We hope you are well! In this issue, you can see DHS Prom Across the Decades, the latest stats on Spring Bulldog Athletics, the 2022 scholarship recipients AND a photo of the DHS Class of 1957's 65th Reunion! Twice a year, we'll feature Alumni news, DHS happenings and information about upcoming class reunions. But there's no alumni without "U", so please send us your news by clicking the link below, and let other alums know we're here!
|
DHS Prom Through the Decades |
Throughout the decades, prom at Decatur High School has evolved in major ways: ticket prices have increased exponentially, the venue has moved around, and fashion trends have come and gone. Alums from the 70s, 80s, and 90s recounted their memories of their junior and senior proms. The one thing that has not changed since the 70s: the exchange of corsages and boutonnieres! We'll be posting these and more on our webpage at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/alumni. If you want to share your prom experiences, email erin@decatureducationfoundation.org.
|
|
|
Annette Shakespeare with her husband Thomas Hill (who was not her date!) |
| Annette Shakespeare, Class of 1971 The Event: Prom was called the “Junior-Senior”, and Juniors would organize the entire event for the senior class. This included fundraising for decorations, a photographer, food, and music, and setting it all up days before.
Location: The school gym or the Decatur recreational center Cost: Tickets were only $15-20!
Music: Rhythm & Blues and folk; I remember the Temptations and Diana Ross and the Supremes being played.
Fashion: Silk dresses were trending at the time, and some of the most popular stores for prom dresses were the 579 Shop, Casual Corner, Davidson’s, and Rich’s at North Dekalb Mall. However, it was also common for girls to wear loaned or borrowed dresses and for boys to rent their tuxedos.
The night's plans included:
Most people would go out to dinner at local Decatur restaurants beforehand. During the dance, a breakfast was being cooked for all of the dance-goers in the cafeteria. Once the dance ended in the school gym, all the students would walk over to the cafeteria and enjoy the complimentary late-night meal. |
|
|
L-R: Tanya Coventry, Hannah Hinely, Chris Brown, Paul Rosner, Andrea Kaston-Tange and her date from another school. |
| Tanya Coventry, Class of 1987
The Event: In the 80s there were two proms: one with both juniors and seniors, and one limited solely to seniors.
Location: Decatur prom moved out of Decatur, and the norm became big hotels, like the Hilton Atlanta. Cost: Tickets cost $30-50.
Music: Hip Hop like Run DMC and Beastie Boys, as well as New Wave like Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, and Modern English and slow songs by singers like Phil Collins and Lionel Richie were played.
Fashion: Boys wore cummerbunds and bowties to match their dates’ dresses, and top hats and tails were ‘in’. Girls wore dresses with big poufy skirts and lots of bows and big sleeves from brands like Jessica McClintock and Laura Ashley. Some, including Tanya and her friend, made their own dresses.
The night's plans included: Groups of couples would go out before the prom. In junior year the pre-dance activities were more casual; Tanya went in a minivan to a “cheesy” steakhouse in her junior year, and in her senior year they went to a nicer restaurant in Midtown. |
|
|
Chantrice Rogers, DEF board member and founder of the Blue & Gold Alumni Scholarship |
| Chantrice Rogers, Class of 1994
The Event: Prom was a much bigger deal and a lot fancier than the other annual school dances. Location: The dance was held in a hotel in downtown Atlanta which consequently resulted in traffic jams being a large part of their night. Cost: Tickets were $50 Music: A mix of 90’s R&B and Hip Hop could be heard at the dance, and Mary J. Blige, Warren G, and Outkast were popular for the dance floor. Fashion: Dresses with fish-tail bottoms and fitted dresses with sweetheart necklines were some of the popular styles for girls, while boys all came in tuxedos and nice shoes. Chantrice rocked a wide-legged pant suit that her grandmother made her for the prom.
“Big” hair was still in, and single waves, spiral curls, and updos with buns were popular at the time for prom hairstyles. The night's plans included:
Students went out to dinner before going to the dance, and, in Chantrice’s case, her parents reserved spaces where they could all go after the prom to all stay together. Her favorite part of her prom was their post-prom celebration in Tucker and that they didn't have a curfew. |
|
|
Members of the DHS Class of 2023 (Carly Collins front row, far right.) |
| Carly Collins, Class of 2023 (and DEF intern)
The Event: The prom theme was "A Night on Broadway" Location: This year, the prom was held in the Egyptian Room at the Fox Theatre.
Cost: Around $140! Music:The music played is mostly rap, but 2000s throwbacks (like Miley Cyrus) were heard, too. Carly explained that there is very little actual ‘dancing’, with students mostly jumping in a big crowd and shouting the words to the song. Fashion: Some popular dress styles include full-length dresses with cowl necks, silk, bright colors, high slits, and even some cutouts. Many girls spend hundreds of dollars on dresses, as expensive designer brands are typical to wear to prom.
