Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Many members of the Flores family were in town for both the All-Class Reunion during the July 4 weekend and a family reunion held that Sunday. There were 15 Kimball High School graduates of the Flores family at the All-Class Reunion, and many more who attended a family reunion in the 4-H building in Kimball that Sunday.
What may have been a friendly, tongue-in-cheek competition became a double reunion for the Flores family of Kimball.
Fifteen graduates from the Flores family attended the 2015 All-Class Reunion. Though some were not able to make it, those who did attended a family reunion as well.
"We probably only had one-fourth or one-third of our family here for our family reunion," Felix Flores said.
All eight of the Flores siblings attended both reunions and many of their children also came to town. Prior to the family reunion, the All-Class Reunion offered them so much fun, they agreed.
"Greg Robinson did an amazing job emceeing the thing," Rich Flores said. "His family has been so instrumental putting things together over the years."
Felix and Carmen added that the band and choir did a stellar job providing entertainment with little practice and, for many, years since they last played.
"One hour of practice, one hour," Carmen said.
Carmen was in the class of 1968, the first graduating class to attend all four years in the new high school.
She said that at the time the population was about the same as it is today, though following her graduation the town saw a boom.
Between the oilfield and Boeing, Kimball's population rose to nearly 6,000 at one point, and both Richard and Felix graduated in classes of around 100.
"Kimball is the same, but just not as vibrant as it once was," Felix said.
The All-Class Reunion brought friends together from across the nation and each of the siblings expressed that as they age the chance to get together becomes even more important.
"It's like you've never been gone," Carmen said. "Kimball is one of these wonderful little towns, that anybody can come here and it is a comfort town. Other little towns don't have the same feel."
"As you get older it is more important, because you have fewer and fewer years left, you have to take advantage of what you've got." Richard said.
Kimball - the community, as well as the school - offered each of the Flores siblings a great foundation on which to build, they agreed.
Because the midwest lacks a lot professional sports teams in the area, Kimball and small midwest towns like it have always supported the high school sports, Felix added.
"I think in '66 we were number one in everything," Carmen said. "We were number one in band and choir, basketball and football and track. We were number one in the whole region."
Each of the three siblings had favorite teachers and coaches for different reasons, but they all agreed that the teachers and coaches in Kimball were fully invested in the students.
"Some of the teachers just became family to you," Felix said. "They didn't demand respect, they earned it from us."
"There were so many good people," Richard added. "How would you pick one? The teachers all took stock in your life and it made a big difference for us."
Volunteerism is high in Kimball the siblings agreed and part of the education they received here was about working hard on the things that mattered.
"The thing about small towns is that if you want to make a difference you have got to get in there," Richard said.
Each of the siblings said they never have more fun than when they are all together, so they each look forward to the next time a family reunion and an All-Class reunion bring them back to the hometown they love.