Strongs celebrate 50th anniversary

Gainesville residents Becki and Larry “Dude” Strong celebrated their 50th anniversary with their family while in Dauphin Island, Alabama, recently. On the last night of their trip, while having dinner with their children and grandchildren at The Islander, a restaurant the family enjoys visiting Dauphin Island, Dude and Becki’s family arranged for a musician at the restaurant to play a special tune for the couple, which they danced to in the middle of the dining room. Restaurant patrons showed their support for the Strongs with a hearty round of applause upon the dance’s conclusion. 

The couple began their relationship as high school sweethearts while attending Gainesville School. Becki Ewbank is the daughter of the late Carlton and Doris Ewbank, and Dude Strong is the son of the late Mearl and Mamie Strong. The couple were married on July 21, 1973, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas. 

They lived for a while in Eminence and then Republic, before moving back home to Gainesville in 1976. Becki, who officially retired last year from the Ozark County Circuit Clerk and Recorders office last year after a 43-year career says she still works at the office some. Dude, who has owned his own trucking company for more than 50 years, is also working some. The couple have two children: Karen Hall and Chris Strong and five grandchildren: Corgan and Carlie Strong and Callie, Lanie and Leslie Hall.