Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly, Joy Rubins Morris, Rainer Klauss, Bobby Cochran, Collins (CE) Wynn, Eddie Sykes, Don Wynn, Paula Spencer Kephart, Cherri Polly Massey
Contributors: The Members of Lee High School Classes of 64-65-66 and Others
This is one of the hardest issues of Lee's Traveller that I have ever had to put together. Now that I am used to having to scratch to come up with stories and pictures each week, I currently find myself flooded with more than I feel like I could ever use. But then, when I think about it, I realize that between now and the 2010 Reuion I have to come up with 260 new issues of the paper and find (or make up) stories that will hold your interest. That seems like a big task.
Congratulations to Niles Prestage, Class of '65, for winning the major door prize of the 27" TV with built-in VCR player.
Please include your name and class year with your e-mail to me.
T. Tommy
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Reunion Photo Fun
Okay, put on your thinking caps. Here's a photo taken at the reunion. We are looking for the funniest caption that you can come up with for the photo. What do you suppose is being said? Send in your best guess and we'll pick a winner. If you don't have a funny bone, then can you identify the Classmates in the photo?
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Tommy "The Tiger" Towery, Vern "Water-Boy" Lucas, and George Lehman "Sorry-Sir-I-Didn't-See-The-No-Carts-Allowed-Sign" Williams pose at Sunset Landings Golf Course.
The "Official" LHS Reunion
Golf Tournament Results
\While the heat kept many players away, at least a small group of LHS alumni braved the elements to play golf on the Friday of the reunion. The above photo shows the top three finishers.
While the tournment never really seemed to come together, a good time was had by all. Several alumni played on Saturday morning as well. During the Friday game, Vern Lucus, Class of '64 won the longest drive contest and George "Lehman" Williams, Class of '64 won the closest-to-the-hole honors. Tommy Towery, Class of '64, was named most improved golfer.
Perhaps, with a better organizer, we could come up with an annual golfing get together at a cooler time of the year, perhaps follwed by a picnic or some other type of get together.
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The Required Who, What, When
Type Stuff About The Reunion
by Tommy Towery
Class of '64
Those of us who had the good fortune to attend the reunion last week know what a great time was had by all. While the Traveller will spend the next few weeks reviewing stories and events, accompanied by photos, we will also continue to try to inform and entertain those of you that were not connected with the reunion and try to offer the same type of items that we have always tried to offer all of our readers.
That being said, let me start with saying how much I personally enjoyed getting together with all that attended. As with most things, there were a few bumps in the road, but we weathered them without many serious problems. The golf outing was one of the first things to take a hit, with Huntsville experiencing some of the highest temperatures of the summer. There was also a communication problem for a few who did not understand that we all just planned to meet at the golf course and make plans from there. Some called the golf course for information, which was not available, since we were unable to coordinate an organized tournament format with them. Still, there was fun to be had for those that showed up.
The Friday evening casual poolside social is the most popular event for many who attend the reunion. With no scheduled program, all participants were free to visit and socialize with all their old friends and classmates. Small clusters of folks filled the evening air with the sounds of laughter while camera flashes made the immediate area look like a Superbowl halftime show. As I mentioned last week, I am sure that this is the most photographed reunion we have ever had. I credit the popularity of the digital camera and no film processing charges for a lot of the credit for that. Many of you have already e-mailed several photographs you took. Sue and I said our goodnights about 2:15am and many were still going strong.
Saturday’s planned breakfast at Shoney’s was a bust, since the management at Shoney’s failed to remember that we had reserved a room for that date. The never-say-die Lee spirit came up with Plan-B and we moved the whole gang to the ever-available Mullin’s Drive-In and moved into the party room for a lumberjack breakfast.
It wasn’t the Lee High School lunchroom, but around 3pm Saturday the ballroom at the Marriott was opened and the reunion committee did their long remembered but seldom practiced decorating magic and transformed it into a nostalgic setting of blue and grey, complete with photos from the three years of Silver Sabres. They are to be congratulated for the fine job they did.
