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Est. March 31, 2000                26,908 Previous Hits                            August 5, 2002
Editor:Tommy Towery                                                        http://www.leealumni.com
Class of 1964                           Page Hits This Issue     e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu

Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston  Staff Photographers:  Fred & Lynn Sanders
Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66
Est. March 31, 2000                26,908 Previous Hits                            August 5, 2002
Editor:Tommy Towery                                                        http://www.leealumni.com
Class of 1964                           Page Hits This Issue     e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu

Staff Writers : Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly , Joy Rubins Morris ,Terry "Moses" Preston  Staff Photographers:  Fred & Lynn Sanders
Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66
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Hits this issue!
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Still Crazy After All These Years
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Can you name this week's Mystery Classmate?
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The Great
Disney Conspiracy
of 1955
by Tommy Towery
Class of '64

brain·wash   Pronunciation Key  (brnwsh, -wôsh)
tr.v. brain·washed, brain·wash·ing, brain·wash·es
v 1: persuade completely, often through coercion; "The propaganda brainwashed many people" 2: submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly

Now this may seem un-American, but I have to print it. I told you last week that I have thought long and hard and now know that I have  discovered a conspiracy which explains the tight bond that exists between the members of the LHS Classes of '64, '65, and '66.  After all my reseach, I now feel confident that we were the targets of and are subsequently the products of a giant corporate conspiracy to brainwash the children of America.  The plot was dreamed up by Walt Disney and accomplished by using an afternoon TV show for kids that aired daily, beginning in 1955, and lasted for most of our formative years.  That show was "The Mickey Mouse Club".  I remember many days of racing home after school to plop myself in front of the black and white television set to see (and sing along) with Mickey and the Mouseketeers.

I found the following information on www.yesterdayland.com about this show:

Next to Howdy Doody (which it helped unseat), The Mickey Mouse Club was the defining children's television program of the 1950's. The show, which aired daily, featured a true variety of entertainment: singing, dancing, guest stars, classic Disney cartoons, serials, and a group of talented kids who became overnight sensations, the Mouseketeers. Led by adult leader Jimmy Dodd, and flanked by hefty Disney animator Roy Williams, the Mouseketeers sang and danced their way into the hearts of the first TV generation.

The standout of the group was Annette Funicello. Young America watched as the lovely and talented teenaged beauty developed before their very eyes. Annette soon starred in her own serial on the show, and went on to a successful career in film and music.

Another popular element of the show was the serialized adventures of The Hardy Boys and Spin and Marty. Veteran Disney child actor Tim Considine starred in both, making him what many refer to as the "Honorary Mouseketeer." Other serial performers included Tommy Kirk, David Stollery, and Roy Barcroft.

One of the most influential and successful shows of its time, The Mickey Mouse Club went off the air in 1959.

Notice they use the term "influential"? That it was. With the last show being aired in 1959 and me starting at Lee High School in 1960, my brain had already absorbed four years of daily bombardment of character building and mind-altering songs as I entered those hallowed halls and joined the ones already there.

And while we watched Annette blossom into puberty, we were secretly having our character altered through ways we could never imagine.  The main thrust of the brainwash came at the end of the show so that even those who joined late would be victimized. How many of you remember the final closing song, which came to be known as "The Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater"?  It went like this:

Through the years,
We'll all be friends,
Wherever we may be,
M-I-C, K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E

Now it's time to say goodbye,
To all our company,
M-I-C, See you real soon!
K-E-Y, Why? Because we like you!
M-O-U-S...E...

And each of us knows exactly how Jimmy said "Why, Because we like you," don't we? He said it with a sincerity that we believed.

So, here's my theory (and to quote Mel Gibson) "This is a conspiracy theory, Pal!" - we were brainwashed to believe that through the years we'd all be friends, wherever we may be.  And no matter how hard we have tried to forget those words, that is what we have done. Name me one other generation besides ours that had a message of such magnitude forced into their expanding minds each day for four seasons of their growing years.  Other generations watched wooden puppets, green frogs, big yellow birds, and purple dinos. We watched a show about a mouse. We watched it, we sang it, and as we did, we came to believe it.

And so it has come to pass and it still exists.  Now, over 40 years later, we still believe - "Through the years, we'll all be friends, wherever we may be. M-I-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E." Why? Because we like you!
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From Our Mailbox
Hi Tommy,

See I can use the computer.  I just read the past issue about my graduation. It was a very nice story. Thank you for taking the time to recognize my "accomplishment'. It was tough getting back into the school mode, but it was worth it to accomplish a goal I had wanted to accomplish for a long time.  It was good to see you this weekend and hope to see you again soon. Take care,

Dian(n)e (Hughey) McClure
Class of '64
Location: Huntsville
______________________________________

Subject:          Reunions
  Date:            Sun, 28 Jul 2002 17:10:30 -0500
  From:         "Robert Alverson" <BobAlverson@peoplepc.com>

Mary and I really enjoyed the get together at Mullins.  It is the first
time we have made one of the off reunion events.  We will have to look into some others.  We would be interested in seeing more pictures of the events of the day.

