Summerset Orchards was the venue for a senior prom held last Saturday that could have been staged to celebrate the fact that there are 3,500 seniors in the four Summerset subdivisions.

The Summerset seniors aren't exactly high schoolers anymore, but they were once, and some of them still like to dress up and have a ball. The word ball, used in conjunction with the prom, was entirely appropriate, since the event organizer was Carol Ball, a member of the Summerset Orchards board, whose last name provided an interesting twist on the occasion.

Billed as An Evening to Remember, it was indeed an unforgettable event that took the participants back to the days of their high school proms. In fact, one of the couples was declared Prom King and Queen due to the fact that this is their third prom together. The first two occured in the '60s, back at their respective St. Louis high schools. John and Joan Dale were totally surprised when they received a beautiful bouquet of white roses from Carol Ball. "What an honor," Joan said. "It was another wonderful memory we can add to our time here in Summerset."

Photos by Ray Carter

John and Joan Dale were declared Senior Prom King and Queen. The two attended their first proms in high school back in the '60s.

As for being taken down memory lane, the Summerset Big Band supplied music that was popular during the big-band era - a memorable time for most prom participants - when Les Brown, the Dorsey brothers, Glenn Miller and other fabulous bands were all the rage. "Harlem Nocturne," "String of Pearls," "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and many, many other classic tunes brought hoofers to the dance floor, where swing and the fox trot triumphed.

The event incorporated most of the elements found in today's high school proms - except for the limos. Greg Harris furnished a highly professional photography setup. A strolling server offered canapes, and lovely decorations adorned the Orchard's ballroom, where diaphanous fabric was draped from light fixtures. Table centerpieces consisted of a submerged white rose in a vase with a candle floating on top. Gracia Butterfield provided corsages and boutonnieres.

Carol Ball's brother, Bob Johnson, and his wife, Michelle, prepared a fine tri-tip dinner with all the trimmings. Ball enlisted the aid of her husband, Willis, family members and friends to round out the necessary volunteers who made the event so successful.

Carol asked Sally Thompson how she enjoyed the prom. "I told her it was fabulous. Just perfect," Thompson said. All who came to the prom echoed Thompson's praise as Ball and her helpers were showered with compliments, prompting Carol to say, "I guess we'll do it again next year."