Saturday’s night “more formal” event was centered around music by "The Time Machine", featuring our very on Jerry Brewer, Class of ’64, on drums. J.R. Brooks continued in his role as master of ceremonies and formally opened the event and welcomed the guests which included many of our previous teachers. Niles Prestage MC’ed the “Who Are You” contest and many were amazed at the true identities of some of the contestants and what they had done in their lives. The identity and activities of our Classmates who responded will be featured in future issues.
As noted last week, it was a true honor to have my classmates formally recognize me for the work I have done on Lee’s Traveller over the last few years. It is a labor of love and I appreciate all the “thanks” that I received throughout the reunion. I want to remind you that it is not a one-man show and that many others make weekly contributions to this newspaper.
For the next few hours we danced, ate, visited, laughed, and even cried a little during the showing of the Memorial Tribute to our passed classmates.
Following the final dance and the cleanup by the committee, the party again moved outside by the pool. That night Sue and I stayed until 2:30am, but we heard the next morning at breakfast that some stayed past 3:30am. Several met for breakfast in the hotel Sunday morning then said our goodbyes and returned to the real world.
These are but a few of the “highlights” of the events, and over the next weeks we will expand on some of these things in depth.
Please read the From Our Mailbox section for other comments made by Classmates about their impression of the reunion.
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This Week's
Mystery Classmate
Look at the photo above and see if you can identify the Mystery Classmate. Send in your answers to who this hansome couple is. We'll be doing a lot of these, so check back each week for the fun and games.
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Paula Spencer Kephart, Class of '65 - Dear Tommy, thank you so very much for the wonderful website you created for us. The reunion was a super experience seeing the classmates I have not seen in 30 years. It seemed everyone had a great time. The committee did an exceptional job. The food was great and the company was exceptional. My thanks to all of you for making this a reunion I will never forget. It was a complete pleasure. Thanks to all of you for the planning and hard work. ,
Beverly Hillis Still , Class of '66, I went to my first reunion this last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great to see friends I have thought about for so many years and be able to get information on others who weren't there. I have known about the Website for only one week, and have been reading everything I can to catch up with everybody. I plan to stay in touch from now on.
Skip Cook, Class of '64 - The reunion was a rousing success. I have never seen that many smiles in one place before. Thanks again to all the classmates who worked on the planning and implementation for what turned out to be a glorious occasion.
Jimmy Troupe, Class of '66 - I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to each member of the Reunion Committee for the magnificent job and hard work completed in organizing this past weekend’s reunion. Words that exceed perfect by 1,000 per cent have yet to be developed, for if they had I would have used them to express the job each of you did. To those who elected not to attend, they missed a wonderful time. To those who were unable to attend, it will be hard pressed to be better in the future. To those of us who have departed, let’s remember. By the time the next reunion comes around, I am sure there will be more. Again, thanks from my wife and I for a terrific weekend.
Michael Cadoret, Guest - To both of you and the committee - Thanks for making my visit to Huntsville such a great experience. As Sally's Tag-A-Long, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience (and the insight to Sally's high school years) and am thrilled with the group's closeness after all these years. I've seen Tommy's newsletter and am awed by your dedication.
If anyone knows the e mail address for "Jimmy, the Zydeco Dancer" , I'd appreciate having it. At some point I'm hoping to get to Beale Street for some of that wonderful music. Thanks again, had much fun
Jennifer White Bannecke, Class of '66 - Just wanted you to know we appreciated everything you and the reunion committee did to make this 2005 reunion such a great event. Craig and I have not stopped talking about what a great time we had and how much we enjoyed everything. I love the quilt that I won and I have tried to e-mail Joan Graybill but her e-mail address must be incorrect in the handbook we received and it keeps coming back. Hopefully she will read this and know that I am trying to get in touch with her to thank her. The band was wonderful. I hope you have recovered from the split you did as the night was winding down. I am attaching a photo for your collection of that special moment.
Judy Light Fudge, Class of '65 - The reunion was great, it was so good to see everyone. It was also so good to see you........you have done a wonderful job all of these years.
