About 50 former students, friends and family gathered at Plainview Community Center on November 25 to reminisce about their education and fellowship at Plainview Elementary School, which operated from 1932 to 1970.
Brothers Ted and Sherrell Greene organized the event. The brothers welcomed everyone just as their former teachers had opened the school day at Plainview. Mike Damewood led the pledge to the American flag. Richie Turner took the lead as all recited the Lord's Prayer and added his memories to the opening of the school day. Sherrell called on Anita Dyer Monroe to help everyone sing his favorite song from his school memories, My Grandfather’s Clock, because the school day always opened with a song. Roll call was next with everyone sharing their name and when they attended.
Among the earliest students were Melba Greene, mother of Ted and Sherrell, Betty Satterfield, Fern Wagner, Ross Booker and James Meltabarger.
Barbara Johnson (Bobbie), who was the librarian for many years, received a lovely bouquet from LaShay’s Florist in Maynardville for being the oldest in attendance at age 93. Fern Wagner also received a bouquet from LaShay’s Florist for being the oldest student at nearly 92 years old.
Among the later students were Jimmy Sallings who completed 3rd grade and Steve Hayes who finished 2nd grade by 1970 when Plainview closed and students were transferred to the “new” Luttrell Elementary School. Many of Steve's siblings, Charlie, Jimmy, Pam, Mary and Eugene Lawson, also attended Plainview.

Dr. Ronnie Mincey, Federal Programs Supervisor and the keeper of the school registers, shared the history of Plainview School. Mincey noted that Cox Elementary and Central Elementary were earlier schools in Plainview. These schools closed as Plainview opened. Plainview had 19 teachers.
Many of the students mentioned Mrs. Francis Waller, who was well remembered not only for her history lessons but also for her unique discipline techniques, especially when least expected.
Sherrell attributed Mary Skeen with cementing his thirst for knowledge and lighting the spark that drove his love of math, which enabled him to become a nuclear engineer and achieve his doctorate in that field.
Mincey noted that C. E. Donahue, who began teaching at Plainview in 1948, wrote in his teacher register on the remarkable achievement gained by the students from a more rigorous and intense course of study during that year.
Plainview students had some of the best achievement scores in the school system. Other teachers remembered were Jessie Wolfe, whose new car was pranked by some mischievous eighth graders and Judy Smith, and Mabel Nicely were also remembered.
Plainview began as a three-room school with one small room devoted to Primer which was the 1930’s version of kindergarten, one room for first through fourth, and the largest room for fifth through eighth. Through the years, the small Primer room became bathrooms, a library, storage and part of the kitchen.
Many of the attendees mentioned that Plainview had the best food of any school. When the school opened, there was a small kitchen area but no food was served. Children brought their lunch which was often a biscuit with or without meat. Sometime after the war, a cook, Gladys Jessee, was hired, and changed the lunch memories forever.
In attendance was Pauline Jessee, Gladys’ daughter. She told how her mother always fixed enough food so children could get extra helpings. Richey Turner remembered Mrs. Jessee’s goulash and offered to refigure the recipe from the 10 gallon quantity to a family meal.
Sherrell smacked his lips as he told about Gladys's lemon mousse dessert. Others remembered ice cream covered in chocolate as a refreshing treat. Everyone had fond memories of the food. Through the years, lunch prices varied from10 to 25 cents for the meal and 2 to 5 cents for milk.
One of the most impactful events was when President Kennedy was assassinated, partly because the teacher rang the cowbell early and school closed. Other students mentioned Dolly Parton, who at the tender age of ten years old, gave one of her earliest performances to entertain Plainview students and distributed a signed photograph to remember the event. Another student recalled and the teacher's register verified that Chet Atkins attended third grade at Plainview School.
Another reunion will likely occur in a couple of years. Anyone who missed this reunion can contact Ted Greene at 865-405-3247 to be included on the contact list. Photos can be found on the Historic Union County facebook page.
The brothers awarded a multitude of door prizes donated by area businesses including Advanced Auto Parts, Little Caesar’s Pizza, AutoZone, Union Farmers Co-op, 33 Hardware, Flowers by Bob, Painting with Expression, Rhondo’s Pizza, Nease’s Market, The Wylder Wood Garden, Food City, Little Dipper Ice Cream and Deli, Ted Greene, Johnson's Deer Processing and Taxidermy, Beeler's Pit Stop Market and Med Slim.