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
It was a great birthday week and I want to thank those of you classmates who sent me cards and e-mails.
I have a story from Lehman Williams' 60th birthday celebration for next week, so make sure you check it out.
Check on the Open Topics ideas at the bottom of the page to see what we are looking for.
Please include your class year with your e-mails.
T. Tommy
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From Our
Mailbox
Last Week's
Mystery Photo
Current Open Topics
Do you have any memories of a special something that you were given, but may not still have? Send in any graduation present memories you would like to share with your classmates.
Do you have a story about the first big thing you bought with money earned from your first real job, either during or after Lee?
What did you do or do you have planned for your 60th Birthday?
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This Week's
Mystery Photo
High Flying Sixty -
Epilog
by Tommy Towery
Class of '64
Saturday's party was a lot of fun and I had many of my Memphis friends show up for the free BBQ and cake and ice cream. We had a good time and just like at the reunions - time went too fast and it was all over too soon. It was a very memorial birthday party. I was very surprised by the drop-in appearance of my sister Kim from Birmingham and even more surprised when our best friends showed up from Denver. They had flown down in their plane and made it just in time for the party. They spent Saturday and Sunday nights with us so my vision of not having the Traveller ready until Monday turned out to be true.
On Sunday we drove up to a little airport at Covington, Tennessee, and I went on my flight in the Stearman. The weather was perfect and not too warm and the flight went fast and was as exciting as promised.
After a smooth takeoff I was given control of the aircraft and mae the climb to 3,500 feet. Once level the pilot demonstrated an aileron roll and then I was allowed to do one by myself. Mine was not as smooth, and we got a little nose down so I pulled a few G's getting back to straight and level. We next did a barrel roll and then I suggested that the pilot just do the tricks and I'd sit back and enjoy. I didn't want to waste alll my time doing the same things. So, in his terms, we did a little mini-airshow routine. We started off with a four-point barrel roll, followed by a loop and ended up with a half Cuban-Eight. Those classmates of mine who have flown have some idea of what all that was, but the rest of you will just have to believe that it was quite different than just ridding in a plane.
Way too soon it was time to head back and land and we made a smooth non-eventful landing. We had as many landings as takeoffs, so that made the flight a success.
It was really great to sit in the open cockpit and have the view of the world that you only get from that position. It was a great way to celebrate turing 60, you just have to believe me.
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Jeff Fussell, Class of '66 - Tommy, you and I have much in common when it comes to cool toys. Next to my US Navy Frogmen and Al Kaline baseball cards, I had an assortment of these little Nike missiles along with the spring-loaded launcher. The bottom fin tab hooked into the launcher and off it went in a fairly unguided manner. Never managed to put my eye out with it, but I guess the potential was there. I can't recall if these were a store item or one of the myriad "free inside" cereal premiums. Also, I'm a little hazy on whether there were other models besides the Nike or if they were just different colors. I'll be looking for some of the other inputs to fill in the blanks. Note to younger readers: These Nikes had nothing to do with shoes.
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Ben Dillon - hmmm. I believe it is a miniature spring-loaded rocket launcher. Not sure where it came from - most likely a cereal box, but I am sure I had one....
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Tommy Towery, Class of '64 - My memory tells me that these came in boxes of Cherios and that this was the only style, but colors may have varied. I also remember that many times I would open the cereal boxes from the bottom to get to the prize easier, just like I did with Cracker Jack boxes. Of course this was long before the tough plastic bags that are used to keep the cereal fresh today. When they were opened from the top, I would sift through all the cereal to find the prize. I never waited until we ate down to it. I also remember the joy of sometimes getting two prizes, and the absolute disappointment when quality contol went bad the other way and even though the box touted "Free Prize Inside" that it was someone left out and all you had inside the box was cereal - YUK! Half the time I didn't even like the cereal and only bought a brand because of what was free inside.
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Bad E-Mail Addresses
Last week's e-mail had the following returned for bad addresses. If you are one of these, then please send me an updated address. Thanks,
ellennoe@aol.com
mamad4165@aol.com
durhbj@aol.com
jfgordy@yahoo.com
morrisjoyann@hotmail.com
wriley@mem.cclcustom.com
jbsmoak@ev1.net
rbishop@fwb.org
gbayres@morgank12.org
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Subject:Portable Hair Dryer
Ann Wilson Redford
Class of '65
Carol Jean, I confess to having used the same thing over my hair rollers instead of a hair net or "hair bonnet". It worked pretty good -- except in a couple of places.
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Subject:Hair Dryer
Escoe German Beatty
Class of '65
I would wager a bet that CJ was talking about the second best use for this item...Panties!!
Couldn't work today..a thong just wouldn't get it!!
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Subject:Hair Dryer
Sarajane Steigerwald Tarter
Class of '65
I’m a little late in getting my hair dryer story in but my hellish, I mean hectic, week is over and I now have a minute or two.
When we were about 16 the fad was to bleach a section of hair on the front of your head. I loved to watch Carmen on American Bandstand and of course she had a blond streak going through her brunette hair. My father on the other hand thought that look was trashy and one of his children would do that over his dead body. Well, I guess the devil made me do it because I was at friend’s house (I think Alice Tuck’s) when she was bleaching a bit of her hair and all of a sudden I was doing it too! Panic set in as the color of my dishwater blond hair turned a brassy orange.
When I got home I showed my mom and she just shook her head knowing that I would be grounded probably for the rest of my high school career. So, I thought what daddy doesn’t see he won’t know. Fortunately for me it was a time in his life that he was coaching several teams and his presence at home was short because I would put a dryer on my head when he got home and leave it there until he left the house. After several days he asked my mom about the constant drying of the hair and so I had to confess to my impromptu actions. What is so funny is that I can’t remember what type of punishment I received but I can’t help but smile every time I think of a hair dryer with a hood. I guess I thought I could wear it until my hair grew out without daddy ever wondering about his daughter walking around with a hair dryer on her head. And then there was the pierced ear incident. Oh, I guess that’s another story.
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Subject:Lee High School
Wayne Cooper
Class of '66
Tommy,
I graduated from Lee High in 1966 along with John Scales, who had an article in your Monday June 12th issue.
This was the first time I had ever looked for Lee High info,because of the obvious 40th anniversary.
Would it be possible for you to send me John's email address or if his telephone number ?
He had I used to be fairly good buddies along with Hans Hoelzer from '67.
After all these years, I guess the rebel call of John still rings in my ear.
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We've mentioned this before in the last few years, but never had a great photo to share with you to spark your own memories. So, here it is - but what is it? Send in your answers with your name and class year and own comments.
