Reynolds High School

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent October 1, 2022

Our prayers go out to all those folks affected by hurricane Ian.

I want to remind you that we are still in the process of raising funds to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation...so (once enough money is raised) we can FOREVER award two $1,000 scholarships, and give $1,000 to the staff member (selected by their peers) as the RJR Teacher of the Year. FYI: the RJR Alumni organization (to the best of our knowledge) is the ONLY one for a public high school that annually does this...IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!! One of the ways we are raising the needed funds is by allowing you to purchase an engraved brick that will be permanently adhered to the base of one of the two flagpoles in front of Reynolds Auditorium. Each brick costs only $500. You can get as many as you wish. A brick can have 3 lines of text, each with up to 20 characters (all capitalized). We only need to have 15 more folks make a $500 donation to PERMANENTLY leave their mark at Reynolds High School...so we will be able to create an endowment! I am getting two of these (which are pictured below). If you want to join me in getting one: click onto the following image.

There are several ways to give a donation (that will be tax-deductible) to the 'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization. One is by credit card via a Paypal.com secure link we provide to you. Another is by mailing us a check. And the third way is by wiring us stocks. We have recently changed banks that we do business with. If you are thinking about wiring us stocks, the updated information you will need can be found by clicking onto the following link.

The Ways to make a donation to the RJR Alumni organization

Don't forget about next Friday's Homecoming football game against Glenn High School. To learn about all the special plans for this event (including reunions for all past Dancing Boots and cheerleaders): click onto the following image.

The 2023 edition of the Black and Gold RJR Yearbook (which will be the 100th edition) will come out this coming spring. YOU have an opportunity to be a part of it. The Yearbook staff is searching for Alumni that will supply them with fond memories they have of Reynolds High School. Some of the submitted memories will be printed in this upcoming yearbook. If you want to submit your memory, click onto the following image.

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent September 24, 2022

Both the calendar and the weather shows that fall has arrived in Winston-Salem. 

If you are planning on attending RJR's Homecoming football game on Oct. 7th against Glenn, The Sherwood restaurant on Robinhood Road (which is owned by RJR alumni) is offering a tailgating boxed-dinner special (described below). When you go to pick it up: tell them that what you have ordered is for the homecoming game, and the RJR PTSA will receive 10% of the proceeds. To learn about all the special plans that have been finalized for this homecoming game: click onto the following image.

I want to personally thank the MANY of you who this week sent us donations to help fund the project to expand the Demon Pantry into the first-floor corner-room that now houses student lockers. This $25,000 endeavor (once completed) will FOREVER end the problem of RJR students being hungry while at school because their household did not have food for them. The renovation plan was put forward by RJR Principal Calvin Freeman. It will expand not only the amount of food made available to these hungry students, but it will also bring in refrigerators and microwaves to this room, so that different food-types are also made available. The Demon Pantry started out as a mission effort at Centenary United Methodist Church to both immediately feed RJR students who arrived at school hungry because they had not had anything to eat, and also to have food for them to take with them when they leave school. The Reynolds High School Alumni organization has committed $2,500 to this VERY IMPORTANT endeavor. I truly hope that YOU will click onto the following image to learn more about this renovation project...and more importantly learn how to send us a tax-deductible donation...TODAY!

The joyful 16th Multi-Class Reunion took take place last Sunday afternoon. RJR Principal Calvin Freeman was there, and graciously allowed me to stage a recorded Q&A interview with him. Most of the questions he answered were submitted by those in attendance. To view a video of that entertaining and informative 20-minute interview, click onto the following image.

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent September 18, 2022

The weather this week has been fabulous.

If you have been a longtime reader of this newsletter and/or someone who has regularly visited the RJR Alumni website, you will know that the Reynolds High School Alumni organization has for a long time supported the Demon Pantry (which exists to immediately give food to students who come to school hungry). RJR Principal Calvin Freeman has come up with an plan that will greatly expand the Demon Pantry. This is a project that once completed: it will FOREVER solve the problem of there being hungry students at Reynolds High School!

