First Communion class of 1942 is reunited 65 years later in NLR

Joe Miller (back) organized the Communion Reunion June 3 at St. Patrick Church for classmates Mildred Zaloudek (from left), Mary Ann Nahlen, Pat Beaubien and John Nabors.
Joe Miller (back) organized the Communion Reunion June 3 at St. Patrick Church for classmates Mildred Zaloudek (from left), Mary Ann Nahlen, Pat Beaubien and John Nabors.

Joe Miller left Arkansas but never forgot class or St. Patrick School

Malea Hargett , Editor
June 9, 2007
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Joe Miller, a showman, has spent his life being “goofy” and making people smile during his career as a circus clown and carnival ride owner.
So when he proposed a serious idea, most people just laughed. Miller, who lives outside of Lafayette, La., wanted to relive one of the happiest days of his life and reunite with his classmates from his First Communion at St. Patrick Church in North Little Rock.
He dubbed it a Communion Reunion, believed to be one of the first of its kind in the Catholic Church.
“I was just thinking lately, ’Wouldn’t be something to have a Communion Reunion.’ Ain’t nobody in the world ever heard of that,” he said in his south Louisiana drawl. “I just thought it would be great 65 years later. I am the most blessed man there is in the world.”

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On April 14, 1942, pastor Father Joseph Burns distributed Communion for the first time to 14 first and second graders from St. Patrick School. All of the boys dressed in white suits and shoes with dark ties. The girls wore traditional white dresses, socks and shoes and long veils. For the memorable photo in front of the altar, everyone looked angelic with perfectly coiffed hair.
For the past two months, Miller has been part detective and part party planner to organize the Mass and reception for his former classmates. If that wasn’t enough, the 74-year-old lives seven hours away and had to travel to central Arkansas a couple of times to organize the event. He also had to find people he hasn’t seen in 60 years.
“In 61 years I have not laid eyes on these people or talked to them or nothing,” he said.
Miller dropped out of St. Patrick School in 1946 at the age of 13 to join the circus — literally. With the academic challenges of school, Miller thought he would be happier on the road working in a circus, eventually becoming a clown.
Miller married Earlene Miller 50 years ago and had four children. The family settled in south Louisiana and operated an amusement company, hosting “Catholic fairs” for churches mainly in Louisiana. Miller retired in 1995 but stays involved with his sons in the business.
Even though he left North Little Rock in the 1940s and didn’t live in Arkansas again, he never forgot his early schooling and religious upbringing. His First Communion photo is framed on his bedroom wall of his trailer in Louisiana.
Photography is one of his main hobbies. Preserving his memories as well as recording his life today has always been important to Miller.

Courtesy of Joe Miller

Malea Hargett

Malea Hargett has guided the diocesan newspaper as editor since 1994. She finds strength in her faith through attending Walking with Purpose Bible studies at Christ the King Church in Little Rock.

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