Jacksonville College Alumni Hold Reunions


By Samantha Swindler - Progress City Editor
January 31, 2005


The historic Newburn-Rawlingson house on Kickapoo Street, now being restored by Jacksonville College, was the perfect place for graduates of classes 1968-1970 to rekindle the past during the college's homecoming Saturday.

"A group of us got together to renew some old friendships today," said alumnus Danny Holifield. "This is kind of a new thing. They have a homecoming every year, but people are scattered so much, it's hard for everybody to get here every year. Just a couple of us got together this year and said hey, let's have some fun."

Several alumni groups held luncheon's during Jacksonville College's 106th homecoming. At the Newburn-Rawlingson house, alumni flipped through old yearbooks and shared photo albums of children and grandchildren.

"I recognize people, but it's hard to put the names to them," said Rob Thomas, class of 1970. "It's been 35 years, so it's been a long time. I've been back a few times after I first graduated.

"It's probably been 10 years since I've been back."

When the class of 1970 graduated, Old Main, the original college offices, had been torn down, and piles of bricks sat in its place. Jacksonville College looks different today, with a new library, a new gymnasium and Buckner Chapel in place of Old Main.

"We've got more buildings and more people," Thomas said, "but that's basically all that's changed."

More than 30 years later, fond memories of Jacksonville College remain with former students.

"We'd call (dorm mother) Ms. Bonner and say, 'we're going to be late' on those cheerleading trips," said Sharon Upton. "We got lost in Tyler once and couldn't find our way home. I don't believe she ever believed we were lost that time, but we were truly lost."

Darrell Nunn, class of 1969, graduated from East Texas State University after attending Jacksonville College and now owns Transportation Management in Tyler.

"Jacksonville College is a foundational school, and I think probably it was very instrumental, for me, in helping me develop some character and direction for the rest of my life," Nunn said. "Certainly, it was like a family."


Samantha Swindler can be reached by phone at 903-586-2236 or via e-mail at news@jacksonvilleprogress.com