Charles Raleigh:  

The senior year at River Oaks Academy in 1966-1967 was an interesting time - to say the least. As I remember most, if not all, of the students previously came from the Belle Chasse High School. Construction of the school didn’t finish until September of ’66. Students did not get to start until about the end of September. As a result, we went to school on Saturdays to help make up for the time lost in September. I remember this schedule went on until April of 1967. In addition, there was the question of River Oaks being accredited. The accreditation came through in the spring of 1967 and the Senior Class of ’67 was able to graduate. I was certainly happy to be a part of that class. My senior year was an eventful one for me. My family moved into a new home in Lake Park on Avenue A. We were still working on it that September. Some of my neighbors included the families of Johnny Pierrel, Les Jordan and Jerry Kahr. Highlights I remember from our senior year include: 1. Being honored by the senior class by being elected senior class president. 2. Being honored by the faculty by being nominated and winning the American Legion award. 3. Working on the school annual with Ms. McLeod, Earl Windom, Johnny Pierrel, Joe Smith, Steve Blount, Nancy Duver, Les Jordan, Gerald Crawford, Claudia Simmons, and Naomi Kraemer. These guys were great. I’m probably forgetting someone. If so, I apologize. 4. Riding in Johnny Pierrel’s car on the way to school one day, passing Mrs. Adkins-who decided to pass at the same time. We flew off the road to the shoulder where Johnny got us stopped. Mrs. Adkins almost took us out. I always remember her as a nice lady-we kept our eye on her after that though. 5. Sitting in the back seat of Les Jordan’s Chevy SS, coming home from school on the Belle Chasse highway, Les passing a school bus, running out of time and road to oncoming traffic, taking his car through the First Baptist Church parking lot and stopping in someon...Expand for more