RJR is now a 'Title 1' school. Essentially that means that at least one-half of its student-body is entitled to receive free or reduced-price lunches. When you have a student-body in which over 800 students qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch, the reality of that fact means that there are probably some students who are homeless. However, it is almost impossible for the school staff to know this...because the one thing that ALL teenagers don't want is to be recognized as somehow being different from their peers! These students don't want to have to admit that they are homeless...and/or that they have no access to food when they leave school.

The Demon Pantry originally started as a mission of Centenary United Methodist Church. It was created, and has existed, to immediately give out food to students who arrive at school hungry. There is a LOT of research that shows that students dealing with hunger do not learn while in class.

Concerning Mr. Freeman's plan: at the other end of the hall from the school's office on the first floor is a corner room filled with lockers. It is pictured below.

Mr. Freeman's plan is to take out the lockers and install pantry-like units which would hold canned foods and dry goods. Refrigerators would also be placed in this room so that fresh fruits and vegetables would be available. Another reason for there being refrigerators: at the school Mr. Freeman came from before arriving at RJR, they were throwing away breakfasts that were not picked up by students. He realized that a lot of teenagers just get up too late to eat breakfast. He brought in 2 refrigerators, and these breakfasts were placed in them. By the end of most days, all the breakfasts had been eaten.

Microwaves would also be placed in this room, and doors would be placed at the two entrances into the room. With there being doors to this room, no one passing by would know who was in there, nor what food(s) they were getting.

Being a 'Title 1' school means the federal government sends quite a bit of money to that school each year, with specific guidelines as to how those funds can be spent. One of the approved uses is for the purchase of food for students who come from food-challenged households.

The cost of the renovation project for this room is $25,000. The best part of this endeavor: 'Title 1' funds will be used to keep this area stocked with foods. Since the geographic boundary of the area of the county served by Reynolds High School probably won't change much in the future: RJR will more than likely remain a 'Title 1' school forever...meaning this room will FOREVER be available to students that have food needs (be they immediate and/or long-term).

This is an endeavor the RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends organization supports. To prove that fact, we are committing $2,500 towards this project. That represents 10% of the total costs! I hope that YOU will make a donation TODAY to this great endeavor that will FOREVER end hunger at RJR! To so do, merely click onto the following link.

Click here to make a donation to expand the Demon Pantry

In closing, let me remind those of you living in Forsyth County that the RJR Multi-Class Reunion will take place at Little Richard's Barbecue restaurant on Stratford Road this afternoon starting at 2:00 pm. RJR Principal Calvin Freeman will be there at 3:00 pm to answer any question posed by those in attendance. To learn the details of this reunion, click onto the following image.

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent September 8, 2022

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of England.

A LOT of special preparations have been (and are being) planned for RJR's October 7th football Homecoming Game against Glenn High School at Deaton Thompson Stadium. This is going to be a VERY SPECIAL EVENT, since the school will be celebrating its 100th BIRTHDAY in January! The details of some of those plans that have been finalized include:

Special t-shirts for Reynolds' alumni are being offered for sale (by size) on-line.

A Reunion is being planned for all former members of the Dancing Boots.

A reunion is being planned for all former members of

RJR's Cheer Leading/Cheer Teams.

Tailgating activities at the stadium will begin at 5:00 pm.

A DJ will be on-site playing music while the Alumni meet & greet, and talk about their "glory days."

Free Deweys cake-square will be given to the first arriving RJR fans.

To learn the specifics of all of these (AND OTHER) homecoming activities, click onto either of the following images.

While I am discussing reunions, let me remind you of the RJR Multi-Class Reunion that will take place next Sunday afternoon (September 18th) at Little Richard's Barbecue (on Stratford Road). RJR's Principal (Calvin Freeman) will be on-hand at 3:00 pm to briefly tell those in attendance what good things are happening at Reynolds High. He will then answer any questions that are asked. The reunion will last until the restaurant closes for the evening. There is no cover charge, and the dress code is VERY casual. Click onto the following image for more details.

MANY thanks go out to all of you that sent in your suggestions as to who is pictured in the following portrait that hangs in RJR's Media Center. To learn who this is: click onto the following image.

The school and surrounding campus were "spruced up" for the students arriving at RJR for their first day of classes for the 2022-2023 school year. To see some of what they saw, click onto the following image.

