By Suzanne Gibson
The Circleville High School class of 1960 started meeting about eight years ago for lunch on the 3rd Thursday of every month at Gibby’s. In the bad weather months the group could be as small as 4 to 5 but in the summer as high as 15 to 20. The good part is if your sick or out of town, you can always make the next month’s luncheon.
One Luncheon, Terry Dean had an idea, “I come down here all year, so I want the class to come to my house in Reynoldsburg, and we’ll make it a Christmas Party.” From this, the Class of 1960 charity was started. Each year we’d select a worthy cause to help in Circleville, and all the money we raise would stay in Circleville. There would be no overhead – so what we raised was what they got.
Terry stated that, “Everybody brings an item or two, and we’ll auction them off among ourselves. I’ll be the auctioneer and somebody can write down the item, who bought it and for how much. We then settle up after the auction.” The first year it may have taken as long to settle up as it did to have the auction – but each year we got better. The items also got better when we learned our buyers’ likes and dislikes and the size of their bankroll!
Steve Smith brought a round of golf for 4 at Chapel Hill, to which Terry seemed interested in. “I’m a golfer,” Terry stated, “This is something I could enjoy. I’ll bid $100 myself.”
From across the room came a bid of $150, and to Terry’s disbelief, the bid was from his wife, Karon.
“Honey, I don’t think you understand how an auction goes, we’re in the same family. Why would you run the price up on us?” Terry questioned.
As it turned out, Karon had her own idea on how to use the golf round. “Honey, my three girlfriends and I would love to play this course. So you’re not in my foursome. So what’s your bid, Mr. Auctioneer?”
Since this was Terry’s party, Karon decided to let her husband save a little face by finally winning the round of golf – the final, winning bid being $225.
Good job, Karon. The auction was a big winner that day for the charity.
Over the years, great items were brought to our auctions. Some of those items included: a king-sized bed cover crocheted by Diane Reeser (something she spent 12 months crocheting on), one of a kind Ohio State corn hole boards from Jonas Hoover, hand made jewelry boxes from Gary Agin, a round of golf at Pickaway County Club and a $50 gift card for lunch from Linden and Sue Gibson, a steak dinner for four from Terry and Karon Dean, which would be served at their home, and they even had four tickets to the Columbus Clippers with transportation included.
Jim Patrick donated items from his furniture store, Gary Vandemark sent items from California, and Danny Leon Hardy sent some from South Carolina.
What a team effort!
A special thanks to Liz Arledge for starting the bid on almost ALL the items – way to get the ball rolling!
Since all of us are seventy-six and many are downsizing, we’ve since stopped our auctions and now focus on donating money.
But what a blast and a barrel of laughs we’ve had over the years – and the winner of all our efforts has been Circleville.
In our years of charity work (and fun), we’ve given the following groups over $11,400.
- Pickaway County Food Bank
- Pickaway County Wright-Poling Dog Shelter
- Haven House
- Pickaway County Special Olympics (Softball Uniforms)
- Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park
This year, we’re giving $1200 to the Foundations for Youth. This organization is for kids up to 19 years old, (rich and poor) to be able to get together and enjoy food, games and so much more.
Be sure to contact Sgt. Matthew O. Hafey of the Circleville Police Department to learn how you can get involved in this great organization.
To find out more information about Foundations4Youth be sure to check out their website. Foundations4Youth.org
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Pictured in photograph: L-R: Diane Reeser, Matt Hafey (Policeman Representing Foundations for Youth), Monna Conrad Terry Dean, Liz Arledge, Gary Agin, Suzanne Gibson, Linden Gibson, Jim Patrick (Class of 1960)