Est. March 31, 2000 35,828 Previous Hits March 3, 2003 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, Cherri Polly Massey, Paula Spencer Kephart, Rainer Klauss, Bobby Cochran Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
Our Pre-Lee Years - Random Elementary School Memories by Rainer Klauss Class of '64 By the time I entered the first grade at Fifth Avenue School, I was almost seven and pretty much assimilated to Southern culture, or about as well as you can be at that age, I guess. Things went fine the first day of school until the teacher herded us towards the lunchroom. The closer we got, the queasier I became. Finally, right outside the door, I realized I couldn't go any further without throwing up. What was wafting toward me and making me so sick were the manifold strange odors of the school cafeteria on a hot summer day. Spilled milk and who-knows-what-else combined in a most unwelcome smell that seemed to blow out of the room like an infernal wind. I was still used to the familiar aromas of German home cooking, and this strange brew was bad, bad, bad. I probably wasn't alone in my discomfort. Perhaps part of what I was smelling were the tossed cookies that other nervous kids couldn't hold that first traumatic day. Ten or eleven years after that first grade at Fifth Avenue, Linda Sewell and I were talking about our early school experiences one evening, and we discovered that we had been in the same first grade classroom. No common lunchroom memories, though. Several months after I started at Fifth Avenue, my family moved to a new house in Darwin Downs, off of Maysville Road, and I had to transfer to East Clinton. My parents enrolled me at the new school, and then just before they left, we made arrangements for them to pick me up when school ended. I can't remember what went wrong that day, but when school was over, I couldn't find them. Obviously, there had been a misunderstanding. Strangely enough, I didn't panic. After hanging around for a few minutes and searching for them, I just started walking home. Instead of taking a direct route-down to Holmes and then along Pratt to Maysville, I ended up taking a circuitous path that reproduced, in part, the way we had driven from our old house in Mayfair to the new one in Darwin Downs. It was the only way I knew to get to the new place. I walked from East Clinton up to what was then Huntsville High School, and then up to the corner of Wells and California, the northwest corner of Maple Hill Cemetery. Then I walked down to Randolph and followed it to Maysville. When I got home, I clambered up on a sawhorse that workers had left behind and climbed in through my bedroom window. I was proud of myself. My poor folks, though, were living through a nightmare. They searched the school, the playground, and the immediate area, but couldn't find their wayward lad. Finally they got the idea to drive home and see if I had found my way there. We were gratefully re-united. One pleasant memory of East Clinton is the way the halls were turned into art galleries when all the students' pictures were taped-up. Everybody got recognition for their efforts. I had my first sweetheart in the third grade at East Clinton. Her name was Olivia Williams. She had a bright red winter coat, a cocker spaniel named Sandy, a brother named Jan, and she lived on Pratt Avenue. I walked her home several times. I was a big boy by then, and could navigate my way confidently, directly, and romantically from East Clinton to Darwin Downs. I'll second Joan McCutcheon Baber's bad memories of Mr. Kennamer at Rison. We were in the same 6th grade class, and although Mr. Kennamer didn't mess with my grades like he did hers, he was a man to watch out for. (Sort of like Mr. Jones later on at Lee). I remember him looking like he was at least 70 and near unto death. One of the light punishments for misbehaving in his class was writing out 100 words from the dictionary and their definitions. During a reading assignment once, Mike Zeanah pointed out to Mr. Kennamer that he had mis-interpreted the directions for the assignment. Things grew very quiet. "Don't you sass me, boy," Mr. Kennamer said coldly. I don't remember that he punished Mike further, but he certainly put fear in his heart. One of my favorite memories from the 6th grade has to do with the benefits of being the last group to eat in the lunchroom. Being last meant that if the lunchroom ladies were being kind and generous that day we could ask for seconds or thirds of any food that was left over. Most of the time you were content with one serving, but I remember many times getting extra hotdogs and desserts. My favorite was the spaghetti. I couldn't get enough of that stuff. Ah, yes, those were the days. Checked table-cloths bedecked the tables, grape Koolaid decanters were passed around, and the balmy air was redolent of oregano, basil, and that wonderful Rison Elementary School House Dressing. Hey, Sonny, as long as you're up, bring me back some of that garlic bread, would you please? And some tiramisu if any's left. _________________________________________ |
After graduating from Lee I attended U.A.H., worked part-time at I.B.M., and got married. As college graduation neared and I was unsure of my next step, one of my profs suggested that I try graduate school. That seemed like a reasonable plan so my bride and I moved to Knoxville in 1968 to start graduate school at the University of Tennessee. After a couple of years, and earning a Master's, I was invited to work on a research project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We packed our belongings, bought real winter clothing, and moved to Madison in 1970. We spent the next two years in Wisconsin as I worked on research and finished my doctoral dissertation at U.T. We loved Madison and living in Wisconsin but my research position at U.W. was coming to an end so it was time to find some other way to put beans on the table. In 1973 I took my first tenure-track job as an assistant professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder. We hated Boulder and the next year we moved back across the country when I took an assistant professor