And last, I assume you know that the RJR Alumni is in the process of raising enough funds to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation (so we can FORVER award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 to the staff person selected as Teacher of the Year...once the endowment has enough funds to make those yearly disbursements). In an effort to help this fund raising, we are going to offer engraved bricks (that will be adhered to the base of the two flagpoles in front of Reynolds Auditorium) for a tax deductible donation of $500 . Each brick will have 3 lines of text, with each line having up to 20 characters. You can get as many as you wish, and they can be about you, or in memory or honor of someone else or possibly your graduating class. I am going to get two of these, and they are pictured below. To learn the details about this, click onto the following image.

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent August 14, 2022

 Summer must be over...since school starts today! 

The RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends organization recently announced the 2021-2022 school-year winners of their two $1,000 RJR Alumni Scholarships, as well as the RJR Teacher of the Year (selected by her peers) who also received $1,000 from them. To learn more about these amazing individuals: click onto any of the 3 following images.

To learn more about these amazing individuals: click onto the following link:

RJR Alumni 2021-2022 $1,000 awardees    

The Class of 1968 Memorial Scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year has been awarded to Jarod Brown (pictured below). 

To learn more about this awesome gentleman, as well as the history of this scholarship (which now pays out $32,000 via for 4 yearly installments), click onto the following link. 

The Class of 1968 Memorial Scholarship

RJR's October 7th football Homecoming Game against Glenn High School is going to be special, since the school will be celebrating its 100th birthday in January. Special t-shirts for Reynolds' alumni are being offered for sale on-line (by size) through September 14th. Reunion activities before and during that game are being planned for all former Dancing Boots, as well as all former members of RJR's Cheerleading/Cheer Teams. 

To learn the specifics of all of these endeavors, click onto either of the following link.  

2022 Homecoming Game planned activities

While I am discussing reunions, let me ask that if your Class is staging a reunion: please let me know (so I can post that information onto the RJR Alumni website for everyone to see). Reunion plans for the RJR classes of 1962, 1982 and 1977 have recently been sent to us. To check to see if your class has notified us about an upcoming reunion, click onto the following link.

   upcoming RJR Reunions we have been informed of

RJR's Arts Hall of Fame is accepting applications through September 31st.

Should you wish to submit an alum for consideration of this prestigious award, click onto the following link.

Application form for the RJR Arts Hall of Fame

On August 28th, I had a recorded Zoom conversation with Laura Burrows (who is a volunteer with the Home Field Advantage organization. She is involved with their communications and marketing). She updated me on where things stand concerning the construction of RJR's on-campus multi-sports stadium. She also brought me up-to-date on the fund raising that is yet to be accomplished.  

To view a video of that very informative conversation: click onto the following link. 

Video of giving an update on the RJR multi-sports stadium

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent August 14, 2022

 ​As summer winds down, I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend. 

Due to a scheduling conflict, the date of the 16th RJR Multi-Class Reunion has been changed to Sunday afternoon, September 18th at Little Richard's barbecue restaurant. The Reunion will start at 2:30 pm, and RJR Principal Calvin Freeman will be on-hand at 3:00 pm to briefly tell about what occurred during the last school year, and then he will answer questions from those in attendance. To learn more of the specifics of this popular event, click on the following image.

To learn more of the specifics of this popular event, click on the following link.  

RJR Multi-Class Reunion details  

Construction work has been ongoing this summer on the RJR multi-sports stadium.

To see a video of what is taking place, click onto the following link.

video of constuction at RJR multi-sports stadium  

RJR attendee Jon Sawyer was recently interviewed by me via Zoom. The news company he founded (the Pulitzer Center) is staging a play titled "The Box," that will be performed August 25-27 at The Ramkat. It is about solitary confinement, and was written by a lady who experienced this for over a year.

To read an email Jon sent concerning this play (and also view a video of our conversation if you have not already done so): click on the following link.

email from Jon Sawyer  

And last, RJ Reynolds High School has been named a National Magnet School of Excellence for the fourth consecutive year by the Magnet Schools of America organization!

To read the press release from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System concerning this major achievement: click on the following link.

.press release    

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent July 27, 2022

I hope you are doing well. It has been hot, humid and rainy here lately.