Most boys wear tuxedos, and the vast majority wear black with a colored tie or bowtie to match their date. Although most boys wore dress shoes, wearing sneakers that match their color theme with their date is popular, too. Some colorful or large belts can be seen on boys, as well. Typical prom hairstyles are blowouts or curled hair being worn down, and the occasional pinned-up bun or ponytail.
The night's plans included: Before prom, most groups of students go to a picturesque outdoor location like the Agnes Scott campus or the Columbia Theological Seminary to take pictures with their groups and their families. After pictures, most groups rent party buses to take them to their dinner location in Atlanta, then to prom, then to their after-party. Carly’s favorite part of her prom was the party bus after the dance, because that is where her group of 25 had a space to have fun altogether in a cool and private atmosphere.
|
|
|
Decatur High School, Class of 1957
65th High School Reunion held at Druid Hills Golf Club on April 23, 2022 First Row: Bill Cheney, Mary Derden McCowen, Marilyn Hall Melton, Alice Ann Rayfield Powers, Robert Ansley, Marilyn Zibell Huff
Second Row: Margey Hersh Newsom, Lenora Wills Cheney, Elaine Merrell Tarkenton, Joan Hulsey Tarleton, Jim Hale, Nancy Williams Harte
Third Row: Nancy Pennington Verde, Myralyn Frizzelle Allgood, Sidney Allen Murphy, Helen Hildreth Garrett, Allen Cadora, Judy Clarke Barban, Jan Patterson Ligon, Helen Jean Stephenson Graham
Back Row: Andy Foster, Joan Maynard Morris, Mary Zachary Wilson, LeAnn Rimstidt Hallford, Laurie Wilkes Fountain, Sue Ritz Reeves, Freddy Peavy, Reynolds Couch,Don Keiser, Catherine Penn Chastain, Scott Stevenson, Chris Foster, Charlie Spinks |
|
|
DEF Class of 2022 Scholarships |
|
|
Thanks to the generous donors in our community, Decatur Education Foundation awards close to $130,000 annually in scholarships to 19 hard-working high school seniors. Many of these scholarships honor alumni who lost their lives, and several alumni classes have established scholarships to support current students in their post-secondary endeavors. If your class is interested in establishing a scholarship, please email Leah@decatureducationfoundation.org.
Here are the Class of 2022 DEF Scholarship Recipients:
Henry Willis Blue and Gold Alumni Scholarship Eric Hanson Rachel Britain Memorial Scholarship
Bridget Blanchard Han C. Choi Memorial Scholarship Jacob Rachell Harry Edwards Class of 1960 Memorial Scholarship
Dolly Rodi Gladding Family Scholarship Shawn Irons Thomas Hauk Memorial Scholarship
Kai Zokovitch Madison Lewis Memorial Scholarship Juliana Fenimore McNally Family Scholarship
Sam McCrosky Bill Mealor, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Ivie Wildman Patrick Family Foundation Scholarship
Kayla Evans Lawrence & Gertrude Paxton Memorial Scholarship Benjamin Bailey Pollack Family Scholarship
Isabelle Mucha Rotary Club of Decatur Foundation Scholarship Morgan Miles Kennedy Segars Memorial Scholarship
Micayla Hurdle Jeanne Bellville Taffs Memorial Scholarship Mekhi Lloyd Trinity High School Class of 1965 Scholarship Yana Batra Imani Thompson Twine Memorial Scholarship
Maya Goren Mary Elizabeth Brown Wilson Scholarship Demi Jardine Sarah Lynn Woolf Memorial Scholarship |
|
|
| SPRING 2022 DHS ATHLETICS Baseball The varsity baseball team had a successful season and made it to the GHSA State Tournament Final Four! Soccer
The varsity girls soccer team advanced to the Final Four GHSA State Tournament where their hopes of heading to the state tournament were dashed when they were defeated by Midtown High (formerly Grady). Track
The DHS girls’ 4×800 team are the new state champions, with a school-record setting time of 9:29.94. Billy Carlton is the state champion in the 3200, with a time of 9:20.85. The teams finished in 5th place (boys) and 6th place (girls).
GO BULLDOGS!!! |
| |
|
We know you want to express your Bulldog Pride, but what kind of DHS Bulldog merchandise do you really want? Click the button below and answer 2 questions to tell us what kind of merchandise you'd like to have available for purchase. |
|
|
We are here to help facilitate communication between DHS alumni and Decatur High School. We would be happy to help spread the word about upcoming reunions and help coordinate, so if you have details to share, please email them to erin@decatureducationfoundation.org. As an alumnus/alumna, you can update your profile whenever you have news to share (i.e. marriages, advanced degrees, births) at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/alumni. |
|
|
Bye for Now... (Mascot drawn by Abigayle Reynolds, Class of 2020) |
| |
|
Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
| |
|
|
