July 19, 2019 Coats Museum News
From 2000 to 2005, the Coats Centennial History Committee spent many days of those years researching and compiling information about the people and area before and after it was known as Coats and Grove Township. When writing “There and Back in a Paper Canoe” for The Heritage of Coats, NC Volume One, I used (if available) Coats High yearbooks Echoing Memories as a source of information for the history of the school. Forty-one years have passed since the seniors of 1978 graduated from Coats High. Let’s journey into yesteryear and revisit some of the highlights that were not recorded in our Coats heritage book.
Some of the students at Coats School in 1978 might recall the bus drivers and the numbers on the school buses that transported them to school. Can you? The students attending Coats High School in 1977-78 had been transported by bus drivers who were recorded as being Mike Johnson (#34), Max Matthews (#86), Jimmy Horton (#17), Henry Turlington (#28), B.W. Holland (#66), Mike Pope (#93), Kim Spears (#12), Chip Hawley (#39), and Johnny Wolf (#92).
Visitors to the school office in 1978 would have been greeted by Debbie Spencer, Tammy Stewart, Paulette Holmes, Nora Cole, Betty Surles and Shelia Lloyd who assisted Secretary Joy Coats in Principal J.C. Hawley’ office. Those who kept the school and grounds in safe and clean condition were Mr. J.W. Murchison, Mr. O’Neal Bass, Mrs. Colie Spears and Mr. Claxton Surles.
Many of the 1978 seniors will recall that Mrs. Mary Cole, Mr. Jerry Stancil, Mrs. Beverly McLean, Mrs. Diane Danenburg, Mrs. Maureen Stoney, Mrs. Joan Stanley (Harmon), Mrs. Ora Pond Hawley, Mrs. Brenda Baker, Mrs. Jane Temper and Mrs. Delores Royal were special services teachers.
The 1978 high school students selected their classmates for special titles. Martha Stewart and Henry Turlington were voted FFA Sweetheart and FHA Beau while Donald Ennis and Martha Stewart were voted Mr. and Mrs. Echoing Memories. Homecoming Queen Sherry Norris was escorted by sponsor Tommy McLamb. Pageant judges had marked their scorecards in favor of Deborah Stewart for Miss Coats High. Deborah’s attendants were Sherry Norris, Cathy Jean Honeycutt (Miss Congeniality), Karen Shannon, Pamela Leigh Dailey, Cindy Barnes, Delores Royster, Tonya Barnes, Jennifer Johnson and Cynthia Rhea Walden.
Many students worked hard to be elected officers in the various clubs and organizations. The students serving as officers in the Student Council in 1977-78 were John Langdon, Trent Sorrell, Cindy Barnes, Sandy Langdon and Mrs. Marie Salmon as sponsor. The FBLA members chose Deborah Stewart, Karen Shannon, Vivian Faircloth, Kenneth Norris and Miss lda McNeill as sponsor. The newspaper staff was headed by Vickie Wood and Terri McGill.
The academic stars were found in the Beta Club led by Donald Ennis, Lisa Fuquay, Judy Daniel and Bonnie Whittington. Mrs. Madie McDougald sponsored the group from which the Marshals of 1977 were selected: Keith Faulkner, Emma Jo Knox, Betsy Pollard, Lisa Fuquay, Henry Turlington, John Langdon, Elizabeth Garriss, Sharon Rowland and Robin Williams.
There was a time when no girls were in FFA and no boys in FHA. In 1978, the haircuts for boys featured long hair so should one look at the 1978 yearbook, one would have some difficulty deciding if girls and guys were in both organizations. Were there?
I do know that the FFA organization at Coats had Max Matthews, Brent Beasley, Tommy McLamb, Rusty Styons, James Sorrell, Mike Godwin and Sandy Langdon as officers with Dan Honeycutt as advisor. It is worthy to note that Max Matthews, Jr. was not only the Coats Chapter president but was also president of District IV.
The Future Homemakers of America (FHA) had as its 1977-78 officers-Cathy Honeycutt, Emma Jo Knox, Cindy Barnes, Lorie Hudson, Vivian Fairaclth, Martha Stewart, Cathy Johnson, Bonnie Whittington, Beth Garriss and Darlene West. Mrs. Francis Thomas was advisor.
Jackie Rowland, Deborah Stewart, Bobby Gregory, Riley Williams and Kenneth Norris were officers of the Library Club with Mrs. Marie Salmon as sponsor who also served as sponsor of the Photography Club in which Debbie Spencer, Brent Beasley, Darlene West, Cathy Honeycutt were officers.
The Monogram Club was headed by Tommy McLamb, Garry Myatt, B.W. Holland, Jan Coats, Rusty Styons with Billy Turner as sponsor. To cheer on the sport teams there was a Pep Club where Brent Beasley, Betsy Pollard, Shelia Pope and Jan Coats were officers. Beverly McLean served as the club sponsor.
The school had an Emergency School Assistance Act (ESAA) group with Jackie Rowland, Tonya Stewart, Garry McKoy, Keith Faulkner, Carol Hawley, and Riley Williams. The Superintendent Advisory Committee (SAC) was represented by John Langdon, Chip Hawley, Lisa Fuquay, and Pam Dailey.
The sports teams were cheered on by Chief Cathy Honeycutt, Co-chief Martha Stewart, Lorie Hudson, Debbie Spencer, Deborah Stewart, Paulette Holmes, Pam Dailey, Dona Denning and Sharon Rowland. The football team had Coach Billy Ray Turner, Donald Ennis, Scott Fleming, Mike Godwin, B.W. Holland, Cleo Jackson, Max Matthews, Tommy McLamb, Garry Myatt, Kim Spears, Rusty Styons, Henry Turlington, Johnny Wolf, Jack Barefoot, Mike Beasley, Forest Fleming, “Tootie” Hayes, Dee Langdon, Dennis McKoy, Archie Purcell, Mike Pope, Dennis Raynor, Darryl Shannon, Frankie Walden, Kevin White, Danny Byrd, Bobby Gregory, Gary McKoy, Edwin Ennis, Levon Johnson, Sandy Langdon, Tim Turlington, and Robert White.
The girls basketball team was coached by Ms. Teresa Neal and Mrs. Joan Stanley. Who were the yellow jacket girls who played in 1977-78? Jan Coats, Amanda Tyndall, Sharon Gregory, Vivian Faircloth, Annette Ferguson, Jp Ann Barnes, Franchette Nixon, Pam Strickland, Sheri Gardner, Cathy Johnson, Sherry Williams and Kathy Williams were pictured in the yearbook.
Who played on the yellow jacket boys basketball team? Gary McKoy, Donald Ennis, John Langdon, Tommy McLamb, Henry Turlington, Keith Faulkner, “Tootie” Hayes, Willie Nixon, Tim Peede, Dennis McKoy, Chip Hawley, Darryl Shannon, Frankie Walden, Kevin White, and Tim Turlington were the jackets in action.
Teresa Neal and Dan Honeycutt coached the 1977 Girls Softball team to a 1-A Championship. Jan Coats, Cathy Honeycutt, Martha Stewart, Shelia Pope were pictured. On the softball team were Paulette Holmes, Annette Ferguson, Franchette Nixon, Jo Ann Barnes, Sharon Gregory, and Kathy Williams.
Billy Ray Turner coached the boys baseball team. Rusty Styons, Glenn Williams, Johnny Wolf, Forest Fleming, Gary McKoy, Jack Barefoot, Mike Beasley, Dennis McKoy, Tony West, Pat McGill and Kent Johnson were pictured as players in the 1978 yearbook.
Do you have any idea when seniors in high school began to elect superlatives? It is for sure that they have done so for many years? As a former teacher, I recall seeing many tears of sadness and joy after the students were picked. In the 1978 year book, John Langdon and Martha Stewart were voted Best All Around; Donald Ennis and Teresa Tart were selected Neatest. Most Dependable went to Donald Ennis and Martha Stewart. Mike Godwin and Bonnie Whittington were thought to be the Most Talented. The two who were selected as Most School Spiritual were Donald Poole and Cathy Honeycutt.
The couple Most Likely to Succeed was John Langdon and Debbie Spencer while the Best Sports were Garry Myatt and Jan Coats. Darlene West and Mike Godwin were recognized for being Best Sports. The Beau and Belle of the class were Donald Ennis and Teresa Tart. The Friendliest couple was Cathy Honeycutt and Mike Johnson. Most Intellectual superlative seniors were John Langdon and Lisa Fuquay.
Two students who stood out in sports earning them the title of Most Athletic were B.W. Holland and Jan Coats. The two final superlative slots were filled by Tommy McLamb and Tonya Stewart who were voted Most Original while Most Courteous pair was Garry Myatt and Judy Daniel (Coats High School Echoing Memories 1978).
The Coats communities had moved on from school graduation and were focused on other current events. From this paper we are able to see the businesses that operated in Coats and area during 1978. Do you recognize any of them? A Blue Grass Festival was held on June 9-11 at the Coats Jr. Order Camp Ground. Hayes and Tart Abattoir and Meat Packers, Wood’s Fish and Grocery, McLeod, Watson and Coats, Inc., Superior Lingerie Outlet, Coats Tire Service and Recapping, Ennis Mobil Service and Tyndall Electronics. were advertisers for the festival (Daily Record June 8, 1978).
In that same edition of the Daily Record several Coats businesses congratulated the 1978 Coats High graduates. They were Peggie’s Beauty Nook, McKnight’s Drugs, Stacy Williams Upholstery, Coats Tire Services, Superior Lingerie, Tyndall Electronics, and Ennis Mobil Service.
Question-how many of those businesses are operating in 2019?
This I do know. Miss Vikki Kay Faircloth and Charles Hubert Ivey, Jr. were planning to be married at the Lakeside Gardens of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Johnson of north of Angier. Vikki was a graduate of Coats High and Campbell College. Charles worked at Titan Homes while Vikki was employed at the NC Department of Agriculture (Daily Record June 13, 1978).
What was going on at the Coats Recreational Park? The NC Dept. of Agriculture had approved a grant of $ 101,850 for the park. Mayor Coats has stressed that the Atlantic Office had to give the final approval. The facility, when completed, would offer a lake, two tennis courts, a natural amphitheater, picnic and camping areas, multipurpose courts for basketball and volleyball and a fully lit park (June 15, 1978).
Brenda Rhiner and I manned a busy museum last Thursday giving tours and checking in new items. Marc and Jean Powell dropped in to remember Mrs. Belle Williams with a memorial to the museum. The two have had amazing experiences since leaving the Coats area about forty years ago and now they have returned home to become involved in community activities. Mary Ellen Lauder always enters bearing items of great interest to the volunteers and visitors. Hilda Pope does an outstanding job sharing the obituary bulletins from the Rose Graham Funeral Home in Coats. Lela Matthews from the Coats Community Church donated two Bibles with the name Teresa Powell written inside and they were found in the education building of the church. Thank you goes to all these individuals who continue to make a difference at the museum.
From 2000 to 2005, the Coats Centennial History Committee spent many days of those years researching and compiling information about the people and area before and after it was known as Coats and Grove Township. When writing “There and Back in a Paper Canoe” for The Heritage of Coats, NC Volume One, I used (if available) Coats High yearbooks Echoing Memories as a source of information for the history of the school. Forty-one years have passed since the seniors of 1978 graduated from Coats High. Let’s journey into yesteryear and revisit some of the highlights that were not recorded in our Coats heritage book.
Some of the students at Coats School in 1978 might recall the bus drivers and the numbers on the school buses that transported them to school. Can you? The students attending Coats High School in 1977-78 had been transported by bus drivers who were recorded as being Mike Johnson (#34), Max Matthews (#86), Jimmy Horton (#17), Henry Turlington (#28), B.W. Holland (#66), Mike Pope (#93), Kim Spears (#12), Chip Hawley (#39), and Johnny Wolf (#92).
Visitors to the school office in 1978 would have been greeted by Debbie Spencer, Tammy Stewart, Paulette Holmes, Nora Cole, Betty Surles and Shelia Lloyd who assisted Secretary Joy Coats in Principal J.C. Hawley’ office. Those who kept the school and grounds in safe and clean condition were Mr. J.W. Murchison, Mr. O’Neal Bass, Mrs. Colie Spears and Mr. Claxton Surles.
Many of the 1978 seniors will recall that Mrs. Mary Cole, Mr. Jerry Stancil, Mrs. Beverly McLean, Mrs. Diane Danenburg, Mrs. Maureen Stoney, Mrs. Joan Stanley (Harmon), Mrs. Ora Pond Hawley, Mrs. Brenda Baker, Mrs. Jane Temper and Mrs. Delores Royal were special services teachers.
The 1978 high school students selected their classmates for special titles. Martha Stewart and Henry Turlington were voted FFA Sweetheart and FHA Beau while Donald Ennis and Martha Stewart were voted Mr. and Mrs. Echoing Memories. Homecoming Queen Sherry Norris was escorted by sponsor Tommy McLamb. Pageant judges had marked their scorecards in favor of Deborah Stewart for Miss Coats High. Deborah’s attendants were Sherry Norris, Cathy Jean Honeycutt (Miss Congeniality), Karen Shannon, Pamela Leigh Dailey, Cindy Barnes, Delores Royster, Tonya Barnes, Jennifer Johnson and Cynthia Rhea Walden.
Many students worked hard to be elected officers in the various clubs and organizations. The students serving as officers in the Student Council in 1977-78 were John Langdon, Trent Sorrell, Cindy Barnes, Sandy Langdon and Mrs. Marie Salmon as sponsor. The FBLA members chose Deborah Stewart, Karen Shannon, Vivian Faircloth, Kenneth Norris and Miss lda McNeill as sponsor. The newspaper staff was headed by Vickie Wood and Terri McGill.
The academic stars were found in the Beta Club led by Donald Ennis, Lisa Fuquay, Judy Daniel and Bonnie Whittington. Mrs. Madie McDougald sponsored the group from which the Marshals of 1977 were selected: Keith Faulkner, Emma Jo Knox, Betsy Pollard, Lisa Fuquay, Henry Turlington, John Langdon, Elizabeth Garriss, Sharon Rowland and Robin Williams.
There was a time when no girls were in FFA and no boys in FHA. In 1978, the haircuts for boys featured long hair so should one look at the 1978 yearbook, one would have some difficulty deciding if girls and guys were in both organizations. Were there?
I do know that the FFA organization at Coats had Max Matthews, Brent Beasley, Tommy McLamb, Rusty Styons, James Sorrell, Mike Godwin and Sandy Langdon as officers with Dan Honeycutt as advisor. It is worthy to note that Max Matthews, Jr. was not only the Coats Chapter president but was also president of District IV.
The Future Homemakers of America (FHA) had as its 1977-78 officers-Cathy Honeycutt, Emma Jo Knox, Cindy Barnes, Lorie Hudson, Vivian Fairaclth, Martha Stewart, Cathy Johnson, Bonnie Whittington, Beth Garriss and Darlene West. Mrs. Francis Thomas was advisor.
Jackie Rowland, Deborah Stewart, Bobby Gregory, Riley Williams and Kenneth Norris were officers of the Library Club with Mrs. Marie Salmon as sponsor who also served as sponsor of the Photography Club in which Debbie Spencer, Brent Beasley, Darlene West, Cathy Honeycutt were officers.
The Monogram Club was headed by Tommy McLamb, Garry Myatt, B.W. Holland, Jan Coats, Rusty Styons with Billy Turner as sponsor. To cheer on the sport teams there was a Pep Club where Brent Beasley, Betsy Pollard, Shelia Pope and Jan Coats were officers. Beverly McLean served as the club sponsor.
The school had an Emergency School Assistance Act (ESAA) group with Jackie Rowland, Tonya Stewart, Garry McKoy, Keith Faulkner, Carol Hawley, and Riley Williams. The Superintendent Advisory Committee (SAC) was represented by John Langdon, Chip Hawley, Lisa Fuquay, and Pam Dailey.
The sports teams were cheered on by Chief Cathy Honeycutt, Co-chief Martha Stewart, Lorie Hudson, Debbie Spencer, Deborah Stewart, Paulette Holmes, Pam Dailey, Dona Denning and Sharon Rowland. The football team had Coach Billy Ray Turner, Donald Ennis, Scott Fleming, Mike Godwin, B.W. Holland, Cleo Jackson, Max Matthews, Tommy McLamb, Garry Myatt, Kim Spears, Rusty Styons, Henry Turlington, Johnny Wolf, Jack Barefoot, Mike Beasley, Forest Fleming, “Tootie” Hayes, Dee Langdon, Dennis McKoy, Archie Purcell, Mike Pope, Dennis Raynor, Darryl Shannon, Frankie Walden, Kevin White, Danny Byrd, Bobby Gregory, Gary McKoy, Edwin Ennis, Levon Johnson, Sandy Langdon, Tim Turlington, and Robert White.
The girls basketball team was coached by Ms. Teresa Neal and Mrs. Joan Stanley. Who were the yellow jacket girls who played in 1977-78? Jan Coats, Amanda Tyndall, Sharon Gregory, Vivian Faircloth, Annette Ferguson, Jp Ann Barnes, Franchette Nixon, Pam Strickland, Sheri Gardner, Cathy Johnson, Sherry Williams and Kathy Williams were pictured in the yearbook.
Who played on the yellow jacket boys basketball team? Gary McKoy, Donald Ennis, John Langdon, Tommy McLamb, Henry Turlington, Keith Faulkner, “Tootie” Hayes, Willie Nixon, Tim Peede, Dennis McKoy, Chip Hawley, Darryl Shannon, Frankie Walden, Kevin White, and Tim Turlington were the jackets in action.
Teresa Neal and Dan Honeycutt coached the 1977 Girls Softball team to a 1-A Championship. Jan Coats, Cathy Honeycutt, Martha Stewart, Shelia Pope were pictured. On the softball team were Paulette Holmes, Annette Ferguson, Franchette Nixon, Jo Ann Barnes, Sharon Gregory, and Kathy Williams.
Billy Ray Turner coached the boys baseball team. Rusty Styons, Glenn Williams, Johnny Wolf, Forest Fleming, Gary McKoy, Jack Barefoot, Mike Beasley, Dennis McKoy, Tony West, Pat McGill and Kent Johnson were pictured as players in the 1978 yearbook.
Do you have any idea when seniors in high school began to elect superlatives? It is for sure that they have done so for many years? As a former teacher, I recall seeing many tears of sadness and joy after the students were picked. In the 1978 year book, John Langdon and Martha Stewart were voted Best All Around; Donald Ennis and Teresa Tart were selected Neatest. Most Dependable went to Donald Ennis and Martha Stewart. Mike Godwin and Bonnie Whittington were thought to be the Most Talented. The two who were selected as Most School Spiritual were Donald Poole and Cathy Honeycutt.
The couple Most Likely to Succeed was John Langdon and Debbie Spencer while the Best Sports were Garry Myatt and Jan Coats. Darlene West and Mike Godwin were recognized for being Best Sports. The Beau and Belle of the class were Donald Ennis and Teresa Tart. The Friendliest couple was Cathy Honeycutt and Mike Johnson. Most Intellectual superlative seniors were John Langdon and Lisa Fuquay.
Two students who stood out in sports earning them the title of Most Athletic were B.W. Holland and Jan Coats. The two final superlative slots were filled by Tommy McLamb and Tonya Stewart who were voted Most Original while Most Courteous pair was Garry Myatt and Judy Daniel (Coats High School Echoing Memories 1978).
The Coats communities had moved on from school graduation and were focused on other current events. From this paper we are able to see the businesses that operated in Coats and area during 1978. Do you recognize any of them? A Blue Grass Festival was held on June 9-11 at the Coats Jr. Order Camp Ground. Hayes and Tart Abattoir and Meat Packers, Wood’s Fish and Grocery, McLeod, Watson and Coats, Inc., Superior Lingerie Outlet, Coats Tire Service and Recapping, Ennis Mobil Service and Tyndall Electronics. were advertisers for the festival (Daily Record June 8, 1978).
In that same edition of the Daily Record several Coats businesses congratulated the 1978 Coats High graduates. They were Peggie’s Beauty Nook, McKnight’s Drugs, Stacy Williams Upholstery, Coats Tire Services, Superior Lingerie, Tyndall Electronics, and Ennis Mobil Service.
Question-how many of those businesses are operating in 2019?
This I do know. Miss Vikki Kay Faircloth and Charles Hubert Ivey, Jr. were planning to be married at the Lakeside Gardens of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Johnson of north of Angier. Vikki was a graduate of Coats High and Campbell College. Charles worked at Titan Homes while Vikki was employed at the NC Department of Agriculture (Daily Record June 13, 1978).
What was going on at the Coats Recreational Park? The NC Dept. of Agriculture had approved a grant of $ 101,850 for the park. Mayor Coats has stressed that the Atlantic Office had to give the final approval. The facility, when completed, would offer a lake, two tennis courts, a natural amphitheater, picnic and camping areas, multipurpose courts for basketball and volleyball and a fully lit park (June 15, 1978).
Brenda Rhiner and I manned a busy museum last Thursday giving tours and checking in new items. Marc and Jean Powell dropped in to remember Mrs. Belle Williams with a memorial to the museum. The two have had amazing experiences since leaving the Coats area about forty years ago and now they have returned home to become involved in community activities. Mary Ellen Lauder always enters bearing items of great interest to the volunteers and visitors. Hilda Pope does an outstanding job sharing the obituary bulletins from the Rose Graham Funeral Home in Coats. Lela Matthews from the Coats Community Church donated two Bibles with the name Teresa Powell written inside and they were found in the education building of the church. Thank you goes to all these individuals who continue to make a difference at the museum.