The Annual TARP Reunion was held on July 2 at McAdams Recreation Center. TARP (Teen Age Recreational Program) began at McAdams Park in 1955 to provide a safe place for teens to socialize.
This was the third year for the TARP Reunion, held each year near or around the July 4th holiday. The event has grown into a homecoming, with former TARP regulars making the trip back to Wichita for this gathering of friends.
“It really is a fun event,” said Parlene Warren one of the event organizers.
Reunion attendees enjoyed music from “back in the day” and recalled the “good ole days” when music was soulful and singers could sing.
The reunion was a time for old friends to get together and reminisce about the weekly dance.
Hardie Pruitt (L) traveled from St. Louis to attend. His brother Pat Pruitt, one of the organizers of the reunion.
(L-R) Maurice Smith, Brent Berry, Gary Crooms, and Clarence Wesley reminisce about the ‘good ole days’. Berry and Crooms came in from Olathe.
Local residents, Curtis and Johnnie Mae (Johnson) Carthen came out to enjoy music from the 60’s & 70’s.
Pat Pegues-Williams entertained the group with a pantomime to “Cool Jerk.”
TARP was the dance to attend for Curtis Neal and Steven Smallwood.
Jerry Murdock (L) traveled the short distance from Hutchinson to see old friends Parlene Warren (center) and Larry Martin (R) who drove in from the Dallas area.
Ralph and Clydean Roberson came out for a evening of fun.
Siblings Kerry Butler and Kaye Butler-Diggs and Judy Rowe-McDaniel recall the time when the Motown sound has the hippest songs.
Still “in with the in crowd,” Maggie Thompson, Leslie Slaughter-Gaines, from Arizona, and Janice Stevens recall the fun they has as teens.
Ricky Davis and Don Woodard, who lives in Ohio, were sure to be talking about how they were “Girl Watchers.”
Sharon Watkins and Telena Sexton, of Atlanta, are sure to remember those groups and singers who had SOUL.
Back in the day siblings (L-R) Michael Bruce, Pamela Bruce-Skinner of Memphis and Nancy Bruce-Murdock were most likely wanted to be home as soon as TARP was over.
Ruby Hall-Berry & Yolanda Smith-Crooms, both from Olathe, marvelled at how they swooned over the likes of Smokey Robinson.
