Attendees Enjoy the Prom
By Augie Frost, The Daily Oklahoman
Jun. 24–Seniors reminisce, enjoy their 10th annual dance
The music, dancing, attire and eloquence of the ballroom all took Dottie Keas back to her youthful and innocent days, she said.
The 84-year-old from Oklahoma City turned out for the 10th annual Young at Heart Senior Prom, smiling and reminiscing about her own senior prom in 1939.
“I love the old songs and getting dressed up and playing like it is 1940,” she said. “And I love to dance.”
Like high school proms of today, some guests arrived at The Centre, 4325 NW 50, in limousines, dressed to kill and ready to cut a rug. They were escorted into the building to find a ballroom full of balloons, hors d’oeuvres, a live band and a packed dance floor.
It was a chance for seniors to get out and socialize, said Shirley Berry, spokeswoman for Integris Health, one of the sponsors.
“The more positive opportunities we can have during a lifetime, I do think it extends the life of a person,” Berry said. “I see probably more smiles today than I see all year.”
Another sponsor was Oklahoma County TRIAD, a collaboration of the sheriff’s office, police departments and senior citizens working to prevent crimes against senior citizens.
Garnet Harris, 90, of Oklahoma City said anytime she gets to go dancing is special.
“I don’t figure I’m old, not yet,” she said. “I’m still working on that getting old stuff. I’m gonna use me up or wear me out.”
She said all she wanted to do was dance with one of the policemen. She got that chance and said she wanted to dance with another.
With his wife by his side, Chester Cottrell, 90, of Oklahoma City smiled wide after being honored as prom king. His wife, Madge, 84 — whom Cottrell met at the “Young at Heart” prom in 2000 and married in February 2001 — joked that she was a bit jealous that another woman was honored with her husband. Either way, it was a happy moment, she said.
“It is really special for us both,” she said. “He’s been very, very sick, so it’s good to get him out.”
Wearing the queen’s crown, Dot Schilling, 76, of Oklahoma City reflected on her high school prom. She said she was enjoying this prom more because she was more at ease and less worried about what she looked like.
She said “it was quite a shock” when she won the prom queen title.
Winford Anglin, 80, and wife Evelyn, 76, of Moore renewed their wedding vows among the smiles, cheers and camera flashes during a break in the song and dance. They originally married at a courthouse.
As some danced with Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputies, others had their pictures taken professionally while more just mingled, picking from a plate of food or drinking the traditional punch.
When it was all over, the nearly 300 seniors left smiling.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Daily Oklahoman
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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