position at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In 1975 the marriage collapsed and I didn't care to hang around Ann Arbor any longer. The University of Georgia had a vacancy so I applied and eventually was offered the position. In 1976 my two dogs and me headed south once again. Athens was an interesting place with great music but not necessarily a wonderful singles town if you're 31 years old. Several times I considered moving to some other university but one thing or the other kept me rooted in Athens. In 1982 I met, quite by accident, a wonderful - not to mention gorgeous - woman with two young boys and the next year we were married. The kids are now grown and out of the nest but we're still in Athens. For the past several years, I've taught in one of the University of Georgia's study abroad programs in Italy and now in France. Although we enjoy spending several weeks each year in Europe, we always welcome the return to Athens. Things I miss most about Huntsville: When I return to Huntsville to see one of my brothers, I miss the old downtown. I also miss the rural areas that are now just more urban sprawl. _____________________________________________________ |
We Are FamiLEE! |
Est. March 31, 2000 35,828 Previous Hits March 3, 2003 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, Cherri Polly Massey, Paula Spencer Kephart, Rainer Klauss, Bobby Cochran Staff Photographers: Fred & Lynn Sanders Contributers: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 |
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How I Ended Up In Athens, Georgia by Woody Beck Class of '65 |
The Mystery Photo From 1962 As for the Mystery Picture 1962, here's the ones I'm reasonably sure of, left to right (sort of): Walter ________ (white jacket) Woody Beck - elephant ears and all Don ________ (he attended Huntsville High) Butch Roth (just his head showing) C.E. Winn (white jacket) Lynn Baeder (in the back with raised hand) The head between Butch and C.E. looks like David Mitchell but I thought he had joined the Army by Spring of 1962. Take care, Woody Beck Class of '65 __________________________________________ |
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Photographic Memories: A Scrapbook of Huntsville (p. 40) lists The 1957 Rison school pix of "King and Queen", as Sandra Diane McCarver and Joe Thomas Stinnett, Jr. I didn't know either of them. Woody Beck Class of '65 _______________________________________ |
From Our Mailbox Subject: Lincoln Elementary School I remember a time capsule from Lincoln School. Years later the only event I could connect with the capsule was the sesqui-centennial for the city of Huntsville. I am very interested in finding out when and where that opening will take place. Everyone in our room signed their name on a list that was to be read when the capsule is opened. Paula, please keep us informed. Shirley Jones Moore Class of '66 ______________________________________________ Subject: Grocery Store To answer CE's question about the store on Mckinley Ave; It was Towery's Grocery. If I'm not mistaken, and I don't think I am, his first name was Tom. See I lived on the next block, about three houses away and I spent alot of time there! Dianna (May) Stephenson Class of '64 ____________________________________________ Subject: Dallas/Ft. Worth Mini-Reunion I would like to respond to Ricky Simmons' enquiry about other Lee Generals in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Ricky, although I do not technically live in the Metroplex, I work here during the week. I can be reached by any General at (817) 684-5545 or by e-mail at julius.smoak@sba.gov. I like your idea of a mini-reunion. Surely there are other Generals in this area. Chip Smoak Class of '66 __________________________________________________ Subject: Queens and Kings of Rison School The article that CE Wynn wrote up on the Queens of Rison School was wonderful. I have many old pictures of our school days and hope to gather those up and send to you. I have one of Joe Ward and myself when we were at Rison. I guess you know that Joe is not with us anymore. Would you let me know if you get this, I am new with the computer, but am enjoying everything that you put out on Lee. I also have a picture of J.R. Brooks and myself when we were most poplar, or can I say the better looking ones. I will go for now, and hope to get those things in mail. p.s. Joe and I were King and Queen. Gale Thompson Class of '64 ________________________________________ Subject: LHS Atlanta mini-reunion Tommy, I sent you an e-mail while you were in Hilton Head, but did not receive a reply. Suggest the weekend of May 18 for Atlanta mini- reunion. This weekend falls between Mother's Day and Memorial Day, so most folks should be in town. If you and Rainer agree, I'll reserve the clubhouse and pool for that Saturday night. No charge--only rule is that we have to leave it cleaned up. I'm in Vinings, in the NW section of town, a few miles west of I-75/I-285 intersection. Another potential date is May 3. Once we decide on a date, I'll reserve the party site. John Drummond johndrummondmd@yahoo.com Class of '65 ________________________________________________ Subject: 9th graders in '64 Memory does not serve Ricky Simmons correctly. I along with many others attended Lee High School in 1963-1964 era as a 9th grader after finishing the 7th and 8th grades at "Rison Junior High." I personally know many of the seniors that graduated in '64 as well as members of the classes of '65 and 66. In fact, a distinction I share with some of the class of '67 only, is the fact that we were the only class that attended Lee High School for four complete years when LHS became a high school. This is one compelling reason to add the class of '67 to the site. Keep up the great work! Regards, J. Whitt Singleton DVM jwsingle@vallnet.com Class of '67 ____________________________________________________ Subject: Butler High Alumni I stumbled on the Alumni Section of Lee High School web page and found the link to your Lee's Traveller page. LOOKS GREAT !!! Our High Schools need the support of the Alumni. I am currently working to bring Butler High's Alumni together. Not much time to talk right now but I did want to go ahead and make the connection. Take Care, Tim Jennings Carr timjennings@davidson-tech.com Butler High Class of '85 Butler High PTA President 2002/2003 (Editor's Note: Our Admiration Society has expanded. Thanks to all of you for helping to make this site one that other's [even our old time rivals] notice the great things that we are doing.) ___________________________________________ |
