Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

'Big Joker' Loved Family, Work, Auburn Tigers

By Niki Doyle

Huntsville Times Staff Writer

Printed on Thursday, July 19, 2007

Former PPG exec noted for integrity, care for employees.

Nothing could keep David France from his Auburn Tigers.

SEC games weren't televised in Wichita, Kan., when the former PPG executive moved there in 1980.

So he called his brother in Huntsville, who sat the phone by the TV every game day so France could hear the game. He even called from Brazil during a business trip.

"You can imagine what that cost in long-distance charges," said his son, David France Jr. "We lived in Kansas from 1980 to 1984, and every Saturday, that was his ritual."

Auburn lost its No. 1 fan when France died July 6 from a rare blood infection.

France, 61, was born in Atlanta and moved to Huntsville when he was 13.

Ed Childress, a high school classmate and former co-worker, said France was the "big man on campus" at Lee High School.

He had a car and job and "that was a big deal," Childress said.

"I remember once he and I skipped school and went to each lunch at the Krystal," Childress said. "I was excited that he asked me to skip school with him."

As a practical joker for most of his life, France never took life too seriously, his son said. In high school, France took down the Lee High flag and raised it on Butler High School's flag pole the night before the big football game.

France graduated from high school in 1964 and married his high school sweetheart, Faye, a year later.

He spent a few years in the National Guard before attending the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Wichita State University.

He began working at PPG Industries and rapidly moved up the ranks of the aerospace division, eventually becoming global director of OEM transparency sales.

"His work ethic was phenomenal," said Tom Clark, who had worked with France since 1978. "His abilities were second to none. He was recognized in the industry as being the best.

"Everybody knew him, but not only knew him on a social basis but knew him to be a high integrity person in the industry."

His integrity carried over into his personal life, Faye France said. When her mother grew ill, her husband never complained about how often she was away. He cooked, cleaned and even did his own laundry.

"He would help anyone. He just had a hard time accepting help," Faye France said. "He came across as a really strong, serious guy, but he really wasn't. He was a big joker in our family. ɠThose are those things you can't measure."

Faye France said her husband's true love was his work. In his spare time, though, he would play poker with his friends. He loved Corvettes and, although he owned a few in his life, he still loved to collect the die-cast versions.

France shared a special connection to his sons, David, 39, and Kevin, 35. The two men - one an Auburn fan and one an Alabama fan - frequently antagonized each other when they were boys.

One football game weekend, Kevin, the Alabama fan, decided to do some "special decorating" before the family headed to an Auburn game.

"Dad was always religious about putting all the magnets and the tiger tail on the car before we went to Auburn," David France Jr. said. "My brother (Kevin) got up early that morning and decorated the SUV inside and outside Alabama. He even put 'Bear' Bryant's face on the steering wheel."

France's love for Auburn football leaked into the workplace. He always wore orange and blue the day before the game, and his office was littered with Auburn memorabilia, Scott said.

Co-workers describe France as a wonderful mentor and great teacher, someone who truly cared about his employees.

Several of his employees went on to positions of authority within the company, and many of those people developed France's concern for the customer, Scott said.

"I think he personified PPG," Scott said. "His personal integrity, his work ethic, his honesty and forthrightness ɠit earned him the respect of this aircraft community and certainly all the people of PPG."

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Would You Like To Fly

In a Beautiful Balloon?

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

Well, the balloon ride in Nashville fell through, but while Sue and I were visiting my daughter Tiffany in San Diego I was able to go up. Sue did not have a desire to accompany me, so Tiffany did. We had a sunset flight at Del Mar, which lasted a little over an hour. It was quite enjoyable and we swooped down into canyons and disappered into clouds as the wind chose our direction. I don't know how many of you have taken a flight such as this, but I highly recommend it. We toasted with champaign as the sun started setting and took many photos of all the other balloons with us. There were seven in the group, including a ReMax one. The top photo is one I took of a two person (plus pilot) balloon and the guy in the balloon had booked the flight to propose to his girlfriend. Supposedly he was a professional skateboarder and had her delivered to the launch site in a limo. All in all, it was a fun time. Send in your own advenutres to share with your classmates. (For many more photos CLICK HERE).

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Eddie Sykes, Class of ‘66 - It was during our high school days that “7-11 Stores” started carrying crushed ice for sale in coolers. Before those days I can remember going with my father to the ice house to buy ice for family outings or reunions. I loved going into that large refrigerated room on a hot summer day and blowing smoke with my breath. You could buy either blocks of ice or crushed ice that was placed into a big bag or into your cooler. If you bought block ice they would throw in a free ice pick. I can remember chipping ice in a big galvanized steal wash tub when we were making homemade ice cream.

