WE HAVE WINNERS! Class of 1985 Reunion Contest Winners Announced ...

Approximately two weeks ago we held a contest for members of the Class of 1985. These classmates competed for either of two categories of prizes – either (1) a free room for one night during our upcoming reunion weekend at Pinehurst Hotel … AND … a pair of free tickets to the seated dinner, program, and dance on the night of Saturday, August 7; or, (2) a pair of free tickets to the seated dinner, program and dance on the night of Saturday, August 7.

Sponsoring these prizes are Wayne Goodwin - our NC Commissioner of Insurance, the first Richmond Raider elected to statewide office in the history of the school, and President of the Class of 1985.

We are very pleased to announce the following winners:

FIRST PRIZE

Kevin Grooms and a guest
Krystal Allen Gomiller and a guest
Regina Hawks Yingling and a guest
Ron Barnes and a guest

SECOND PRIZE

Lillian Renee Blakley and a guest
Michelle Caulder Meyer and a guest
Allen Williams and a guest
Jackie Robinson (her guest is classmate, Carolyn McNeill)
Wayne Bell and a guest
Donald Harrington and a guest
Tom Pangborn and a guest
Tanya Patrick Mercer and guest (Gene Mercer, Class of '84)
Sherry Honeycutt Cote and a guest
Nicole Bristow-Lacy and a guest
Doris Ledbetter Page and a guest

* * * * *

We ask each of the winners to verify by email to gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com, phone to 910-997-1301, or a message on Facebook that they’ve received this message and that both tickets will be used. When the winners arrive at Pinehurst Hotel just identify yourselves at our Class Reunion registration table downstairs as you go in at Carolina Hall.

Meanwhile, many thanks to all who participated in the contest, both those who won and those who did not (this time)! There will be other contests for classmates attending the reunion both before and at the reunion, so please stay tuned …

And, REMEMBER, for those who haven’t registered for the reunion yet … you may do so securely online by either debit card or credit card, just go to clicking on http://richmondraiders1985.blogspot.com/. Or, if you plan on paying at the door, for planning purposes please do go ahead and give us a heads-up so we’ll have enough places set for dinner.

The Class of 1985 Reunion 25-Year Reunion Gala is just two weeks away!

Reunion Planning Committee Meets Tomorrow Night, July 19

Whether you've joined us before or not, if you're interested in helping out with the final stage of the reunion then plan on being at Hudson Brothers Deli in uptown Rockingham between 5:45 and 7 pm on Monday, July 19.

We will go over several action items, receive updates, and have a light dinner.

For more information, call (910) 997-1301.

Richmond County Daily Journal Publicizes Upcoming Reunion

Class of 1985 plans series of events for its graduates but also invites Richmond Raider classmates from the classes of 1982-1984 and 1986-88 to join in the fun celebrating growing up in the 80s.

Read more at this link to the newspaper article.

Savings and Additional Options for Classmates and Guests!

Great news, everybody -- we've gotten the late fee dropped by $20 per person, so to enjoy the nice seated dinner at Pinehurst Hotel on August 7 (and attend the dance, plus get the photo/memory CD, door prizes, awards, etc etc), it's only $80 per person.

If you cannot attend the dinner for some reason, then to attend the program and 80s dance ONLY, it is $25 per person.

Go to the home page of this website to pay securely online or make your payment by mailing it to P.O. Box 1654, Hamlet NC 28345, or pay at the door. A courtesy RSVP by email (gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com) or phone (910-997-1301) is greatly appreciated.

We also have some free events in Rockingham and Pinehurst for classmates to attend.

Meanwhile, as the middle class of the 80s decade, we are also inviting Richmond Raiders classmates from 1982 through 1988 who attended with us to join in the evening. We have lots to celebrate and fun to be had.

Watch this site for more details to come!

Classmate Kevin Grooms Needs Your Help!

Kevin Grooms, our 1985 classmate who has mostly lived in Charlotte since graduation, has asked for help from his fellow Richmond Raiders. He is sponsoring a child in Central America and is getting close to his fundraising goal that will help build a home for the child and family. To learn more details, go to the Children International page found on Kevin's website link here at this link:

http://www.firstgiving.com/gerardoshouse

Here is what Kevin sent me in an email:

I have something neat I'd like to tell you about. For the past 8.5 years, I have sponsored a kid in Central America through a great non-profit in Kansas City, MO by the name of Children International. My kid's name is Gerardo; he's 17 now. I actually went to visit/meet him at the end of January. I was in Panama first, then went on to Honduras to be with Gerardo. I am now in the process of raising money to build him and his family a simple home with their own parcel of land. If you get a chance, take a look at the link to my fundraising page below. A contribution would be tax deductible. Feel free to consider donating,... but also, feel free to pass this along to my classmates.

Through your kind, small contributions Kevin will reach the goal. If you are inclined, then please help or spread the word to those who are. Thanks!

If you want to contact Kevin directly, his email address is KLGinCLT@yahoo.com.

One Year Ago: Reunion Committee Starts Meeting

It is hard to believe that one year ago our Class of 1985 had its first formal planning meeting relating to our 25-year reunion. Though many emails and calls and letters had already started to go out - and many more would follow later in the subsequent months to classmates hither and yon - the interest is now beginning to grow by the week as the big weekend approaches.

Coincidentally, as we conducted the first formal in-person meeting it came over the speakers at Hudson Brothers Deli that Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, had died in California. Shocking, unexpected news it was.

Just as it hard to believe it's been 25 years since our high school graduation, and already a year since the planning committee started its official work, it is equally hard to imagine that the man who made "the Moonwalk" famous is gone.

I assure you that among the many 80s songs played during our reunion dance you will find a good sampling of Michael Jackson's work.

Reunion Update and Good News!

As we've done at our other class reunions, we will have a casual picnic in Rockingham on Saturday midday, Aug 7. More details in the letter going out to classmates approx July 4.We have only a handful of rooms left in our Richmond Raider Class of 1985 block at the hotel. After June 27 the remaining rooms are let go.

As for the dinner at historic Pinehurst Hotel, we've persuaded officials to keep the price at $80 per person. Remember that includes a nice seated dinner, photographs and your own copy of a memory book for your attendance at the reunion, and the cost of the dance and door prizes. More special details on the dance in the July 4th mailing.

And, remember, you can register and pay securely online with your credit card/debit card by going to www.richmondraiders1985.blogspot.com, which is here on the home page of this website/blog.

Don't miss the best reunion we've ever had!