Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

Well, I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. We made our trip without any problems, except that we did not get back to town until late Saturday night. Since my step-daughter only has dial-up, I couldn't work on the web site while we visited - which would be a rude thing to do anyway I guess.

So, Sarajane and the rest of you had to start off Sunday morning without the website to read as you had your morning coffee. It's not like I didn't warn you that it might be Sunday before the Traveller went to press.

Please include your name and class year with your e-mail to me.

T. Tommy

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Subject:Restaurants

Aaron Potts

The name of the restaurant at Governors Drive and the Parkway. Are you refering to the DWARF, restaurant? There was another one down the parkway(south) where at one time they had a D.J. in a booth above the parking lot that sat on top of the restaurant to compete with Jerry's and Shoney's. It was called Boots. It failed and the restaurant eventually closed.

(Old man) Aaron Potts

I had no idea you would print what I sent to C.E Wynn, but it was fine with me. I just started to address the issue he stated that there were only three drive-in theaters. Us old dudes havent lost that much of our memory yet, but I am working on it :0)

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Subject:Banville Barrett?

Greg Dixon

Class of '65

I was eating sushi and drinking wine with Cecil Tipton last night in Sandestin, Florida and he told a story about someone named Banville Barrett who allegedly went to Lee during High School. Apparently, Banville rode a motorcycle, seldom talked in school, and was a bit, shall we say, thuggish. Naturally, Cecil would have admired him. We came back to my home with our bored wives and I got out the yearbook to look up Banville Barrett, having told Cecil that I never heard of him. There was no mention of him in any class years that I could find. I accused Cecil of having an imaginary friend since no one else would hang out with him. Does anyone else remember Banville Barrett? And yes, I know it is alarming that Cecil Tipton and Greg Dixon eat sushi.

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A Tale of Two Keys

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

Okay, you all know (and sometimes give me grief) about how much stuff I kept from high school days. I'm sorry, but someone has to do it and so I guess I was born to be the one.

As I was looking through some boxes (of which I have many) I came upon a chain with my Lee High School charm (key?) and I remember it being given to me by one of the local jewelry shops. I remember and somewhere recorded that Bob Walker and I went down and picked it up. I bought a cheap chain and wore it home that day.

I came upon that one day and was going to post a photo of it on the web site. I had it all jumbled up in a mess on my computer desk and it kind of got pushed back to the back of the heap.

Later on I was looking through another box of memorabilia and found the charm again and had wondered what I had done with it. Well, I took it to my comptuer desk and was going to put it there until I had time to take a photo of it and put it on the web site. As I placed it there, my eyes caught sight of a chain with a charm on it. It was the charm that Bob and I had picked up that day. Or was it?

I seem to have two charms (keys for you guys) and chains. One has an "L" on it and the other has "Lee High School." So, rather than me doing all the research and having to read my book again, I thought I'd solicit some help from you readers and see if any of you still have and still remember where these came from.

Please send my any information you have on where you got your's and why we have two. I'll be awaiting the answers. While we're at it, does anyone have any favorite stories about giving or getting one of these from anyone, like a classmate?

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What Teachers Make

(Linda Ragland Dykes, again - just had to send this since my daughter is a school teacher and I bet alot of our children as well as classmates teach!! )

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man,

a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:

"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher. Be

honest. What do you make?"

Having a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know

what I make?

"I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.

"You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in

English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart,

and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn't learn."

I paused and continued. "You want to know what I make? 'I MAKE A

DIFFERENCE.' What do you make?"

"Teachers make every other profession possible!"

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Cotton Fields

Lorene Bishop Rice

Guest

I enjoyed reading the article by Aaron Potts on old times. It was brought to my attention by my son, Kevin. However, I would like to add my comments, as I lived on the subject farm about ten years and was also the "Pickee" of some of that cotton:

My name is Lorene Bishop Rice. We moved to the subject farm area in l941. My dad farmed the acreage until the early 50's.. It was later farmed by my brother, Clive Bishop. We nor my brother ever owned the property. Although, over the years, it acquired the nickname, Bishop's Hollow. We were "Sharecroppers". I remember Aaron, his brother and his mother, Minnie, well. In fact, during WWII the Rison school children helped immensely in picking our crop one year. They would come at noon and pick, be it 5 lbs. or 50 lbs. There was no other help available. Aaron was correct in our picking the hands up in a truck.

When we moved there, the property was owned by the Rodgers (sp?) family. It was sold to Mr. Jack Chambers, (the old, old, Mr. Jack) of the Coca Cola Co. After he died, it sold to (I think) the Giles. Hence the names of the streets in the subdivision, Rodgers, Chambers, Giles.

As a bit of history, when we moved there (Jan 10, 1941) we parked the car at what is now the 4-way stop at Maysville Road. We then boarded a wagon pulled by mules to travel the rest of the way. When Mr. Chambers bought the farm, he arranged for a right of way from Maysville Road to what is now Giles (which is where his property started) and put in a graveled road up to the farm house. I think the right of way was obtained from Mr. Chapman. We did not have electricity until late 1940's (again, thanks to Mr. Chambers).

I walked from my house to and from Rison School (approx 2 miles each way) from the 4th grade thru high school. I graduated in 1949 in a class of 28. I married Bill Rjce who graduated from Rison in 1943. My children, Trena Rice Powers and Kevin Lee Rice both attended Rison, then Chapman and on to Lee. Both graduated from Lee: Trena 1968, Cheerleader and Kevin 1971, athlete.

Hope you enjoy this bit of reminiscing. Lorene Rice, Rison Class of '49.

PS - At the Rison Reunion, Leo Drake stood up and said, " I live in Lorene's cotton patch" I am that Lorene. We appreciate your support of the Rison Reunion and community.

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Could This be Our Fami-LEE?

submitted by Barbara Wilkerson Donnelly

Class of '64

The top 10 things you didn't want to hear this Thanksgiving:

Ok . . . whose teeth are in the oyster dressing?

Great! Uncle Bobby's doing his annual "head-in-the-turkey" routine.

Turn off the lights and hide! Your family's here!

Tommy, rolls are for eating, not Pamela Anderson impressions.

Is that turkey . . . or meatloaf?

I'm with Uncle Rainer. We should have Thanksgiving at Hooters every year!

Mom, C. E.'s funneling gravy again.

Is it just me, or does everyone here hate everyone else?

I want everyone to welcome Grandma's new life partner . . . Helen.

Stand back from the candle, Sarajane! Your lips are melting!

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Zen Sarcasm - Part II

submitted by Bob Walker

Class of '64

17. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

18. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

19. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

20. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither work.

21. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

22. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

23. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

24. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass. Then things get worse.

25. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

26. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

27. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

28. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.

29. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

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