Central-EWHS alumni reunite
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 29, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
A drum majorette makes her way down the street during the Central-EWHS parade.
Ask any member of the Central/Eastern Wayne High School Alumni & Friends what makes their annual homecoming so important, and you will hear the same three words -- friends, community and memories.
Many of those memories center around the late William Reinhardt, the only principal Central High School ever had, and who is credited with developing the school spirit that has lived on through the years.
"Nothing like Mr. Reinhardt," said Shrilly Perky of the Class of 1960. "We loved him to death. We are looking one day to have this gym named after him. That is what our goal is."
Mrs. Perry was among the hundreds attending the association's 44th annual parade and picnic held Saturday at the former Central High School, now Eastern Wayne Middle School.
Up to 1,200 people were expected to move through the event throughout the day.
Classes had tents set up for tailgating, and the smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and other foods wafted across the picnic area behind the school.
Mrs. Perry has been the association's recording secretary for many years, but is searching for a replacement.
She was set up under the shade of a large tree to sell commemorative T-shirts, flags and memberships to the association.
"I have been in this for years," she said. "The friendship, the people who are coming back every year in May, they are coming home. It is just wonderful. Old friends, people coming back that you haven't seen in years and just the memories you have of going to school here.
"It is just lovely. Now we are trying to get Eastern Wayne really involved, come in and join, and let's be one. We are all one group, but we need more involvement from the younger classes."
Mrs. Perry said she has a lot of memories including being a school bus driver.
It takes about nine months to plan the annual festivities and another three months to get the word out, said Alumni President Paul Battle of the Class of 1965.
The school graduated its last class in 1969, and then it consolidated with New Hope to create Eastern Wayne High School in 1970. As such, Central High graduates are aging out, he said.
"My thing is that Central and Eastern Wayne try to work with the children over at Eastern Wayne to come in and join us," he said. "All we need to do is come together."
Battle said he was at a Saturday morning meeting where he quoted from the Book of Joshua.
"Joshua laid down rocks for the tribes (of Israel) and told them what the rocks mean so the other generations that came along would see it," Battle said. "That (foundation) is what that rock means. If they will come, one day they need to take it over.
"We don't want this to die out because it is a good thing. We are trying to cater to children who are graduating and giving them scholarships, those who need it."
Keeping the school spirit alive is good for everybody, Battle said.
Battle said his association and the Dillard-Goldsboro Alumni, which held its parade earlier on Saturday, support each other because both are working for one common goal.