HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Tony and Cheryl Dykes met while they were students at Northside High School.
The couple says they met in Spanish class when she was in the 10th grade, and he was in the 11th. They got married four years after graduating, and now they're back for a 50-year class reunion.
"The first time she walked in class I couldn't keep my eyes off of her, and I was really scared of girls honestly," Tony said. "She was nice enough to speak to me. And we started the interaction and here's where we are now."
From there, their bond just grew.
"He would meet me at the door when I would come to class and he'd have a piece of gum to give me," Cheryl said.
Tony and Cheryl have been together for 52 years and married for 46 years.
"I got my engagement ring the night I graduated from Northside," Cheryl said.
The two are back to walk the halls again together for Cheryl’s 50-year class reunion. And they have a special tour guide prepared to show them around.
"Each year we get calls about class reunions and there's obviously a four at the end of this year. So, we get calls from the class of ’64, ’74, ‘84 etc. about their class reunions,” Dustin Dykes said. “It just so happens that my mom is the class of '74. So here I am to meet with them this weekend."
Dustin Dykes is Northside High School's principal and Tony and Cheryl's son. They raised him in Warner Robins and he graduated from Northside too.
"At Northside High School, we talk about tradition, family, excellence as our guiding principles,” Dustin said. “I think this embodies all of those."
Tony and Cheryl said they aren't surprised to see their son as principal now because Northside is in their blood. The couple plan to enjoy this weekend full of class reunion activities, including a group tour around the school led by their son.