I am a Huntsvillian
By Tommy Towery
Class of '64
What is a Huntsvillian? Well for many people over the years there have
been many things that define that status. Many of us grew up in the
small town that has boomed over the last half-century. We remember
paying a dime to ride the city bus, or walking to town on Saturdays to
go to the Lyric or Grand Theatres. We remember the ole’ Southern looking
granite courthouse and its proud Confederate monument, long before it
was replaced by the glass and metal new one and the world of political
correctness made being proud of our ancestors a cause of concern. We
remember the sound and vibrations of the rocket engines being tested at
the Arsenal, and Grady Reeves and Benny Carl, and when we could only
watch TV stations from Nashville or Birmingham.
But that’s the things the older crowd remembers. There are other things
just as memorable and that are just as deep-rooted to today’s generation
of Huntsvillians. But in this city nestled in the loving arms of Monte
Sano Mountain, there remains many universal truths for all generations
to share. Even many of the rocket scientists and families who came here with Von Braun arrived early enough in their lives to feel like they belong to Huntsville more than anywhere else in the world.
A Huntsvillian is a person that knows that no matter how hectic life
gets, calm and serenity can be found by a slow drive along Bankhead
Parkway, the peaceful movement of the road’s bends and curves and the
flashes of light and dark on the hood of the car as it dances in and out
of the shadows of the trees that line the road.
A true Huntsvillian knows who Bankhead Parkway was named for.
A Huntsvillian is a person who at one time or another has sat at one of
the lookouts on the mountain, and followed the streets below, trying to
navigate to a friend’s or relative’s house.
A Huntsvillian is a person that has at one time in life, slowed down
enough to take off the shoes and socks and sit on the edge of the Big
Spring and let the cold waters of the spring flow through bare toes, while watching the water plants calmly sway with the clear currents as the
fish swim through them.
A Huntsvillian is someone who at one time or another in life has sat at
the bottom of Upside-Down Hill, turned off the car’s engine, and
marveled at the magic of the car as it slowing began its roll – up the
hill.
A Huntsvillian is a person that enjoys going to high school sports just
as much as watching professional sports on TV, and roots for the local
teams as they continue the fierce tradition of contests with the rival
school across town, and knows that no matter how good or bad a team is,
there is always next year.
A Huntsvillian is a person who even after all these years still has
pride in the Space Race and in the fact that it was our city that gave
this country some of our proudest moments.
A Huntsvillians is a person who still loves the South, no matter how hot
it gets, no matter how many tornado warnings sound, and no matter how
big or how many mosquitoes attack on a summer’s eve.
A Huntsvillian loves the State of Alabama as well.
A Huntsvillian is someone who welcomes the first cool evening of fall
just as much as the first warm spring starlit night.
A Huntsvillian is one who thought the Memorial Parkway traffic was
moving too fast, and now cannot understand why an Interstate needs to
bypass the city even more.
A Huntsvillian is someone who knows what it is like to do without, and
how much hard work it takes to get ahead in an honest profession. Most
Huntsvillians have at least one ancestor that worked in the mills and
have heard their stories of how hard life was back in those days.
A Huntsvillian knows the best cafe in town to find a greasy hamburger or
the best bar-b-q and where you can go to get the best cup of coffee and
best piece of coconut pie or bowl of banana pudding.
A Huntsvillian has at least one ancestor buried in Maple Hill Cemetery,
and understands what Decoration Day is all about, and why you stop your
car on the side of the road when you see a funeral procession coming the
other way.
And maybe it's true that a Huntsvillian has at one time or another called it "Huntspatch" but that same person grew up knowing that one of the dirtiest names you could call someone was "yankee!"
