License to Squeal by Tommy Towery I was looking around for some memoribilia for this week's edition of the website when I came upon these photos of Alabama Tags from each of our graduating years. At first I thought I'd run a poll to let you vote for the prettiest, and then I realized that there's not a winner in the bunch. Tags may not mean as much to those of you who have lived in Huntsville all you lives as they do to those ex-patriots of us. There's something about driving around and seeing a car with an Alabama tag when you live hundreds or thousands of miles away from Huntsville. You get a funny feeling and you automatically focus your sight on the tag looking for that code that tells you "Madison County". You know the code numbers I am talking about - the magical "47". If you see the 47 then you know it's a Huntsville car and for some strange reason you always look to see who's driving it, like there's a chance in a million that you will know them. After a while you realize that even if you did know them, then you might not recognize them as they look today. But still it does your heart a little good to share for that one split moment in time the thoughts that somehow you are closer to home, just by being near a 47 tag. So as a companion piece for tags and cars, I thought I'd throw in a photo of me and my high school car, "The Bomb" as it looked in 1964. I also decided to share the story of the Bomb with you as I told it in my book. Click here for that story. Letters to the Editor Name: Joy Rubins Morris E-mail: MORRIJA@ATHENS.EDU Comments: It is great to read about those we have not seen since the old days. This is a wonderful idea. Name: Judith (Judy) Rubins Allard E-mail: RAM@HIWAAY.NET Comments: Hello everyone - Even though we may live far away, it is great to be able to stay in touch like this. Name: Jo Scholter E-mail: jscholter@fqsuites.com Comments: I was known as Betty Jo Key in school. I have enjoyed all the reunions that I have attended. It has been wonderful visiting with everyone at them. Name: JERRI JANNETTE FROST (1965) E-mail: jjfrost@sonet.net Comments: Looking for address to contact Lilly Carolyn Fisher (1965) Name: Teresa Charlton Esslinger E-mail: tomntes@msn.com I graduated from Lee in 1965 and I married Tommy Esslinger who also graduated in 1965. We have been happily married for 35 years. I have visited your site several times but I guess I never registered before. I think the site is great and I have really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work! Name: Janice Kay Lucky E-mail: meanwhilebar@aol.com Comments: I came to Lee High School my Senior year. I didn't graduate with the class. I had skipped a year and needed to finish some credits in summer school. I don't remember to many people. Thank you for inviting me to sign up on your mailing list. Name: Gary W. Hatcher E-mail: h8938@earthlink.net Comments: I graduated from Lee in 1966. Spent one year at Auburn, and one quarter at John Calhoun in Decatur. Join the Air Force in 1968 and stayed until retirement in 1990. Married Sharon Pickett in May of 1968, also a '66 Lee graduate. We have two married daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson. We all live in the Birmingham area now. I am now work for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic control supervisor. Would like to here from others. Name: andrea gray roberson E-mail: hang1948@aol.com Comments: i sure do have fun looking at our leealumni web page. you are doing a great job. keep up the good work. Name: Connie Tignor Harper E-mail: cjharper@mail.com Comments: I went to Lee High as a Junior and Senior 1964-1965. I now live in Spokane, WA. I liked reading excerpts from your book. Brought back memories of Jerry's and Shoney's and cruising up and down the parkway. Glad to know you have this site set up. Will be coming back here to see what's happening. Subject: RE: LHS 64-65-66 Website Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 16:15:55 -0500 From: Ann Gates <Ann.Gates@ccc.uab.edu> I don't know if you'll remember me or not. I was Ann Hucks before I married Gary Gates. We went to church with you at Jackson Way B.C. (Fifth Street, then Second Baptist - then Jackson Way) - and we went to school together at LHS. I received an email from you today about the LHS 64-65-66 website - and I really do appreciate it! I was so sad when I visited the website and learned of so many friends who are gone now. But I was also glad, at the same time, to be able to learn about them. What are you doing these days? Gary and I have been married almost 36 years - and he is a pastor. He pastors FBC, Springville, AL. We've been there about 4 1/2 years. We had lived in central Florida for 10 years before that. We miss Florida terribly and hope to return soon. I work at UAB in the Dept. of Surgery - been here for about 4 1/2 years too. Gary's dad (Claude Gates) died several years ago - and his mom died this past month. All his brothers and sisters are still living - you remember them, I'm sure - especially the older ones - Janell and Tim (Tim is the one just younger than Gary). We have two sons and one daughter. Our sons are married and doing wonderfully. Our oldest (Shannon) is a police officer in Arab - our younger son (Jeremy) is a Minister of Music in FBC, Eustis, FL - and our daughter (Shalynn, who is adopted) is our prodigal right now.... Take care and I hope to hear from you. (Editor's Note: I actually went to Central Presbyterian Church. Ann had me confused with a cousin.) Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 14:00:08 -0400 From: "GRIFFITH,MIKE (HP-USA,ex1)" <m_griffith@hp.com> Tommy, you've done a great job with the web site! My personal information is as follows: MILITARY: I served 2 years, 7 months (January 1968 - August 1970) in the US Army. I spent 1968 at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia. In January 1969, I was sent to Viet Nam and divided most of my time between the Cholon section of Saigon and Dong Ba Thin (a small village about halfway between Cam Rahn Bay and Nha Trang). At the end of my first tour, I made the decision that I would rather spend another six months making "big money" (an E-5 with combat pay and no income taxes to pay could take home $428 a month; what? ... I was 21 years-old, single, and saving money for a new car!) by volunteering for another six months in Nam, versus cutting my hair and spending a year saluting at Fort Gordon, Georgia. I left Viet Nam in August 1970, and since I arrived at Fort Lewis, Washington with only 150 days left on my active duty commitment, I was able to take advantage of a 5 month early-out program. Oh, I bought that 1970 Dodge Challenger ... and I wish that I still had it! COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED: University of Maryland University of Alabama at Huntsville SMU (Southern Methodist University) JOBS AND PROFESSIONS: Michael Griffith - I was a District Manager for Eckerd's Apparel and a Systems Analyst at Lockheed - Georgia. For the past 22 years, I have worked for Hewlett-Packard in Atlanta, Georgia and Boeblingen, Germany. I was a Software Development Manager for the first 20 years and, for the past 2 years, I have been the Global IT Supplier Manager. So far, it has been an "E ride" as I have been able to work with some very dynamic and intelligent people while traveling all over the world. Best ... Mike |
Can you name this week's mystery Classmates? Make your guess then put your mouse on each photo to reveal the answers. Check out the past photos by clicking on the "Now and Then" button. |
Est. April 11, 2000 July 23, 2001 Editor: Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Circulation - Page Hits e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu |
Special Sale! We need to raise some revenue to support the registration of the website domain name and possibly pay for server hosting in the future. So, we're having a sale on some of our souvenirs. If you order now you can get the 2000 Reunion Photos and the 1964 Silver Sabre Yearbook all on one CD for only $10. These have sold in the past for $10 each. Just click on the Souvenir Shop Button and follow the instructions. |
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This website maintained by Tommy Towery Class of '64 |
Special Sale! We need to raise some revenue to support the registration of the website domain name and possibly pay for server hosting in the future. So, we're having a sale on some of our souvenirs. If you order now you can get the 2000 Reunion Photos and the 1964 Silver Sabre Yearbook all on one CD for only $10. These have sold in the past for $10 each. Just click on the Souvenir Shop Button and follow the instructions. |
Est. April 11, 2000 July 23, 2001 Editor: Tommy Towery http://www.leealumni.com Class of 1964 Circulation - Page Hits e-mail ttowery@memphis.edu |
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Can you name this week's mystery Classmates? Make your guess then put your mouse on each photo to reveal the answers. Check out the past photos by clicking on the "Now and Then" button. |
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License to Squeal by Tommy Towery I was looking around for some memoribilia for this week's edition of the website when I came upon these photos of Alabama Tags from each of our graduating years. At first I thought I'd run a poll to let you vote for the prettiest, and then I realized that there's not a winner in the bunch. Tags may not mean as much to those of you who have lived in Huntsville all you lives as they do to those ex-patriots of us. There's something about driving around and seeing a car with an Alabama tag when you live hundreds or thousands of miles away from Huntsville. You get a funny feeling and you automatically focus your sight on the tag looking for that code that tells you "Madison County". You know the code numbers I am talking about - the magical "47". If you see the 47 then you know it's a Huntsville car and for some strange reason you always look to see who's driving it, like there's a chance in a million that you will know them. After a while you realize that even if you did know them, then you might not recognize them as they look today. But still it does your heart a little good to share for that one split moment in time the thoughts that somehow you are closer to home, just by being near a 47 tag. So as a companion piece for tags and cars, I thought I'd throw in a photo of me and my high school car, "The Bomb" as it looked in 1964. I also decided to share the story of the Bomb with you as I told it in my book. Click here for that story. Letters to the Editor Name: Joy Rubins Morris E-mail: MORRIJA@ATHENS.EDU Comments: It is great to read about those we have not seen since the old days. This is a wonderful idea. Name: Judith (Judy) Rubins Allard E-mail: RAM@HIWAAY.NET Comments: Hello everyone - Even though we may live far away, it is great to be able to stay in touch like this. Name: Jo Scholter E-mail: jscholter@fqsuites.com Comments: I was known as Betty Jo Key in school. I have enjoyed all the reunions that I have attended. It has been wonderful visiting with everyone at them. Name: JERRI JANNETTE FROST (1965) E-mail: jjfrost@sonet.net Comments: Looking for address to contact Lilly Carolyn Fisher (1965) Name: Teresa Charlton Esslinger E-mail: tomntes@msn.com I graduated from Lee in 1965 and I married Tommy Esslinger who also graduated in 1965. We have been happily married for 35 years. I have visited your site several times but I guess I never registered before. I think the site is great and I have really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work! Name: Janice Kay Lucky E-mail: meanwhilebar@aol.com Comments: I came to Lee High School my Senior year. I