Homecoming - Hoggard Style

As a prelude to the Hoggard Class of 1968’s reunion the weekend of October 10-12, a group of Wilmington-based alums of that class were in attendance last Friday night (10/3) at the Vikings’ homecoming encounter versus Kinston.

At the right of the press box was a big sign posted and donated by Sign Biz which read, “Welcome Class of 1968.”

A number of 1968 alums sat on three or four rows of bleacher seats and talked about 1968 as coach Scott Braswell’s Vikings went over final game plans in the Hoggard Field House prior to their entrance on the field.

Dru Farrar, currently the music teacher at Pine Valley Elementary, spearheaded the effort. She also talked about that class of 1968. It was an unusual year for those high school seniors.

At that point the only high school in the county was New Hanover High. The school system gave the seniors the option of staying at New Hanover or attending Hoggard in their final year. Ms. Farrar said those present Friday night chose to attend Hoggard because of the impact they would have on the new school.

“In the fall of 1967, the student advisor called 10 of us who had made the decision to attend Hoggard,” Ms. Farrar noted. “We made up a steering committee to set things up.”

As she was talking, the Vikings got ready to take the field and the Viking band was set to play the fight song. That song was written and composed by Ms. Farrar and her group. The words to the song were set to “Anchors Away My Boy”.

“We also established the school colors, the school motto, the Voyagers (music group).” And there were other items on their “to do” list, including naming the school yearbook and other related matters.

“I played in the (Hoggard) band,” echoed Jean Thompson Pearce. She became the Vikings’ first head majorette.

“Our first year was absolutely a blast,” echoed Wrightsville Beach resident Donna Plunkett Waggett. “We all went to Hoggard as friends.”

One of the alums at the game was also interested in the Viking-Kinston game. Dr. David Martin played football at New Hanover, but gave up the sport when he transferred to Hoggard in 1968 to be with his friends.

Also present was Bob Alexander, now a music teacher in the school system. He noted that the class of 1968 had 135 graduates.

The alums talked and told school war stories as they watched the present Hoggard Vikings make a valiant comeback to beat Kinston. It was one of those good nights to remember.

- CFSR Correspondent George Cox

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT