Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

A Cop Christmas Present

Submitted to Old Huntsville on August 19, 2004

by Collins (CE) Wynn

One of the best pieces of advice I received from my education colleagues when I first got into the teaching game here at Robertsdale High School in South Alabama was the social life and interaction of the students is not the real world. In other words, high school is a make believe environment insofar as what is socially important is concerned. Over the last few years I have found that to be true partially because of the 40-year age gap between my students and myself. Oftentimes I have to really work at being tolerant.

I have found it can be a bit of a trick to keep an open mind with students because my professional career was spent in an environment where everyone, while not socially perfect, was at least honest and forthright. To bring myself back to reality, all I have to do is sit quietly and recall some of my own escapades as a student. Along with some of my Lee High School friends I had an experience just before Christmas in 1963 that was especially humbling and could have, had circumstances gone the other way, adversely affected all of our futures.

You know, when it is all said and done, we were just a bunch of knuckleheads (both boys and girls) trying to get along. Hanging out, gossiping and kidding around, all the while wondering what was going to happen to us out there in the cold, cruel world. In those circumstances sometimes the smallest consideration can make a difference.

It seems a carload of boys was cruising up and down North Parkway in a 1951 Chevrolet one dark, cold night in late December back in ‘63 (isn’t that a song lyric?). As you can guess we were all laughing and joking, singing songs along with the radio, and of course, drinking a cold beer or two. I know that Goose Shelton and I don’t object to being named but I’m not so sure about the other two or three because they now claim to be substantial members of the Huntsville community. You’ll just have to guess about the remainder of the pact but it shouldn’t be too difficult if you are familiar with Lee High School from that era.

We were just coming down south on the Parkway from Lakewood (possibly from Harold Tuck’s house) and I was driving merrily along. Most everyone was pleasantly relaxed from having two or three Miller Pony’s each. (A “Miller Pony” was a good hearty full bodied Miller beer in a clear glass bottle about half the size of a regular beer.) I happened to glance up in my mirror just in time to see the flashing blue lights of a Huntsville Police Cruiser. “Oh my god, it’s the Cops!” With a carload of beer and several slightly inebriated boys, it seemed our world had suddenly come to an end. We ended up pulling over in the parking lot of the Hardee’s at the corner of Highway 72 and the Parkway. In a six-cylinder 1951 Chevrolet, one has no choice but to pull over.

The officer came up to my window, peered into the car, and asked for my license. I am sure he ascertained the situation immediately. After that, he carried me back to his patrol car for a consultation. After looking at my license, he said to me “Boy, don’t I know your Daddy?” Since my Dad was a Huntsville Police Officer also, it was pretty obvious he did. My only acceptable response was “Yes Sir, you do.” After that he spent 10 minutes telling what all was going to happen to me in jail, and just to make sure I didn’t think he was joking, he went up to the car and shared that information with my passengers. Believe me, I was terrified, and I am fairly sure every one else was as well. Of all the pranks I had pulled, I had never come even close to getting into serious trouble.

He then had me get back into my car and sit there while he took my license back to his patrol car. I remember the color draining out of everyone’s faces. Of course, the question on everyone’s mind was “What am I going to tell my Mom and Dad?” And then, what do you know, a most kind and unexpected thing happened.

The officer walked up the car and said to us, “Boys, I am about to give you the best Christmas present you have ever had!” And he did. “Pour all that beer out on the ground and get your butts home right now. I know where you all live and I’ll be by to check on everyone of you in the next 15 minutes.” Of course, we all went straight home right then. My Dad never mentioned it to me so I don’t believe he ever knew about the incident. You know, if I had been arrested that night my life would have taken a completely different course because the career I chose did not allow for a criminal record. In the years since I have often thought of that Officer’s kindness and tolerance. It probably did not mean much to him but it was very important to us. When I am dealing with a student who is a little astray, I try to use a little of his wisdom from 40 years ago. Forgiveness and tolerance are wonderful things and grand Christmas presents.

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A Loss to a Member of Our Fami-LEE

The Mother of Sherry Adcock White

Agnes Marie Adcock

Sept. 18, 1920 Dec. 21, 2007

Published in The Huntsville Times on 12/22/2007

Agnes Marie Adcock, 87, of Huntsville died Friday. Mrs. Adcock was born in Huntsville on Sept. 18, 1920. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Randal Adcock. She is survived by her daughter Sherry Adcock White (Class of '64) and her son-in-law Ronnie White of Huntsville; her beloved grandson Jeff King of Long Island City, NY; her brother Buddy Boggs of Meridianville; step-grandchildren Ron White, Rodney White, Courtney White; special friends Kathleen Ratliff, Goldie Sadler, Janie Whitaker, Tiffany Foiles and Patricia Stone. During her lifetime, she worked at Redstone Arsenal, W.T. Grant's, Loveman's and as a cashier at the Bon Air Restaurant. Mrs. Adcock gradually lost her eyesight to glaucoma. Although she was completely blind, she lived by herself and loved working in her home and having visitors. Every Saturday you could find her at Madison Square Mall sitting on a bench visiting with her friends and meeting new ones. One of her best friends, Ruby Boggs, would save her a seat and the two would talk more than an hour. Her neighbor Kathleen and Brady Ratliff were always just a phone call away and helped her so many times. Her friend and former neighbor on Oakwood Avenue, Janie Whitaker, called and visited, taking each month to hear Janie's husband Willard make music at the Presbyterian Apartments. Her friend Goldie Sadler would often come over and cook. The two would look forward to their Sunday lunch with another friend Tiffany Foiles . Even though she was blind, she tried to keep a cheerful outlook on life. She was not one to sit and grieve over the loss of her eyesight. She felt people should be happy and thankful for what they had. She often said there were many people much worse than she was. Her attitude was an inspiration to all. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the "WAFF Fund for Officer William Eric Freeman Fund" at Redstone Federal Credit Union.

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Subject:Sherry's Mother

Aaron Potts

Earlier Lee Classmate

I’m not sure if anyone has notified you or not but Sherry Adcock White lost her mother Yesterday December 21 in Huntsville Hospital. Funeral services was today at 12:00 noon. I just flew in from Texas for the holidays and the death notice is in the Huntsville times. Unfortunately my plane was late getting in and I was not able to go to visitation or to the funeral. This is all the information I have.

If you need to contact her here is her contact information:

Ronnie & Sherry White

7808 Valley Bend Drive S.E.

Huntsville, Alabama 35802

256-880-8674

Sherry was one of my dearest friends, her mother and my mother were good friends and I loved her little mother because she was the kindest person I have ever met.

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Subject:Sherry's Mom

Patsy Hughes Oldroyd

Class of ''65

My mother just called me from Huntsville to tell me that Sherry Adcock White’s (Class of ’64) mother, Agnes Adcock, had died on Friday in Huntsville. She was in her late eighties and had become totally blind from glaucoma over the years. I am sure that you probably remember that Sherry and her mom and dad lived on Oakwood Avenue when we were growing up and during our Lee and skating rink days. Sherry dated my first cousin, Jerry Dotson, and Agnes was just so kind to him. Agnes was a wonderful lady who was so friendly and kind to everyone. The early Huntsville Times did not give a visitation or service time. I am sure that it will be in the afternoon edition.

On a happier note, I hope that you and your family will have a very wonderful Christmas this year. I enjoyed your Christmas story in last week’s edition on the school website so much. You make me think of a young Truman Capote with his stories of Christmas when he was growing up. You really do need to write and publish more since you obviously have the gift. Once again, thanks for all that you do with the news, and have a wonderful Christmas.

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Subject:Grandmother Story

Carolyn Burgess Featheringill

Class of '65

I'm delighted to bring the recent story of my surprise grandmother shower to a conclusion. As a wonderful early Christmas gift, Bill and I are the proud first-time grandparents of William Featheringill ("Billy") Pharo, born December 5th. Mother, baby, father and grandparents are all doing well and so very happy!

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Subject:Dick Tracy

Chip Smoak

Class of '66

Tommy, if memory serves me correctly, the inventor in the comic strip was the character known as Diet Smith who also improved it to by adding a "television" several years later. He also invented the magnet cars.

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Greeting from the Past

(A Classmate Shares an Old Christmas Letter)

Merry Christmas from Germany 1967

This will be Marty's and my first Christmas away from family and friends. I arrived in Germany in July just weeks after The Six Days War in the Middle East. Things are still a bit tense and my unit has been on stand by for possible deployment. To our east, Russia and East Germany have escalated war games in and around Poland and our troops east of us have done the same.

I expected to go to Nam. I am on stand by for the Middle East and I am up to my boot tops in snow. Go figure.

Marty arrived here in September after her 20th birthday at home. If I do not get orders to leave Germany, we will probably be here next Christmas as well and due back in Huntsville in August 1969.

Best wishes for a joyous Christmas.