I want to quickly bring up the last newsletter I sent. I suggested that folks visit the revised RJR Alumni website. They would have seen the picture of the seniors making up the Class of 2022. This picture was taken on the last regular school day these students would ever all be together. Interestingly, this was also the FIRST regular school day this school year that all of these students were together. That is because a larger percentage of students from Reynolds go to the Career Center to take Advanced Placement classes than from any other high school. The scheduling of classes there resulted in there never being a time when no RJR students were there. I hope you will visit the Alumni website, because there's a lot of new articles posted there. It can be seen by clicking on:

the RJR Alumni website: ww.RJRalumni.org

There are portraits of 2 more folks (pictured below) that hang in RJR's Media Room, that I cannot find any information about.      

If you know anything about them, please click onto either of the following link.

help us learn about the folks pictured above

Prior to the pandemic, a RJR Multi-Class Reunion was staged almost every year at the restaurant that is now Little Richard's barbecue restaurant on Stratford Road (across the street from an Exxon gas station, not far from the 5-points intersection). I am happy to report that there will be another such reunion on Saturday, August 20th, at the same place. It will start at 4:00 pm. At 5:00 pm, RJR Principal Calvin Freeman will be on-hand to tell the attendees what occurred at Reynolds this past year, and then he will answer questions from the attendees. There is NO cover charge, and everyone is invited. It is rumored that a couple of past RJR principals may be there. 

To learn more of the details, click onto the following link.

details of the Multi-Class Reunion on August 20th

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jon Sawyer via zoom. He attended RJR his sophomore year of high school (in 1967-68), and then transferred to a private high school...where he graduated. He founded and is the Executive Director of the Pulitzer Center. This organization will be staging a play titled "The Box" at The Ramkat on August 25-27. This play is about solitary confinement, and was written by a lady that experienced this for over a year. 

To see a video of our conversation, and to learn more about this very special and thought provoking play: click onto the following link.

video of conversation between Jon Sawyer and Harry Corpening

Concerning the way you can leave a prominent permanent marker at Reynolds High School: I assume you know that the RJR Alumni is in the process of raising enough funds to create an endowment with the Winston-Salem Foundation (so we can FORVER award $1,000 scholarships and give $1,000 to the staff person selected as Teacher of the Year...once the endowment has enough funds to make those yearly disbursements). In an effort to help this fund raising, we are going to offer engraved bricks (that will be adhered to the base of the two flagpoles in front of Reynolds Auditorium) for a tax deductible donation of $500 . Each brick will have 3 lines of text, with each line having up to 20 characters. You can get as many as you wish, and they can be about you, or in memory or honor of someone else or possibly your graduating class. I am going to get two of these, and they are pictured below. 

To learn the specifics of this offer, click onto the following link.

details about getting an engraved brick

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent July 17, 2022

I hope you are doing well. ​It has been a hot dry summer here.

I have heard for a long time that the RJR Alumni website needs to be updated. I am happy to say that endeavor is well under way. I hope you will click on the link below to visit it...since I feel sure some of you were on vacation during the July 4th holiday week when my last newsletter went out. It had some important information in it, which can be accessed by going to the most recently posted articles.

the RJR Alumni website: ww.RJRalumni.org

There is a portrait of a gentleman in uniform that hangs in RJR's Media Room, that I cannot find any information about. That portrait is below.

If you know anything about this gentleman, please click onto the following link.

help us learn about the gentleman pictured above

On Friday I staged a very entertaining recorded Zoom conversation with RJR alum Dr. Clarence Shuler. One of the many interesting topics we discussed was "what question should EVERY couple ask their partner EVERY day."

To view the video of that enjoyable conversation, click onto the following link.

video of Clarence Shuler & Harry Corpening interview

The Summer Enrichment Musical Theater Program annually staged at Reynolds High School and Reynolds Auditorium is always fully booked by students that are in the 5th grade - graduating seniors. This year they will be performing "Elf the Musical."

The performances are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. If you have gotten into a rut with all of the bad news you are continually inundated with, it is HIGHLY suggested that you click onto the following link to learn how to attend one of those most enjoyable performances! You will leave with a smile on your face.

Elf the Musical performance information

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent July 6, 2022

I hope you are doing well. ​It has been hot and muggy here this summer.