I also remember my Dad buying a block of ice and placing it in front of a fan on really hot days to cool off the room. I think we bought block ice because it was cheaper and it did not melt as fast. My dad would tell me how the ice man used to deliver ice to their house to put in their ice box before refrigerators. My grandmother still had one when I started school. I was always amazed by those huge ice hooks that they used to pick up the block ice.

We always had a refrigerator during my life. I bet we can all recall those old metal ice trays that had a lift up handle and what happened when we stuck our tongue to it. They provided enough ice for a family meal. But, when company came I always look forward to the trip to the ice house. Some of the more modern ice houses had a coin operated machine to dispense the ice at the curb. I can remember thinking… now that’s progress.

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Subject:Nehi Drinks

Linda Beal Walker

Class of '66

Do you remember Grape and Orange Nehi drinks?

At South Central Bell, I worked with a woman that had, after many long years, divorced her husband. After a year or so, she met a man at church and they eventually got married. (He had beautiful white hair.) One Saturday morning he was going to Walmart and he asked her if there was anything that she needed for him to go get for her. She said -- knee highs. He said -- grape or orange? Seriously.

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Subject:David France

Steve Craig, Class of '71 / Janice Craig, Class of '68

David's brother Jimmy- did they live at the corner of Wndover and Gladstone? If so i remember them. Thanks for this website- it's great.

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Subject:David France

Gale Thompson

Class of '64

Was so sorry to hear about David. At the reunion in 2000 I have a picture of myself and David.Am so sad that we lost another one.My heart goes out to the family. David was a very near friend of mind.I would love to go and see the family. Thanks.

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Subject:David France

Marc Bentley

Class of '66

Tommy I remember many nights at Woody's Drive in with David and our dates in a Pontiac convertible he owned. Do you what was his cause of death? He will be missed.

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Subject:David France and Family

Jim Beck

Almost Class of '68

I would like to offer my condolences over the loss of your friend, David France. I think I only met David once or possibly twice, but I did have a connection with the France family, a connection that I severed without explanation. The occassion of David's untimely passing now provides me with the chance to possibly lay some of my ghosts to rest.

I think that it was 1967 when the France family lost their father, suddenly. At that time I was dating Debbie, David's sister. When I got the news of the France family loss, I completely lost the plot. As I had never had to deal with the death of someone dear to a person I cared deeply for, I didn't know how to act. I took the coward's way out, and to this day I regret my actions. Because I didn't know what to say or what to do, I did nothing. Actually, I did worse than nothing, I blanked Debbie. I just walked away. I said nothing. I didn't phone, I didn't write. Zero. Zip. Nada. At the time she may have needed my support, I abandoned her. This is an act I do truly regret.

Some years back I decided to get in touch with my lost friends from high school, and while I found some, I didn't find all, and Debbie was one of them unaccounted for. I had no idea of her married name, so it wasn't until the notice of David's untimely passing that I had a clue as to her whereabouts.

So while I wish to offer to all of David's family and friends, my sincere regrets over David's death, I would also like to take this opportunity to say to Debbie, as I am sure that she will read the Traveller, that I am sorry, both in the loss of your brother and in the way I treated you over the loss of your father. It wasn't that I didn't care. It was that I didn't know how to care. Debbie, I hope your life has been healthy and content, and that you will soon get to grips with the loss of your brother David.

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Subject:Cancer

Lehman Williams

Class of ' 64

Wanted to let everyone know that my six-month follow-up from cancer surgery last Dec was negative - cancer free - they said see you in a year. Thanks to all who kept me in their thoughts and prayer's and a special thanks to Linda Hughes.

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East Clinton School Comments

by Collins (CE) Wynn

Class of ‘64

I want to take just a couple of minutes this morning to comment on a recent story in the Huntsville Times about the impending closure of East Clinton School. I was saddened just to hear of it much the same way as when I learned Rison School had been demolished. I know you and many others of our Fami-Lee spent some of your early years at East Clinton School so there is a close tie in this story for us all. I think Mike Smith once told me he went there for a while as well during his early grades. I suppose it can be said that life goes on but I think the value of a facility like this as a cultural anchor is often overlooked. Sadly, I understand the issue may be one of simple economics – not enough students to justify the cost. The cynic in me forces a comment about the current high value of the property for other development which could lead some to see the school and property simply as a source of revenue.

As demonstrated by your collection of memorabilia, you of all people appreciate the value of our collective history. Life does indeed go on – I just wish we weren’t quite so reckless about it.

Perhaps someone local can take a lot of pictures – inside as well as out. I sure would like to see some of the inside Rison School but other than the few ones we have posted to the Rison Dallas site, I don’ think they exist

(Editor's Note: Speaking of Rison, Debbie Christiansen Thompson, Class of '65 sent an e-mail reminding us to check out the website rison-dallas.com . They are having a reunion in a couple of weeks . Details on the website. She said she thinks some our classmates have mentioned attending Rison, and she is right.)

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