The Editor's Choice For Homemade "Mullin's Chili Dogs" by Tommy Towery Class of '64 When I first became a Huntsville ex-patriot moving around this great nation, I yearned for the food that I grew up eating. One of the things that I missed the most were the chili dogs that I got from Mullin's, Zesto, and the Rebel Inn. I have only found one other place outside of Huntsville that served that type of chili dog, and it was The Varsity in Atlanta. It got to the point that when we had chili dogs, I would make them open faced and doctor them up with canned chili, sour cream, cheese, mustard, and jalapeños. Now that made a great combination of tastes, but it never quinched my desire for a good old fashioned chili dog. The other day I was shopping with Sue and I found a can of Texas Pete's Chili Sauce. This stuff ain't chili like you eat with crackers, and it ain't got beans in it. I hate to say it but the reason that it first drew my attention, was that it was low in fat. That's a terrible scale to use to weigh the importance of a chili dog, but this sauce was so low that it was zero fat. Well, to make a short story long, I bought a can and took it home and the next time we had a basketball- night-chili-dog-supper, I opened it up and put it on my dog. It is wonderful, and although it doesn't have the exact consistancy of Mullin's chili dogs (it's missing all that grease), it was close enough to fool me and the taste was just right. So, if you are looking for the "taste" of a chili dog like you had when you were growing up, and Huntsville is about a bezillion miles away, try to find some of this stuff. You won't be disappointed. If you do try it, write me and let me know what you thought about it. And though I don't like slaw dogs, some of your classmates might like to have a recipe for the slaw they use at Mullin's. Anyone have it? Now if I could just find some of those buns that are slit down the top instead of the sides, and some of that white butcher-type paper to slap them on I'd be in heaven. ___________________________________ |
Top: A post card view of the shopping center. Bottom:The opening ceremony for Parkway City. The Start of the Death of Downtown Huntsville by Tommy Towery Class of '64 I can't be sure what year Parkway City opened, but I am sure that many of you can also recall that event. There was a big grand opening and somehow, even at our age, we all knew it was a big deal. Notice in the photo above that we even had a public prayer for the opening of a shopping center back then before "Political Correctness". Huntsville had other little shopping areas that might have threatened downtown a little, but have never seen one that had the impact of Parkway City on our shopping habits. There was Five Points, and the West Huntsville area, over where The Center Theater and Brown's Store were. But when Parkway City opened up, it was what I remember as the first real modern shopping center. It was so important that it rated being placed on a postcard. I remember how far out it seemed to be. You had to drive there, you could not walk to it. It had Montgomery Wards on one end and a bunch of buildings, all strung together. It was not a mall in today's sense, as there was no inside area to walk around in. It was really just a strip of stores that were all placed together, and it had plenty of "free parking". I remember that was one of the big sales pitches. When the wind blew when it rained, you would still get wet, even with the cover, and stores had awnings to keep out the sunshine. In the winter it was cold walking from one store to another, and in the summer it was hot. I found these photos and just wanted to share them with you, and the memories of that early era of our lives. I don't think any of us realized then what impact those type of strips and malls would have on the downtown area that many of us loved to visit. A walk in downtown Huntsville today will prove the point without question. ______________________________________________ |
Welcome to 03/03/03! Isn't that a great date? Speaking of great dates - had any good memories about great "dates" lately? Well, keep reading the Traveller and I am sure that some good ones will pop up. It's amazing how many memories are hiding inside our minds, just waiting for someone to say the right word or phrase that knocks them loose. This week we have the second article on how we spread out all over the country, and world, after leaving Lee High School. Last week we heard from a classmate in Athens, Alabama. This week we hear from another one in Athens, only this time it is Athens, Georgia. We would like to hear from more of you though, so please send in your information by clicking on the box following Woody's article. For those great friends that are following the saga of my mother, I have to report that this week the doctor has recommended that we sign her up for hospice care because he has concluded that there is nothing else that he can do to make her any better so we should concentrate on making her comfortable rather than trying to get her any better. If you are tired of reading about everyone else and wonder why you don't read about yourself, then send something in. We have lots of room in the Traveller and lots of questions in our minds about all of you. T. Tommy ______________________________________ |
The rest of my 4th Grade Photos. I believe my teacher was Mrs. Lusk. Any help? I believe the Bill is Bill Lowe and I know the David is David Sutton. Anyone recognize any of these other East Clintonites? (Mrs. Parks was right, my spelling has always been terrible, even in the 4th Grade!!) _________________________________________________ |
East Clinton Photos from 1955 |