As I assume you know (if you have been reading these newsletters), R.J. Reynolds High School first opened its doors to students on January 15, 1923. That means the school will celebrate its 100th birthday this coming January. The school is currently searching for pictures and/or videos of former RJR football players in their uniform, to use in creating a video celebrating the 100 years of RJR football. 

If you have such a picture and/or video, and want to learn about the specifics of this project: click on the following link.

RJR is searching for pictures/videos of former football players

There will likely be a lot of RJR Class Reunions staged during this coming school year. If your Class is one of those making such plans, there is a good chance that part of the planned activities may hopefully be a tour of the school. 

If you want to make arrangements for your Class for a tour: click onto the following link.

arrange for a tour of RJR during your Class Reunion

Lastly, the 'R.J. Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends' organization is in the process of recruiting some new members to our Board of Directors. Our goal is to have a Board that mirrors the diversity of the alumni of RJR. 

If you have an interest in volunteering to be a member: click onto the following link for details.

RJR Alumni & Friends is looking for new members for it Board

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.

An emailed newsletter from Alumni President Harry Corpening 

to RJR Alumni everywhere!

 sent June 22, 2022

I hope you are enjoying this first full day of summer.

When I attended RJR (having graduated in 1968), it was a 3-year high school. John Tandy was the Principal. During the fall semester of my junior year (i.e., in 1966) he left to go work for the Hanes Corporation, and one of his assistant principals (Bob Deaton) became his successor. Mr. Deaton retired as Principal in 1991, after having served in that capacity for 25 years. June 17th was Bob Deaton's 90th birthday (and it also happens to be the birthday of his wife Jean...who has the nickname "Mama Jean"). One of his three sons (Danny) came up with the idea of making this year's birthday something special. The highlight of that was Mr. Deaton and Mama Jean being driven in a limousine to RJR...where a group of his former students surprised him by being on the landing waiting to see and be with him. The lead article in the June 21st edition of the local newspaper was about this event. 

Click on the link below to view that article and learn how you can send a card or letter to him (and/or them).

newspaper article about Bob Deaton's surpise birthday party at RJR

Another video of amazingly talented RJR students performing at Reynolds Auditorium has been posted on the RJR Alumni website. It shows the 2022 Spring Semester Dance Showcase. This event had over 100 different students performing in a large number of widely varied sets. The costumes worn by the advanced dancers were stunning, and the choreography exhibited by all the participants was as unbelievably uniform as it was varied (from set to set).

Click on the link below to view this video.

link to video of Spring Semester Dance Showcase

A simple reminder: the company that will be publishing the next edition of the RJR Alumni Directory (next year) is still in the process of verifying each alum's data. If you have not done so yet:

 PLEASE CALL 1-866-927-9302 TODAY to verify your data!

​Only data that has been personally verified will be in the next RJR Alumni Directory. This call will only take a couple of minutes!

PLEASE forward this email on to any RJR classmates and/or friends that you think don't know about the Alumni Directory! The more Alumni that are listed, the better connected we become.

The person you will talk with on the phone will probably try to sell you some version of the next Alumni Directory, and/or some other RJR-related things.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANYTHING!

If you have never submitted your information but want to do so: THAT IS FABULOUS! Merely call 1-866-927-9302 and tell the person answering your phone call that you want to be added to the database.

On May 25th the RJR Alumni continued our tradition of annually awarding two $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors, and of also giving $1,000 to the RJR staff member (selected by their peers) as the Teacher of the Year. Financially that means we disbursed $3,000. The RJR Alumni organization is the ONLY alumni organization of a public high school in the USA that does this annually (that I know of)! These yearly disbursements occur ONLY because RJR alumni like YOU send us enough donations to cover these costs. Every single donation we receive (no matter how small) is important!. I hope that YOU will make a donation so we can continue this tradition next year. 

To learn how to make a donation TODAY, click onto the following link.

Please make a donation to

'RJ Reynolds High School Alumni and Friends'

Feel free to forward this email on to ANYONE you think would be interested in reading it. If you want to add your email address to our list, or have us change your email address, or have us take your email address off our list: merely send me an email at RJRhighschool@aol.com with that request.

MANY thanks for your time and consideration.