Saturday night mention was made of the 40th reunion in 2005.  Although
this will be the 40th anniversary for my class why not consider changing the year to 2004 and mark the 40th anniversary of Lee becoming a High School? All three classes would still be involved because we were part of that history.

Keep up the good work with the website.


Bob Alverson
Class of '65
Location: Huntsville
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Subject:         Reunion
  Date:         Mon, 29 Jul 2002 16:16:00 -0500
  From:         "Taylor, Lamar ACQ" <lamar.taylor@redstone.army.mil>

How about inviting Butler and Huntsville to the next reunion.Classes of
64-65-66.

Lamar Taylor
______________________________________

Subject:         A Million Tomorrows
  Date:         Tue, 30 Jul 2002 15:02:36 -0500
  From:         "Cheryl Massey" <cherylmassey@attbi.com>

Tommy,

I just finished reading your book.  It took me about a week.  My husband told me the other night that he never knew me to take so long finishing a book.  I replied that before I never had to keep going back and forth through my 64 yearbook and the scanned copy of your yearbook to try to solve the mysteries of who some of the people were.  I knew that you had changed some names and left others with their true identities.  I wasn't always sure which were real and which were not.

I have to tell you that your stories brought things to mind that I hadn't remembered in a long time.  I didn't think that I ever felt "homesick" for Huntsville, but I do now.  You have given me back some very precious memories and feelings that had not come to the surface before.  I thank you for that.

You seem to be fond of quoting songs, so as Bob Hope would sing, "Thanks for the memories".

Cherri Polly Massey
Class of '65
____________________________________________

Subject:         Hello
  Date:         Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:13:52 EDT
  From:         TiaBJ@aol.com

Hi Tommy,

I am hoping this will go through successfully.  Have not been able to
email you in prior attempts.  Enjoyed the website, and was pleased to see the picture of the General on horseback.  I remember helping to paint him on the cafeteria wall lo these many years ago.  Also, I ordered a video of the 2000 reunion (paid for it too, I think) and never got it - but moving does confuse things.

I would have loved to be at the mini-reunion but my parents no longer
live in Huntsville so my trips there are going to be pretty scarce,
unfortunately.

Since I truly feel my husband Scott and I live in Paradise, it would be fun to see any of our crowd that ever heads down this way.  Bonita
Springs is about midway between Ft. Myers and Naples in SW Florida.  The beach and glorious sunsets are only 10 minutes away.

I will indeed keep checking the website.  I had wondered where Skip Cook got off to, so it was fun to hear he and Bobby Cochran were at the last reunion.  Would love to hear from classmates.

Thanks for all your work and dedication!

Barbara Seely Cooper
Class of '64
From: Bonita Springs, FL (currently)
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Subject:         Grandchildren
  Date:         Thu, 1 Aug 2002 23:47:30 EDT
  From:        DALEDEE8@aol.com

I have been enjoying this site very much. It brings back a lot of good memories. Delores and I have  9 grandchildren . Ryan our youngest was born on July 19th. I didn't know one could have so much fun enjoying grandchildren like we do. They range in age from 2 weeks to 9 years. I hope to attend some of the upcoming reunions . I am still in the retail world and work most weekends. I  hope to see you at the next reunion. Keep up the great work.

Dale Thompson
Class of 64
Huntsville Al.
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Subject:         Mini- Reunion
  Date:         Sun, 21 Jul 2002 22:24:08 -0500
  From:         "Jim Bannister" <jbann@hotmail.com>

I only got to spend a short time with ya'll but I really enjoyed the mini-reunion.....It was well worth the trip.....It is amazing that all these people that have gone so many different paths can get together, talk, joke, and carryon just like we did in high school....There is definitely some kind of bond there.....Maybe your "M-I-C Mind Control" theory is valid.....Thank you for the work that you do on the website and thanks to everyone who put the mini-reunion together....

Jim Bannister
Class of '66

(Editor's Note: I bounced the MICKEY idea off of Jim at the reunion and that was when I decided to share it with the rest of you. Mickey Mouse Roll Call...sign in now!)
___________________________________________________
The Generals Know The Blues
(At Least In Songs They Do)

We never knew that there were so many "Blue" songs, nor that it would be so hard to try to validate whether or not they were real or fictional or even if they were in the 1950's and 1960's.  After reading all the entries and trying to remove duplicates, we finally threw our hands and the entries up in the air and started singing the blues ourselves.  It was so bad that the very word B-L-U-E did not look like the correct spelling of the word "blue". When the papers floated back to the ground, here is the one that came up on top.

Gary Kinkle, Class of '64, came up with the most complete list of songs, correct or incorrect.  Here is his entry for this week:

Wedding Bell Blues - In the early 70's we saw the 5th Dimension at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville. They sure knew how to put on a
class act. They had some of the best songs then and I still like hearing them today.