didn't graduate with the class. I had skipped a year and needed to finish some credits in summer school. I don't remember to many people. Thank you for inviting me to sign up on your mailing list. Name: Gary W. Hatcher E-mail: h8938@earthlink.net Comments: I graduated from Lee in 1966. Spent one year at Auburn, and one quarter at John Calhoun in Decatur. Join the Air Force in 1968 and stayed until retirement in 1990. Married Sharon Pickett in May of 1968, also a '66 Lee graduate. We have two married daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson. We all live in the Birmingham area now. I am now work for the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic control supervisor. Would like to here from others. Name: andrea gray roberson E-mail: hang1948@aol.com Comments: i sure do have fun looking at our leealumni web page. you are doing a great job. keep up the good work. Name: Connie Tignor Harper E-mail: cjharper@mail.com Comments: I went to Lee High as a Junior and Senior 1964-1965. I now live in Spokane, WA. I liked reading excerpts from your book. Brought back memories of Jerry's and Shoney's and cruising up and down the parkway. Glad to know you have this site set up. Will be coming back here to see what's happening. Subject: RE: LHS 64-65-66 Website Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 16:15:55 -0500 From: Ann Gates <Ann.Gates@ccc.uab.edu> I don't know if you'll remember me or not. I was Ann Hucks before I married Gary Gates. We went to church with you at Jackson Way B.C. (Fifth Street, then Second Baptist - then Jackson Way) - and we went to school together at LHS. I received an email from you today about the LHS 64-65-66 website - and I really do appreciate it! I was so sad when I visited the website and learned of so many friends who are gone now. But I was also glad, at the same time, to be able to learn about them. What are you doing these days? Gary and I have been married almost 36 years - and he is a pastor. He pastors FBC, Springville, AL. We've been there about 4 1/2 years. We had lived in central Florida for 10 years before that. We miss Florida terribly and hope to return soon. I work at UAB in the Dept. of Surgery - been here for about 4 1/2 years too. Gary's dad (Claude Gates) died several years ago - and his mom died this past month. All his brothers and sisters are still living - you remember them, I'm sure - especially the older ones - Janell and Tim (Tim is the one just younger than Gary). We have two sons and one daughter. Our sons are married and doing wonderfully. Our oldest (Shannon) is a police officer in Arab - our younger son (Jeremy) is a Minister of Music in FBC, Eustis, FL - and our daughter (Shalynn, who is adopted) is our prodigal right now.... Take care and I hope to hear from you. (Editor's Note: I actually went to Central Presbyterian Church. Ann had me confused with a cousin.) Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 14:00:08 -0400 From: "GRIFFITH,MIKE (HP-USA,ex1)" <m_griffith@hp.com> Tommy, you've done a great job with the web site! My personal information is as follows: MILITARY: I served 2 years, 7 months (January 1968 - August 1970) in the US Army. I spent 1968 at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia. In January 1969, I was sent to Viet Nam and divided most of my time between the Cholon section of Saigon and Dong Ba Thin (a small village about halfway between Cam Rahn Bay and Nha Trang). At the end of my first tour, I made the decision that I would rather spend another six months making "big money" (an E-5 with combat pay and no income taxes to pay could take home $428 a month; what? ... I was 21 years-old, single, and saving money for a new car!) by volunteering for another six months in Nam, versus cutting my hair and spending a year saluting at Fort Gordon, Georgia. I left Viet Nam in August 1970, and since I arrived at Fort Lewis, Washington with only 150 days left on my active duty commitment, I was able to take advantage of a 5 month early-out program. Oh, I bought that 1970 Dodge Challenger ... and I wish that I still had it! COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ATTENDED: University of Maryland University of Alabama at Huntsville SMU (Southern Methodist University) JOBS AND PROFESSIONS: Michael Griffith - I was a District Manager for Eckerd's Apparel and a Systems Analyst at Lockheed - Georgia. For the past 22 years, I have worked for Hewlett-Packard in Atlanta, Georgia and Boeblingen, Germany. I was a Software Development Manager for the first 20 years and, for the past 2 years, I have been the Global IT Supplier Manager. So far, it has been an "E ride" as I have been able to work with some very dynamic and intelligent people while traveling all over the world. Best ... Mike |
Hi Tommy, It wasn't easy finding these old pictures after all this time. Attached, are 3 pictures: (1) A picture in Nam that you requested (2) A picture of my girl friend and me about six months after I got back to the world, with the Challenger; (3) A picture of me and the same girl in the Challenger picture, now 30+ years later ... we're still together after 30 years of marriage and two kids, but with a different fast car. Best ... Mike (Editor's Note: I e-mailed Mike at the last moment and asked if he had any photos to accompany his story. I was shocked and ever so pleased that on the morning I was working on the update the e-mail showed up with all three photos. I have a new respect and a new friend,I hope, in Mike. I wish every visitor would be so cooperative in helping me find interesting things to post on the site for your enjoyment. I found it ironic that I had already decided to write about our love for cars when he added his comments without even knowing that was what I was featuring this week. By the way...love the hot pants! Thanks Mike.) |
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