October 22, 2001
BACK HOME AGAIN:
Buckner orphans reunion
___By Toby Druin
___Buckner News Service
___DALLAS--Vernon Horsley, a retired schoolteacher from Mesquite who lived at Buckner Orphans Home from 1943 to 1950, returns to the home each year to remember and "to see my brothers and sisters."
___"This was my home,and it's still home," he explained.
BUCKNER ALUMNI Joe Mac Ritchie, Bob Earl Ritchie, Billy Bangs and Don Ritchie reminisce as they look through a book at the Buckner Orphans Home family reunion. (Photo by Toby Druin)
___For three days, Oct. 5-7, conversations on the campus of what is now Buckner Children's Home in East Dallas began with a variation of "Remember when ...," as more than 300 former residents like Horsley met for their 98th family reunion.
___They came from most of the 50 states to laugh, shed a tear and remember with the people who became their surrogate family members after their own families had been uprooted or torn apart by death, divorce or some other calamity.
___The weekend schedule, planned by the Buckner Home Alumni Association, included a bake-off, tours of new cottages that have replaced the old three-story dormitories, an auction of memorabilia from the old buildings, a flagpole dedication, awards presentation and a memorial/worship service on Sunday morning.
___Many brought photos and scrapbooks from their years at Buckner, and much of the time was spent poring over them. Refurbished trophy and display cases featuring memorabilia also were centers of attention.
___But most of the time was spent in Maris Alumni Center, sharing old stories and experiences and getting to see each other again. Buckner is the only home many of the alumni ever knew, and many said that getting together with those they grew up with is indeed like a family reunion.
___"I love that home better than anything in the whole wide world," said Alice Ross Robards, who at 89 and a member of the Buckner Class of 1932 possibly was the most senior participant in this year's reunion. She lived at the home five years, coming there from Hunt County with her three brothers after the death of their father.
___She "worked all over the campus--the nursery, hospital, Manna (dining) Hall," she recalled. "And it was wonderful through bad times and good times. We fed 650 children three times a day in the bottom of the Depression."
___With the help of her teachers, all of whom she can still name, Robards was able to finish high school in three and a half years. After leaving Buckner, she married, had a career with the postal service and has lived near the Buckner campus in East Dallas since 1971. She looks forward each year to the reunion.
___"It was great this year," she said. "I always try to get to know some of the younger ones there. Too many people stay too close to the ones they know."
___Leston "Lee" McNeil came all the way from Delta Junction, Alaska, just as he has every year except one since he attended his 40-year reunion in 1984.
___"I come to see the guys and gals and find out what they've been doing," said McNeil, who was honored by the board of directors as Alumnus of the Year.
___"This is family," said Jimmie Smith, a 15-year member of the alumni board and alumnus of the year in 1989. "We acquired many brothers and sisters when we moved here."
___Smith came to Buckner with two brothers and his mother, who worked for 26 years as a houseparent, he said.
___"Without Buckner, where would any of us be today?" he asked. "We learned Christian values there, and were proud to be a part of it."
___In addition to McNeil, the alumni association also honored David "Mutt" Holcomb, who lives near Gilmer, as Alumnus of the Year. Holcomb was unable to attend, however, due to illness.
___The association also honored J.D. Smith, who retired recently after working at the home 64 years.___
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