start serving lunch around noon when people get out of church,” Kent said. “We serve a barbecue dinner and give out prizes for things like the oldest person there, the class with the most people there and the person who traveled the farthest.”

Phil Campbell alum Albert Cleveland, who now resides in Coco Beach, Fla., has made the journey back to his alma mater for the past 20 years to celebrate the school and reconnect with his classmates.

“I’ve kept coming because I support my school, but this year it’s more important than ever for the alumni to come back for this day,” Cleveland said. “The alumni should come and lend their support to the town and gain a better understanding of what will happen with the school in the future.”

Cleveland traveled from Florida and has been in the area since June 1 serving meals at First Baptist Church in Phil Campbell to volunteers and others who need a meal. Cleveland said he plans to remain in the area until Sept. 1.

“I just want to give back and help where I can,” Cleveland said. “I’m hoping we’ll have a lot more alumni support after our alumni day.”