Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

Six Twins

Don Blaise

Class of '64

One of the very different things about the class of 64' at Lee were the number of twins we had. Being one myself I really didn't't think much of it until later in life. We only had about 300 students in the class of 64' but that number included six (four identical and two fraternal) sets of twins. We represented 4% of the senior class - David and Danny Seaver, Don and Ron Blaise, Sara and Sandra Schiff, Faye and Gaye Patterson, Dale and Gayle Thompson, and the Voeiki's Gretel and Marlene. The birth rate of twins per 1000 live births back in the 40's was only around 2%.

Needless to say we were an unusual class. It would be interesting to know if there were any other classes at Lee or anywhere else in Huntsville that has ever had proportionally that many in one class. There were good and bad parts to being a twin but for me the good far outweighed the bad. If nothing else, people knew who you were. How many of us could swap dates and get away with it? We tried it once to see if we could. She never had a clue. I got into trouble a lot for things I never did, but then so did Ron. It seemed to even out in the long run.

Sometimes the bewilderment of others was fun. I had to pick up Ron at work one summer afternoon and was waiting in the lobby of the company where he worked. His boss walked by, took a second look and asked me what the #$@& was I doing out here. I had never met him before and I said something smart like, "its none of your damn business". I could have told him who I was but I took an immediate dislike to him and decided to mess with him. Boy did he ever get mad. Ron said he walked back to the machine shop where he was working and almost had a heart attack.

Being kissed by very attractive female acquaintance of my brother's was one of the best "Twin" experiences I ever had. After collecting myself I told her I really enjoyed that but had no idea who she was. Ron showed up shortly after that and the poor girl was beside herself with embarrassment. Ah, the fun of our youth.

Lets hear from some of you other twins! It would make interesting reading.

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Slow Songs

George Lehman Williams - Class of '64

TT - I don't really remember anything being slow about me during that era - but the name Talk to Me sure sounds familiar.

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Barb Biggs Knott, Class of ‘66

One of my favorites was ‘Moon River’ by Andy Williams. I specifically wanted it played at my 16th birthday party just so I could slow dance with a certain boy who shall remain nameless even after all these years!

I also remember dancing to ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him’ by The Teddy Bears.

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Lynn Bozeman VanPelt, Class of '66

Does that open a floodgate of memories, to think of songs we liked to dance to and who we liked at that particular time. It's difficult to narrow it down to just one song but mine would be "Yesterday", it's a song that brings more meaning to me every time I hear it. The words make you

remember times past and people who were a major part of your life tht are no longer around. I truly do believe in yesterday.

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Sandra Parks Bozeman, Class of '67

I graduated from Lee in 1967 and my favorite slow songs to dance to

with my fella (Eddie Sykes, Class of '66) were "I Can't Stop Loving You"

by Ray Charles and "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" by Mel Carter with

"Under The Boardwalk" a very close third. I wonder if he'll remember the

same ones??? Thanks for a super web site.

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Tommy Towery, Class of '64

I offer up this group as my favorite slow songs that make me want to get up and dance slow and tight. These were pre-Lee and Lee era songs.

Gee Whiz (by Carla Thomas)

I'm Sorry

Last Date

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Can't Help Falling In Love

Talk To Me

Sleepwalk

A Thousand Stars

Theme From a Summer Place

Young Love

Running Scared

Surfer Girl

Unchained Melody

I Love How You Love Me

Love Me Tender

This Boy

When I Fall In Love

Twilight Time

Let It Be Me

Maybe

Let It Be Me

Hey Paula

What's Your Name

Misty

Try Me

It's a long list and with lots of great memories of a lot of dimlit places and warm snuggles with sweet smelling females. My favorite memories take me back to late Saturday nights at Bradley's Cafeteria on the north side of the Square. I always hated it when I went to a party and the last song was not a slow one. I hated it even more when it was a slow song, and I could not find anyone to dance with. I remember darting in and out of crowds like a hound dog on a trail looking for someone to dance with when some of these songs started.

Some of the older songs were enjoyed in basement or game room settings at some private parties, including one church party that ended up as a kissing party when the adults (knowing that we were all nice church going kids) left us downstairs alone to enjoy ourselves. You know what? We did!

I know this. I will forever be thankful that I grew up in the era when these songs were popular, and I will also be thankful to all the girls that let me put my arms around them, pull their bodies close to mine, and close my eyes and sway to the music. Heaven? The closest I'll ever get on earth!

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Mike Griffith, Class of '66

Tommy, I am very familiar with this week's Lee-Bay item. It is your

basic Zippo cigarette lighter. Even though I haven't smoked in over 30

years, I still carry one with me on most days. Its normal resting place

is the same place as where I put my wallet, odd change, keys, etc. at

night, and more times than not, I put it in my pocket when I pick up my

wallet and keys to leave in the mornings. I bought it at a PX at Fort

Benning, Georgia, when I went into the Army, and I had one side engraved

during my first tour in Viet Nam and the other side engraved during my

second tour (somehow that seemed wiser than tattoos). During that time,

it seemed that everyone smoked, and at ten cents a pack and about a two

carton per week ration, it hardly seemed a vice. After I got back to

"the world" and returned to college, I engaged in many a "discussion"

simply by placing the lighter by my cigarettes next to me, on some bar

or table (it probably was of some coincidence that alcohol was usually

involved). It is scratched, dented and the spring for the top no longer

works, but like most old friends, it is cherished for more reasons than

I could ever explain.

I enclosed a picture of each side of the lighter, but it is difficult to

read.

Side1 reads: VIET NAM Side2 reads: MIKE

69-70 GRIFFITH

When I die I'll For those who

go to heaven fought for it,

because I've freedom has a

spent my time flavor the

in hell

protected will

never taste

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A Couple of Lessons In Life

submitted by Ron Hingenitz

Class of '64

1. First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke!

I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.

The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door.

To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others,"

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

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Senior Peanuts

submitted by Gary Kinkle

Class of '64

A tour bus driver drives with a bus full of seniors down a highway, when he is tapped on his shoulder by a little old lady. She offers him a handfull of peanuts, which he gratefully munches up.

After approx.15 minutes, she taps him on his shoulder again and she hands him another handful of peanuts. She repeats this gesture about eight times.

At the ninth time he asks the little old lady why they do not eat the peanuts themselves, whereupon she replies that it is not possible because of their old teeth, they are not able to chew them.

"Why do you buy them then?" he asks puzzled whereupon the old lady answers, "We just love the chocolate around them"............

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