Est. March 31, 2000 36,336 Previous Hits March 10, 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 |
I moved to Huntsville in 1958 after my step-father got transferred to Redstone Arsenal. We lived originally on Country Club Avenue near Pulaski Pike. Later, we moved to the Lakewood development. My sister and her family still live in Huntsville. However, my brother lives in Ocean City, MD. My parents are deceased and rest in Huntsville Memorial Gardens. After I graduated from Lee in 1966, I decided to return to the place of my birth-Harrisburg, PA. I had family there, and as a 17 year old, was ready to see more of the world and make my fortune. How naive I was then! My first job after graduation was working part-time in a jewelry store at the local mall while I attended Thompson Business Institute. Eventually I ended up working at Blue Shield of PA in Camp Hill, a suburb of Harrisburg. It was 1969, and the Vietnam War was still going on. One afternoon I drove my Volkswagon beetle to the local gas station for a fill up. Lo and behold, the best-looking guy I had ever seen came out to wait on me. He didn't know where the gas tank was on my car. It was really funny. A couple of days later, a friend of mine wanted to set up a blind date for me. I said ok, and guess what---my handsome gas station attendant appeared. It was the beginning of a wonderful courtship. John had just come back from a stint in Vietnam and was staying with his sister and working at her husband's gas station. We were married the day after Christmas in 1969 during the worst snow storm in 20 years. John's family lived in Thurmont, MD which is about 50 miles from Harrisburg. After we were married we lived in an apartment and then with his mother for about 9 months while we built our home. John is in construction, as were his brothers, so we had a lot of help and actually lived in the basement while we finished the rest of the house. We have been married 33 years and have a daughter who is 30 and a son who is 25. I have been working at Mount Saint Mary's College for 23 years now. It is only a mile and a half from the house. Thurmont is a pretty bustling community. The Presidential retreat Camp David is located here and there is a pretty good military presence in the area. Not often enough do I get down to Huntsville to visit my sister and her family. When my daughter was younger, she attended Space Camp there.I have so many fond memories of Huntsville and my school years, especially at Lee. Hopefully one day, I will be able to attend a reunion. I look forward to seeing my former classmates. Things I miss most about Huntsville are: 1. Monte Sano and the class trips there 2. Carter's Skateland 3. Jerry's Drive-in 4. My classmates 5. Downtown Huntsville and going to the movies 6. Hornbuckle's Record Shop 7. Big Spring Park 8. The cottonfields 9. The weather 10. The respect people show towards one another ___________________________________________________ |
We Are FamiLEE! |
Est. March 31, 2000 36,336 Previous Hits March 10, 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 Thurmont, Maryland by Barbara Biggs Knott Class of '66 |
Go to a concert and turn back time. Any of you that decided to go see Cher, like I did, please send me a note and let me know what you thought about the concert. Thanks to all of you who sent me personal e-mails about my mom and the hospice care. The general thought among those responding is that the hospice program is one of the greatest things going. If you do not know what we are talking about and have a parent who is in poor healt write and ask and I'll have a classmate send you the info. Thanks also to those of you who have taken the time to send in your Where I Ended Up information. Again, be patient and we will get around to publishing your's. We're only planning to do one a week so we can stretch out the series. Who knows, you may move again before we get your's published. My university is celebrating spring break this week, and I will be getting Friday off, but I don't think that will give me time to get down to Panama City. I did spend Spring Break with Bob Walker in Daytona Beach a few years ago, but it was cold and rainy, but we had a great time. T. Tommy ______________________________________ |
Speaking of Lakewood, here is a photo from the Old Huntsville Photo CD entitled "Lakewood Homes". I think it's changed. ___________________________________________________________ |
Turn Back Time by Tommy Towery Class of '64 I thought about Terry Preston and J.R. Brooks as I sat in the sold-out audience waiting for the show to start. This is something that Terry would be excited about. In a few minutes, in all her radiant majesty, Cher would fill the packed Memphis Pyramid Arena with her presence and open our minds, ears, and hearts to the music we grew up with and have loved for five decades. Sue and I almost stayed home, but at the last minute we talked ourselves into going down to the almost sold-out show to see if we could pick up some reasonable tickets. They were listed at $37.50, $55.50 and, $75. When I walked up to the ticket office, I was told that the only ones left were the $75 tickets, and that was just a little too steep for me, even though I really wanted to see the show. So we stood near the ticket booth to see if anyone would come along with some extra ones for the cheaper prices. The show started at 7:30pm and we waited well past that time, thinking maybe still someone with extra tickets might come alone. A scalper showed up, and wanted $200 for two of the $75 tickets. These seats were good seats and he thought he could get that for them. At 8:30 we had missed our opportunity to buy tickets at the window and we decided to accept defeat and head on home because we were sure that Cher's act would start any