Jane Parks, Teacher - Hey,Tommy The 2005 reunion for Lee High School classes of 1964, 1965 and 1966 was the most well organized I have ever attended. The reunion committee and you are to be commended. You have done a wonderful job in restoring Lee's Traveller to its past glory and bringing so many Lee graduates together again. Thanks, too, for the informative and entertaining contributions of the staff writers. It was thrilling to watch you and Sue crowned king and queen of the reunion. I was surprised and humbled by your asking me to complete the leadout dance with you. It was one of the nicest experiences of my life. Thank you!
Cynthia Barrow Beckett, Class of '66 - The pictures look great. I wanted so much to be there but just could not make it. As you know, I work for a Florida State Legislator and our district covers Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, DeSoto County and parts of Lee County. Unfortunately, we are still having so many problems from Hurricane Charley last year that I just could not get away for any length of time. I'm gonna try hard for the next one.
Rainer and Gudrun Klauss, Classes of '64 and '65 - Tommy, good to see you--however briefly--at the reunion. Please post the following on the website this weekend. I'll be up in NYC dropping my son off at grad school. What a fine time that reunion was! Our thanks to all who were involved with the planning and implementation of this highly successful and complicated event. A super job with heartwarming results.
Linda Taylor, Class of ’64 - Hello Everyone, As a member of the planning committee, I just wanted to say thank you for making the effort to make it to the reunion. Your being there helped to make it possibly the best we've had. It was fun seeing long ago friends (not OLD friends!), even ones from Huntsville that you see only at the reunions. Tommy, we are so indebted to you for helping keep this group together. Those that were not able to come, hope you can make it to the next one. Looking forward to 2010, just think, as someone noted, "We'll almost be eligible for SS." What a thought!!
Niles Prestage, Class of '65 - Hardly seems like this time a week ago we were about to get cranked up for such a great weekend. For me it takes a few days just to come down from a "Reunion high," I think this time as much physically as emotionally. Basically we had waaaaaay too much fun! To the person, everyone I have talked to does believe this on was the best ever. I was glad several made it that had never made it before, that added a lot to the weekend. Thanks again for your continued efforts to keep us together, I think that we have been able to do so really did make a difference this time. Thanks again for what you do, hopefully after last weekend you have a new appreciation for our appreciation for your efforts!
Linda Ragland Dykes, Class of '64 - Tommy, thank you so much for bringing me the CD and books - I have enjoyed the books so much this past week on our trip to Montana - with three hour lay-overs, I had time to read them both. Between the work you put in to this website and your books, you have brought back so many precious memories of growing up in Huntsville. THANKS!!!! I have told Barbara this so many times and to all the others who contribute, you really do a great job. The Friday night party was more fun than I ever imagined! Frank and I both regretted having to miss Saturday night - I hear it was just wonderful. We had to cut our vacation short to return to Tuscaloosa so Frank would not miss our member-member tournament!! I have already asked Alice when the next reunion will be!! She and the committee did an outstanding job putting this on.
Joy Rubins Morris, Class of ’64 - Everything and I mean everything (well possibly not the hot weather) was just perfect. The Reunion Committee did an outstanding job both Friday night and Saturday night. The food, the music and the special recognition of Tommy was well planned and absolutely expressed how we all felt for the tremendous effort he has put into our alumni website. Tommy got his just award to which he so richly deserved. He is editor extraordinare!
It was wonderful to see many of the people from the mini reunions three years ago and again two years ago at Homecoming. The music was terrific and the food was wonderful. It was also great to see those who had not attended in quite some time. I know personally that this was the absolute best reunion I have attended thus far. The weekend certainly did not last long enough and our goodbyes came much too soon. I hope we continue to have mini-reunions in between our five year increments. Time is much too short to wait another five years to see everyone.
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From Our
Mailbox
The Best Day Of My Life
submitted by Spence Thompson
Class of '64
Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever!
There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did!
And because I did I'm going to celebrate!
Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart.
I will marvel at God's wonderful gifts:
The Sweet Morning Dew,
The Touch of God's Love in the Sun Sunshine,
The Heavenly Clouds,
The Trees swaying in the breeze,
The Beautiful Flowers, awakening in the spring,
The sweet songs of Birds singing.
Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice. Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank my Almighty God for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, also!
