Area Seniors Gather To Celebrate Holidays with CBC & WRAL

Triangle seniors enjoyed the 46th Annual Golden Years Holiday Celebration on Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at the Raleigh Convention & Conference Center Complex. The event, presented by Capitol Broadcasting Company and WRAL-TV in cooperation with the City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation Department, began at noon.

Seniors from all over the Triangle got festive for the occassion.

The dance floor lit up when Joyce Hawley & the Rhythm Section took the stage.

WRAL-TV's Greg Fishel & Pam Saulsby emceed the event.

The Golden Years Celebration opened with a luncheon of holiday fare, continued with musical entertainment and ended with some festive dancing. The Joyner Elementary Choir, Purpose & Bill Stonehouse treated the gathering with music. Then seniors took to the dance floor to the tunes of Joyce Hawley and the Rhythm Section.

WRAL retiree George Hall gave welcome.

The Joyner Elementary Choir wowed the crowd with their own rendition of Pachabel's Cannon.

WRAL-TV Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel and Anchor Pam Saulsby emceed the celebration. The first Program Manager for WRAL-TV George Hall came back from retirement to offer a tribute to "Uncle Paul" Montgomery, a WRAL legend, children's television show host and Golden Years entertainer, who died last Christmas Eve.

Camilla Montgomery (left) & Kathy Gelb, widow & daughter of "Uncle Paul," attended in his memory.

The crowd rose for a stirring tribute to the nation, with the singing of the National Anthem.

The Joyner Elementary Choir added some pep to the gathering.

CBC & WRAL-TV sponsor the Golden Years Holiday Celebration each year to give Triangle seniors a chance to lunch together. Long-time CBC Corporate Secretary Scottie Stephenson, who died in 2002, first coordinated the event for 50 people. In her 40 years as planner, she saw the crowd grow to more than 1,500.

WRAL's Pam Saulby cuts a rug with one of the Golden Years guests.

Joyce Hawley & her band joined Purpose in singing "God Bless America."

WRAL retiree Waltye Rasulala offered the invocation in song.

About 1,500 seniors filled the Raleigh Convention Center for the luncheon.