minute. As we walked down the steps leading to our car, the same scalper was still there. He and I both knew it was getting too late. I told him I'd give him $75 for the pair, and he said no way. So I smiled at him and said "Well, enjoy the show," and started off. He must have accepted the fact that we might be his last chance to get rid of the tickets so he called us back and took my offer. We rushed back to the arena, went inside and still had to wait 30 minutes before the show started. And what a show it was! I told you Terry would have loved the concert, but why did I think about J.R.? Well, when we were home for Thanksgiving and talking to J.R. at the Mini-Reunion at Carol Jean's house he was shaking his head about Huntsville booking a Cher concert and who in the world did they expect to buy enough tickets in Huntsville to even cover the cost. Wake UP J.R.! This is Cher! This was one of the top concerts of last year. Memphis had a sell-out crowd of 12,402 people pay the prices I quoted above to see and hear her. And I will bet that Huntsville has the same experience. The Memphis reporter who covered the concert wrote: Drag queens, mothers, children - it didn't matter. Cher was in town and 12,402 people paid to see the Queen of Spectacle do her inimitably over-the-top thing at The Pyramid on Tuesday night. Although it was billed as the Living Proof Farewell Tour, one got the feeling that Cher isn't leaving the building anytime soon. In fact, judging from the box office take - it was one of last year's top grossing tours - this concert isn't a goodbye so much as the most bombastic embrace yet of her enduring, pop icon appeal, "the Cher-est show of all," as she pointed out. Cher has charted in every decade since the 1960s, after all, a folk-to-disco singer who changes styles as much as she enjoys changing costumes. And she's been taken seriously (more seriously, some might say) in other areas, especially acting and its Oscar-winning turn. The Living Proof concert was a career retrospective, though one should stress solo career. Remember, said career began before - and has lasted much longer than - her beloved duo with onetime husband Sonny Bono. Classmates in Huntsville, or in any city that puts you within driving distance to see this concert, do so. Cash in your 401k or your IRA, borrow money from your kids if you have to, go earn quarters at the Bus Station, but somehow go see this concert. You will not be disappointed. When it was over, it scared me that I was on my way home and almost missed it because I didn't buy the $75 before they sold out. Spend your children's inheritance on yourself and enjoy life to the fullest. If you have ever liked Cher's music, in any era, you will love this concert. If you just want to go see some of the most outrageous costumes you will ever see, this is the place to go. As far as the costumes go, I'm not talking about Cher's. I'm talking about what the audience will be wearing. Her onstage outfits are calm compared to some of the ones we saw worn into the arena. There was everything from feathers and leather pants to silk shirts and low cut hip huggers and that was just the guys. The girl's were dressed even wilder than that. I didn't realize that Cher had the type of followers that she does, but don't ever let that scare you away from going to this concert. This was no Britney Spears concert and most of the audience were older. I wished that I had a video camera so I could do a before-the-show tape of the guests arriving, like they do at the Oscars. If any of you classmates still think of yourself as dirty old men, then this is the crowd to watch! Huntsville's concert will be March 11, 2003 so you don't have time to dilly-dally. The Memphis concert wasn't my first time to see Cher. I saw her back in the Sonny and Cher days, and even that was quite a show. Back then it was the music and not the special effects that made the show. I liked the fact that unlike other performers Cher did not forget us old folks and the music we liked with the new show. She had plenty of video clips and sang many of the old songs. She introduced "All I Really Want To Do" as one she did back in the summer of '65, which fits right in to our group's musical taste. Above me, in the nose-bleed section of the Pyramid, my 26-year-old daughter sat with her mother enjoying the music just as much as I was down in my good seats. My favorite piece she did was "Turn Back Time" in which she wore the famous black net and leather outfit from the music video she filmed on the battleship with all the sailors. Be it folk, ballads, disco, or new age, she did them all with energy and style. Don't get upset if people start dancing in the isles or singing along with their favorite song, because they are going to do that. Don't wait until someone else tells you what a great show you missed and lay awake thinking "If I could turn back time, I'd go see that concert." If you do go, then write us and let us know what you thought. ___________________________________________________ |
