Christopher Newport College First Decaders 1961 - 1971

Picnic 2014 at Newport News Park: 

September 28th

Words by A. Jane Chambers

Photos by Various Attendees

          The weather was absolutely perfect for our third Annual Picnic in Newport News Park—a sunny blue sky with mild temperatures. This year CNC’s First Decaders (FDs) had Shelter 20, identical to Shelter 19 but without a water connection. Once again Wade Williams was in charge of the meats and the grilling, and Chairman Dave Spriggs was responsible for everything else except sides and desserts contributed by the attending FDs, who provided a wonderful variety of foods. Chef Wade’s teenaged granddaughter Savannah Elliott and her boyfriend, Matthew Meyers, voluntarily did most of the cooking of the burgers, hot dogs, and chicken breasts. Their reward was being excused afterwards from spending the rest of the afternoon with the Old People.

          We missed those retired faculty who usually attend our picnics but this year had medical problems or conflicting obligations--including Sam Bauer, Jim Hubbard, Mario Mazzarella, Jane and George Webb, and Barry Wood. However, Harold Cones and Jim Windsor were there. Former CNC President Windsor was a major attraction. Some FDs who came to the 2012 and/or 2013 picnics couldn’t attend this time, but some who had never been able to attend before came this year—including the Stanleys and Blankenships. Recently located 1965 graduate Sally Krym (now Dafashy) and her husband, Wagih, joined us too. And for the third year, Annie, our unofficial mascot, was there-- sweet three-legged dog belonging to Cissy Wilkinson (FD 65).

          Some of our members traveled from out of state to be with us for this this year’s picnic, including Norman & Dalton Blankenship, who live in Honea Path, S.C. (a small town near Greenville, SC) and Bill and Nita Smith, who live in Williamston, NC (on the Roanoke River, near Greenville, NC). Both families have contributed to our collection of CNC memorabilia.

          Enough people took photos this year for a two-part posting of them, so we’ll continue the 2014 Picnic Photos next week. Meanwhile, if you want to know the history of the CNC Banner, go to ARCHIVES (left margin), click the subtab Second Decade History, and scroll down to the piece by Harold Cones. Pictures from the 2012 and 2013 picnics, as well as our other events and the big 2011 reunion, are in REUNIONS & EVENTS (left margin).

Picnic 2014 Continued

          A birthday surprise for our Treasurer, Sonny Short (FD 64), who turned 70 on Picnic Day, was arranged by his sister, FD Cecelia Short (AA 71, BA 72), who brought a large birthday cake to the party. Not wanting to risk setting our shelter on fire, Cecelia wisely chose to put only two candles on it, in the shapes of the numbers 7 and 0. She also surprised her brother with a card secretly signed by all of us present and a display of a vintage photo of him as a baby. These 4 photos by Charlie Snead capture that event.

          We were pleased this year to have James L. Windsor (Young Jim) attend our gathering, accompanying his dad, our beloved former professor, dean and second president of CNC, Dr. James C. Windsor, who enjoys attending all of our events, from the annual picnics to the 50^th class reunions. Several of Young Jim’s photos are in the group above. Here are 4 more.

          Here are 4 more photos by Charlie Snead (AA 66), some posed, some “Candid Camera.” Charlie, who lives in Hendersonville, NC, has not missed a CNC FD Picnic yet. He is one of our most dependable photographers.

          These next 4 photos are by Claude Stanley (63), who has made possible our CNC First Decaders T-Shirts and Caps. He and his wife, Karen Graeb Stanley (AA 64) live in Midlothian, VA. This was their first Picnic, but they attended the 2011 Reunion as well as the 1963 and 1964 50^th Reunions.

          As our third annual FD Picnic was winding down, we were visited by Amie Graham Dale, CNU’s Director of Alumni Relations and University Events, who has become a real friend to our group. The few of us who were still there when she arrived were happy to see her. She’s on the far left in the first photo below. The first two photos in this closing group were made by Kay Rinfrette. The last two were made by Claude Stanley, at my request. Those of you soon celebrating your 50^th CNC Reunion will be interested in the pin shown here, a replica of the second CNC seal, adopted in 1970.