Blue Hawaii -The best movie and album Elvis ever made. We had the album until we put it in the back window of the car, thinking it was going to be safe,
(not thinking about what the sun was going to do to it) had a lot of pretty flower shaped albums when we got to Colorado.

Blueberry HillI -  I think Richie Cunningham from "Happy Days" made this song as popular as Fats Domino.

Bobby Vinton, Roy Orbison, Elvis and Ray Charles never had a bad song.

Last year I decided to put my records on CD's so I could listen to them at work and in the car.

Songs:

1. Blue Monday -.Fats Domino
2. The Little Blue Man - Betty Johnson
3. Blue, Blue Day - Don Gibson
4. Summer Time Blues- Eddie Cochran
5. Blue Hawaii - Elvis
6. Lavender-Blue - Billy Vaughn
7. Mr. Blue - Fleetwoods
8. Pretty Blue Eyes - .Steve Lawrence
9. Blue Star. - Felicia Sanders
10. Weary Blues - Lawrence Welk
11. True Blue - Bing Crosby
12. Singing The Blues.- Marty Robbins
13. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold - Elvis
14. Learning the Blues.-.Frank Sinarta
15. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
16. My Blue Heaven - Fats Domino
17. Blue Suede Shoes.- Carl Perkins
18. Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
19. Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton
20. Wedding Bell Blues - Fifth Dimension
21. Blue Bayou  Linda Ronstadt
22. Blue Spanish Eyes.- Al Martino
23. Blue Moon - Marcels
24. In Blues.- Ikettes
25. Venus in Blue Jeans - Jimmy Clanton
26. Blue on Blue - Bobby Vinton
27. Baby Blue.-.Echoes
28. Blues In The Night.- Rosemary Clooney
29. Blue Angel - Roy Orbison
30. Blue Tango - Bill Black
31. Is A Blue Bird Blue? - Conway Twitty
32. Blue Winter - Connie Fracnes
33. Navy Blue - Diane Renay
34. Red Roses For A Blue Lady - Vic Dana
35. I Chose To Sing The Blues - Ray Charles
36. Blue Autumn - Bobby Goldsboro
37. Indescribably Blue - Elvis
38. Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Patsy Cline
39. Lovesick Blue - Patsy Cline

Jennifer White Bannecke's, Class of '66, list of 18 songs, was not quite as long as Gary's, not quite as complete, but certainly included some grasps at straws as seen below:

Hey Tommy,

I'm cocked and loaded this morning (in my husband's Mr. Bannecke's words) so here goes on the Blue titles.

Blue In the Night - Rosemary Clooney
Little Blue Riding Hood - Stan Freberg
Learning the Blues - Frank Sinatra

And for Extra Credit?????????

Deep Purple - a shade of BLUE
Get Off My Cloud - clouds are BLUE
(Jennifer...perhaps in Georgia, clouds are blue, but in Memphis and other parts of the country where I've been, the sky is BLUE but clouds are WHITE. <<REJECT>>)

The Ballad Of The Green Berets - green is almost BLUE  (Of course Sgt. Barry Sadler, singer of this song must have had the blues. In 1989 in Guatemala, on his way home in a cab from a day of drinking and carousing he was shot. A victim of robbery, assassination, or general bad luck is uncertain. He died 14 months later.)

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - grapes are kinda BLUE

Maybe some people would call this cheating ??????? Nah !!!!!!!!!

Barb Knott, a new member of our group, added a few more legit songs, which were not in Gary's list but were included in her own list of 32 songs.

Blue Skies
GI Blues
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Crystal Blue Persuassion
Red Roses for a Blue Lady
Blue Christmas
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Mule Skinner Blues
Lonely Blue Boy
Louisiana Blues
The Birth of the Blues

And Bob Dylan's
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Memphis Blues Again
Living the Blues
Tombstone Blues
Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues
Outlaw Blues
It's All Over Now, Baby Blues

And finally the "King of the Music Trivia" , Jim Bannister, Class of '66, added his blue cents worth with a list of 25 (his own goal and limit). His list included:

Have You Ever Had the Blues  - Lloyd Price
Bell Bottom Blues  - Derek & The Dominos (Eric Clapton)
Blue Danube Waltz  - Strauss ..2001 A Space Odyssey
Lovesick Blues - Hank Williams Sr.
Red Roses For A Blue Lady  - Wayne Newton
I'm Feeling Blue - CCR
Never Felt More Like Singing The Blues -  Guy Mitchell
I'm Blue - Shangri  La's
Nel Blu DiPinto Di Blu - Bobby Rydell  (Volare) .. I know this one is a stretch
_____________________________________
It's going to be a busy month of August for the editor, but I'll try hard to still keep The Traveller on schedule.  I'll be installing 113 computers in labs and 54 computers in faculty offices between now and the beginning of the school year the last week of August.  I have not had time to do the photo CD of the reunion yet, but that is on my schedule of things that needs to be done.

I'll still try to put a few photos of the 2K2 Reunion for the next couple of weeks, and I have some Huntsville city photos and some photos of Lee High School that I want to share with you in future issues.

T. Tommy
__________________________________________