Dink and Marty Hollingsworth

Lee Grads, 1965

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A Christmas Memory

Polly Gurley Redd

Class of '66

Living on the mountain as we did, one of my more vivid Christmas memories is going onto the old hotel property to cut a cedar Christmas tree. That was always were we got our trees until they began building the big houses that face the city now on that street. Going out “into the woods”, that we really weren’t allowed in most of the time because of the rattlesnakes, with my sisters and parents to choose and cut a tree was very special, something we still do here in North Carolina. The only difference here is we are cutting them on a tree farm where they grow Christmas trees.

I hope the peace and blessings of this joyous season will come to everyone’s families this year.

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Thoughts about Steve Kerschner

W. Dale Meyer, Would have been Class of '66

I was saddened to learn of Steve Kerschner's passing. Steve, Terry Barnes and I were pals growing up. I remember building canoes and sinking same in the Lake behind Lake Wood. I have many memories of camping out there. I will forever remember Steve's "Statute of Liberty" catches as we played sandlot baseball on Saturdays. On one such occasion a ball was thrown in from the outfield and struck me in the eye just as I was picking up the bat. With eyes bandaged for two weeks and having to lay completely still, Steve brought me my homework and read to me to break the boredom.

Thanks to Linda Kinkle Cianci, I was given Steve's address in Chicago. I had a long contract assignment at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Steve invited me down to his downtown office. When I came in the office Steve gave me a big hug and made sure I was introduced to every associate. He then called Terry's office in Florida only to be informed both he and his wife were out of town, Terry being in Alaska as he does mission work with the Aleuts. That wasn't good enough for Steve. Steve told Terry's staff that "his attorney" needed to speak with him immediately. Shortly afterwards, Barnes called us from Alaska. You have to appreciate that we had not seen each other since I moved from Huntsville in 1962. For a few minutes we were transported back to an era I will never forget and friends I will always cherish. I thank God that He allowed me the time to visit with Steve, to listen to his heroic battle with Lung Cancer, about faith , hope and charity. Steve personified all three and I am better to have known him.

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Skip Cook, Class of '64

During the spring of 2005, I was killing some time prior to watching my son play baseball for the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The house we were staying in was owned by an alumni and had a collection of yearbooks from the late 60's and early 70's. In addition to the individual photos of the students, and their accomplishments/honors, their complete home address was printed. I flipped through the pages focusing on the individul addresses looking for folks from Huntsville that I might know. I smiled when I found a "Huntsville"...looking up I noticed the Kenwood street address and thought "Hey, that's in Lakewood right around the corner from my house!". Looking up at the photo I saw a young, smiling Steve Kerschner. We road the same bus to LHS for two or three years. I ran into a guy from the Sewanee Alumni Office at the baseball game and he obtained Steve's address for me. I sent Steve a note and a few days later he called me at work. We talked for a good while and he said that he had recieved the notification of the August reunion. Steve decided to attend the reunion and seemed to enjoy himself. It's a small world and time is moving faster than we realize.

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Barb Biggs Knott, Class of 1966

I was so saddened to hear about Steve’s passing in the last issue of Traveller. There hasn’t been a year go by that I haven’t thought about him and wondered where and how he was. Reading the note from Terry and the obit I see that he had the most wonderful and incredible life and for that I am happy. It makes his passing a little more accepting for me. You see, in my senior year at Lee, Steve was my best friend. We went to church outings together, the movies and he was my date to the Senior Prom. He really was a special guy and I knew he would go far in life. His passing is sad but my heart will always smile whenever I remember him.

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Tommy Towery, Class of '64

You know, I didn't know Steve back in school and only got to visit with him a short time during the 2005 Reunion - and that is what made me stop to think. How many of you got one last visit with Steve because he took the time and effort to attend the reunion? How many of you that did not come now wish that you had been there to share that last visit with him. I made a last visit with my friend Bob Walker this year, because he was too sick to attend the last reunion. I can accept that illness kept him from coming, and I know that he had planned to come and wished that he had been able to. Please do me a favor. Next time we have a reunion, won't you make an extra effort to try to attend. We never know when it will be our last chance. I know many are now thankful that Steve did make that effort.

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I Wish You Enough

submitted by Bobby Cochran

Class of '64

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, 'I love you and I wish you enough'.

The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom'.

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'.

Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'. May I ask what that means?'.

She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone'. She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more. 'When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them'. Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them but then an entire life to forget them.

TAKE TIME TO LIVE..... To all my friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH

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