The 17th triennial Bessie reunion was held Oct. 16, 2021 at the Bessie Gymnasium with 73 people registered. The gym was open at 9 a.m. for coffee and donuts. There were tables and display boards with pictures from the school and previous reunions, along with a DVD that played continuously throughout the day. A wooden Wahoo board, made by Terry Igo, was sold by the silent auction to Matthew Georinger. Proceeds will go towards funding future reunions.
There were two quilts placed on display at the reunion. One of the quilts was completed in 1937 and the other was completed in 1941. They were both created by members of the community who embroidered their names on the quilt squares. The 1941 quilt was made by the members of the Bessie Home Builders Club as a fund raiser. Raffle tickets were sold for 25 cents each. The winner of the raffle was Johnny Harder, who donated the quilt in 2003 to the Bessie Alumni so they all might enjoy it.
Hot dogs with all the trimmings were served at noon. The Wahoo tournament, which started at 1 p.m., was played by 10 teams. The boards and dice were handcrafted by Terry Igo. The first place winners of the tournament were Marilyn Mueller Bentley and Cherilynn Lax Rae. The second place winners were Leo Georinger and Debbie Borchers Peyton. Lastly, third place winners were Jim and Rosemary Hull Dick. They were each awarded cash prizes and bragging rights.
A delicious meal was served at 6 p.m. The meal was provided by Terry Igo and prepared by Chad Igo of Pecan Creek and Catering. Several visitors were recognized, especially Charles Ritchie of Tulare, California, who traveled the farthest distance and Bob Palmer, the artist that created the mural on the north side of the gym. Drawings for door prizes were held, followed by a short business meeting.
The next reunion will be in three years. It is hoped to compile a collection of memories regarding the Bessie School and community in time for the next reunion. The public is invited to share any and all memories, so that they might be added to the collection. Submissions may be mailed to Bessie Alumni Committee at P.O. Box 33, Bessie, OK 73622.
Thanks were extended to Terry Igo, Steve Georinger, BAR S FOODS, Henry Hise of Right Here Convenience Store in Cordell, CK Energy, Farmers Cooperative Exchange of Bessie, Farmers National Bank of Cordell and Misty Gossen of Farmers Insurance in Clinton for their contributions toward making the reunion a success.