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Last Week's East Clinton Street School Photos Wow! You got me on a day when all the brain cells are firing! "Mary" is Mary Jean Ingram, I think. That's Ann Johnson. Both were friends of mine at East Clinton. That is definitely Bill Lowe. I think Mickey is Mickey Rex -- and he's the one on the left, I believe. He was my boyfriend in the 2nd grade. The last boy, Sandy, is Arthur "Sandy" Cole, who I'm sorry to say, is no longer with us. He was such a sweetheart! I cannot believe I remembered all those people. I also remember the boy next to Gary, but not the name. And David, too. Thanks for the memories! Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly Class of '64 ________________________________________ How nice to see those little albums again. I had forgotten all about them. Unfortunately, I didn't keep any of them. Thinking back to those days, I find that I remember more of the girls names than the boys (not many of either, actually): Did you know Sue Broadway, Susan Morring, Ann Johnson (who I identify below), Patsy Cockerell? It sure would be interesting to get a hold of a Huntsville High '64 annual (The Pierian) to see all those other people we used to know. Didn't JR jump the fence and marry one of those HHS girls? I only recognize two people out of that group. Kenny is someone I knew pretty well from church at St. Marks Lutheran. Spent many a morning with him at Sunday School. He was also in the Boy Scout troop at the church. I've been trying to remember his last name since I saw the picture, but that information just won't surface. I may have to get in touch with Lester Cutter (over in South Carolina, I believe). He was there with me for both youthful activities and later became a minister. Ann is Ann Johnson. Rainer Klauss Class of '64 ___________________________________ |
From Our Mailbox Tommy, I wish my memory was as good as yours, Rainer's and others' who have written contributions lately. Just want you to know I am enjoying reading them all...not being a Huntsville native (we moved here from B'ham when I was 12) I don't have any good elementary school memories. I started Lee in the 8th grade and it was the only school I ever went to in Huntsville. Lynn Bozeman VanPelt Class of '66 __________________________________________ Subject: Huntsville Food Food, Huntsville food! After reading your article about Mullin's Chili and Slaw Dogs, and Rainer's school lunches I'm reminded of what I left behind in Huntsville. I have yet to find a German restaurant as good as Ol' Heidelberg. One would think with all of the people of German descent here in Colorado you could, but I haven't found it yet. Even the national chains cook food differently here. When Judy and first I arrived here in Castle Rock one of the first things we did was explore the town to see what was here. We spotted a Dairy Queen and decided to get a slaw-dog, guess what, they don't sell them here. When Judy asked them why the clerk said that he had never heard of a slaw-dog before. I don't even want to talk about what passes for "Barbeque" here; it's not fit to eat. If I remember correctly the Black Eyed Pea restaurant that opened in Huntsville on University Drive a few years back didn't make it because the real stuff was available at restaurants around town like Mullins. Guess what is one of the most thriving restaurants here in the Denver area? Folks around here just don't know any better but I guess they canât be blamed for what they've never had. Gibson's, Heidelberg, Mullins, Eunice's, I hope you are still there the next time we are in town. Don Blaise Class of '64 ___________________________________________ Subject: Atlanta mini-reunion Tommy : I read John Drummond's e-mail about the possible dates for a Atlanta mini-reunion. I am very interested and would love to attend. I agree with John that May 18th seems like a great date. I have a wedding to attend May 3 in Georgia and could not make a Lee event on that weekend. I would be happy to help if you need me! Thanks for all your hard work, Sally Dawley Stroud Class of '65 ________________________________________ Please sign me up for the mail list. Thanks John Nelson Class of '64 Jackson,TN _____________________________________ I was reading the e-mails about a possible mini-reunion in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I've lived in the Dallas area for the last 30 years, and would like to be added to that list. My home phone is 972-296-0447, and I work at the Dallas County Courthouse, 214-653-6066. I always look forward to all the news past and present on the web-site, what a great job you guys do. Ann Atcherson Brockington Class of '65 ___________________________________________ |
Click on the picture above to go to Cher's website for tour dates and more. |
To continue with Huntsville food thoughts, can you name this popular eating place? We blacked out the name to make it harder? Hint: It wasn't on our side of the town. ______________________________________ |
Who were the members of the 1966 Lee High School "Duck Hunting Team"? |
Playing By The Rules A couple, both 78, went to a sex therapist's office in Winter Haven, Florida. The doctor asked, "What can I do for you?" The man said, "Will you watch us have sexual intercourse?" The doctor was baffled, but agreed. When the couple had finished, the doctor said, "There's nothing wrong with the way you have intercourse," and charged them $50. This happened several weeks in a row. The couple would make an appointment, have intercourse with no problems, pay the doctor, then leave. Finally the doctor asked, "Just exactly what are you trying to find out?" The old man said, "We're not trying to find out anything. She's married and we can't go to her house. I'm married and we can't go to my house. The Holiday Inn charges $90. The Hilton charges $108. We do it here for $50 and I get $43 back from Medicare. Is this a great country or what! |
What is the identity of the young men appearing in the photograph in the March 2nd, 2003 edition? Woody has already given us a good start. Does anyone remember the occasion or any other details of the event? I sure don't. Had to be 1963 since Walt moved to Palmdale, CA that summer and it had to be spring since neither Walt nor I would ever wear a white sport coat out of season - ha! Walt Thomas, Woody Beck, Don ____(?), Unknown (?), Butch Rolf, David Mitchell (?), kneeling - Buddy McCormick, up high - Lynn Baeder, CE Wynn, Miles Ramsey |
The Mystery Photo by Collins (CE) Wynn Class of '64 |