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Last Week's Mystery Item
Ronnie Hornbuckle, Class of '66
The Lord only knows how many hours one of these aluminum trays was attached to the side of my ’66 Mustang. Drive-in restaurants abounded in the ‘60’s but the ones I remember the most were the two Shoneys and Jerry's drive-in restaurants on " The Parkway." Today, my wife, Carol, and I enjoy going to the Sonic dive-in restaurants just to pull into one of the parking spaces, move the seats back, turn on some music, order a meal or treats and have it brought to us by a carhop. We especially like doing so after going to a movie theater or on a Sunday afternoon. It’s like going back home; because for a couple years in the ‘60’s these places were our home away from home and these little trays were forever props in the scene.
I did not remember the little rubber wheels to protect the side of the door. How cute, engineers amaze me.
Jennifer White Bannecke, Class of '66
The item you have pictured for us to identify is a tray for your car window so that the car hops can sit your food on them. They still have them at Sonic. Boy, does that bring back lots of memories at Shoney's and Jerry's.
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Terry Davis, Class of '64
Tommy, that is a tray that was popular in the burger places like Jerrys and Big Boys when we were in school..Drive up and order and they brought your food to you in that tray..present day Sonic does this..mostly girls worked as car hops to do this..I have five grandkids and they enjoy going to eat at Sonic to do this...great item
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Subject: 
Music Trivia
Jennifer White Bannecke
Class of '66
Tell Skip he lucked out this time on the movie trivia. I was in and out of the office over the holidays and I did not get a chance to "blow him away" this time. I don't have a computer at home or I would have given him a run for his money.
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Subject: Band Trip
Eddie Sykes
Class of '66
I remember George Wallace coming to Lee to proclaim the school band as the state of Alabama's official representatives to the Orange Bowl. We all went to the auditorium for the ceremony. The band played Dixie. That afternoon Wallace came out and watched a little bit of our football practice. He met with the captains and the centers of the team. He was a captain and the center on his high school team and he took the opportunity to tell us how the experience influenced his live.
I remember being proud of our band and our school. We did not seem to have "clicks" and "in crowds" as the kids do today. I loved playing football, but I was always envious of the band members going on bus trips with all the girls and never thought of them as "geeks". Thanks for the article.
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Subject: C.E. and J.R.Brooks
Jim Stephenson
Class of '68
My Name is Jim Stephenson (1968 failed the 10th grade) husband to Dianna (May) Stephenson (1964). I just read the story written by CE last week and JR's reply this week. It may not be any of my business, but since it came across our computer, I would like to reply.
First of all we all have ( or at least I do ) skelton's in our closet of things that we have done or seen other people do, some good and some not so good. I think bashing each other or starting disagreements over the internet is not the place for such things or comments. I think this old world has enough problems and dislikes in it already. I'm a Christian and believe we should love each other not tear each other down or try to correct each other to make ourselves look good. I was not the best student in school, in fact good grades were C's and D's and was told I would probably not amount to much.. I got into things that was not right such as skipping school, fighting, and even stole a piece of bubble gum from Oakwood 5&10 when I was 12 from Mr. Anderton in which I apologized and paid Him for later. Although I knew the difference between right and wrong and grew up with good family values and morals in a Christian home , I still made a mistake.
I was not raised in Lincoln or Dallas so all I can relate to is Hill St., wonderful parents,( blue collar workers), great neighbors and started paying social security taxes in 1964 (Big Brothers Oakwood Ave). I went on with my life ,served my country, when to Vietnam and tried to make this world a better place to live. I have a wonderful family, eight grandchildren, A very good job dealing with all phases of Industrial/Commercial grade computer's for various commercial and government applications. Dianna and I have a Southern Gospel Music Ministry called Celebration. http://www.celebrationsingers.com
I love my old Lee High School and appreciate all the fond memories of the teachers , Mr.Hamilton, friends and everything they tried to do to help me prepare for life and what it has brought.Tommy, I appreciate your efforts in trying to deliver a fun place fun everyone to share memories good or not so good. I know it takes a lot of time and effort on your part.I didn't write this to offend anyone just trying to reflect more positive thoughts to help us with tomorrow and the days to follow. Lets see what we all could do to help someone when we can.
God Bless Everyone
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