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After a brief business meeting and a delicious spaghetti supper, the Friday evening program began as the Fabulous Moolah talked about upcoming events for the Ladies International Wrestling Association. Mae Young gave an update on the planned retirement center for retired wrestlers that they are working so hard to achieve. The two then presented L.I.W.A. awards to Bobby Fields and Cowboy Bob Kelley.
Ella Waldek gave an update on the condition of Therese Theis, who was unable to attend the reunion. Doctors found a lump or tumor on her lung and was going to have some tests done to determine if it was malignant. Our prayers go out to Therese and we wish her the best.
Billy Wicks told a story about his knee replacement and the helpful advice he received from Tiger Conway. Tiger suggested that Billy go to Africa because that "was where the knee grows." Billy then unveiled his new t-shirt on which he had printed pictures of Dick Steinborn and Len Rossi. The shirt proclaimed – "Dick Steinborn, my hero ... next to Len Rossi." That was a good rib on Steinborn.
Terry Lathan was the emcee for the opening program on Friday afternoon. He opened with some jokes that the senior citizens in the crowd were able to relate to, then followed up with a poem called "The Golden Years." After getting permission from an apprehensive Florence Fields, he told the story of the Jack ... well, let’s just say it was about a family that will remain nameless.
Bob Kelly was up next and he invited all couples to step forward for a couples dance to the music of "The Rest of Mine."
Richard Steinborn, the young son of Dick Steinborn, shared his talents as he played the guitar and sang "Dreamwalkin’." Richard, is quite talented, especially considering that he is self-taught and has never taken a guitar or vocal lesson in his life.
Dick Steinborn and Norman Frederick Charles presented another "Dick Steinborn Original" that was quite an audience pleaser. The duo played a married couple in their golden years as Dick lip synched the song "Poems, Prayers and Promises." His bride had a surprise for him as the song drew to a close. It seems that Don Fargo had been hard at work again.
Ida Mae Martinez opened her segment by telling everyone that she was going to do something that she hadn’t done in fifty years. She quickly clarified her statement by stating that it had nothing to do with sex. She was actually talking about yodeling, which was featured in three songs. The title of her first song was "I’ll Teach You To Yodel." She made it sound so easy that we should have been able to learn, but most of us decided to leave the yodeling to the expert (Ida Mae). She also sang "My Little Lady Who" and one other song.
Terry Lathan filled in between acts again as he shared his top ten list titled "Ten Things Not To Say About A Man’s Penis." Needless to say, it was classic Terry Lathan material that had everyone chuckling.
Penny Banner sang three of Elvis’ top hits, the first being "Trouble," followed by "Treat Me Nice." She closed with a sensual rendition of "One Night of Sin."
Bobby Simmons made his debut at the Gulf Coast Wrestler’s Reunion with a stirring vocal rendition of "River." Bobby has a beautiful voice and, no doubt, will be asked to sing again next year.
Terry Lathan introduced the next act as the Singing Cowboy and, for the fifth year in a row, Cowboy Bob Kelley stumbled onto the stage in a (mock) drunken state. Lee Fields, who remembers the problems he had onstage with Kelly in past years, confronted him and insisted that Kelly answer three questions before he would allow him to sing. Bob correctly (we think) gave his unique answers to "How many seconds in a year?" (12), "How many days of the week start with the letter ‘T’?" (4) and "How many Ds in Dixie?" (7s) You’ll have to figure out how he came up with those answers ... but they were correct (in a sense). Bob also had a lot of trouble with his hat, coat and guitar. Bob has to be commended for his convincing portrayal of a drunk. I’m not sure if it’s practice ... or experience. Bob closed with a lip synch to the song, "The Year Clayton Delaney Died."
Karl Roach performed for the third year in a row with a rendition of the classic "September Morn." Karl then began to introduce the next segment of our program, only to be interrupted by Terry Lathan, who claimed he was the host of the show ... Art Fern. Terry ... er, I mean, Art ... said, "Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the first and only Gulf Coast Wrestler’s Beauty Pageant. Tonight, some of the most grotesque women you’ll ever see will enter this stage. The judges will vote on who is the most magnificent specimen."
The contestants were Miss Alice Springs (Norman Frederick Charles), Miss Gloria Gofart (Charlie Smith), Miss Josephine Jockitch (Joe Powell), and Miss Bonita Schwarez (Stu Schwartz). There were laughs all around as Art shared interesting facts about each of the participants. As Art Fern waited for the judges to turn in their votes, several of the "girls" entertained the group, each trying to oudo the other. The winner was Miss Alice Springs. Before we move on, and it might just be my imagination running wild, but doesn’t it seem like Norman Frederick Charles wears women’s clothes more and more with each passing reunion?
Bob Blackburn, who was attending the reunion for the first time, gave his opinion of "The State of the Wrestling Business," followed by Ida Mae Martinez, who returned to entertain everyone with another yodeling favorite titled "I Want To Be A Cowboy Sweetheart."
Dick Steinborn unveiled another great (and hilarious) vignette set to the song "My Sweet Lady." Steinborn and Norman Frederick Charles (yes, you guessed it ... wearing women’s clothes, see below) portrayed an elderly couple who had been married for many years. Steinborn proclaimed his unending devotion and love for his bride, until a young girl (played by Bonita Hall) arrived on the scene and caught Steinborn’s eye. Unfortunately, the great Don (Juan) Fargo made an appearance and swept the young girl away. Dick’s skits have really become the highlight of the reunions as puts a lot of creative thought and energy into them.
Bob Kelly made some closing statements and invited everyone back for the Saturday morning program. | 
