Lee High School - Huntsville Alabama Alumni

Jeff Fussell, Class of '66 - The mystery photo is no mystery to me. That’s a “Magnus Chord Organ”. My aunt owned one and probably still does. As kids, we’d crank it up whenever we went to visit. She probably had 20 or more Magnus songbooks, each coded with numbered melody notes for the keys and chord symbols for the buttons to the left of the keyboard.

They were available in versions ranging from basic tabletop models (like the photo) to freestanding console models. Basic models could only play six “major” chords which limited the songs you could play (think “Oh! Susanna”). The larger models expanded to add “minor” chord buttons. (think “House of the Rising Sun”). The somewhat wheezy tone of the organ was generated by a fan that blew air through a duct to harmonica-like reeds. The air pressure wasn’t variable, so musical expression was less than stirring.

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Robert Durham

Class of '66

Feb. 5, 1946 - Sept. 30, 2009

Published in The Huntsville Times on October 2, 2009

Robert J. Durham, 63, of New Market died Wednesday at a local hospital.

He was retired from Dunlop Tires. He was also the former pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Tenn.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Durham; one son, Randy Durham and his wife Karen; three daughters, Tracy Spray and husband Terry, Amy Shannon and Robin Edwards and husband Randy; one brother, Jimmy Durham; two sisters, Peggy Williams and Judy McCullough; and nine grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Valhalla Funeral Home with Bro. Milton Martin officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Redstone Federal Credit Union c/o Randy Durham.

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Subject:Places to Eat

Dianne McClure

Class of '64

When we take visitors, or ourselves ,out to eat we like to go to Greenbrier for barbeque, Mullins for slawdogs, Clemtines for chicken salad, Top of the River, in Guntersville ,for seafood and Little Rosies for mexican. That about covers it except steak which used to be Mr.Steak until it clsoed now I guess it would be Logans , any other steak suggestions welcomed, and for home cooking my own kitchen. I agree there is no where for a good corn dog anymore since the Zesto closed.

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Subject:Guitar Hero

Eddie Burton

Class of '66

Tommy, I've been a musician playing in bands since 1965 or about 44 years. On a visit to my granddaughter and her husband's house last May they have Guitar Hero with all the extra's. Two guitars, bass, drums and mics. The songs were just a mixed batch of big hair 80's rock. I knew none of them. They talked me into trying to see what I could do. I started out on drums and I was so bad the band actually stopped. Then I went to guitar and I got a very low score. Finally I went to bass which only had 4 buttons and less notes to play and I just did pretty well. Then I found a song I knew so I tried my hand a singing and I got a thumbs up and great chops review. The thing is, there is really no connection between the game and playing an instrument after all it is a game and I can see why young people get such a kick out of it.

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Ramblings of a Retired Mind

I was thinking about how status symbols today those cell phones that everyone has clipped o their belts or purses. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage door opener. I also made a cover for my hearing aid and now I have what they call blue teeth, I think.

You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans!

I was thinking about old age and decided that old age is 'when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to bounce it.'

Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, 'A Good Doctor'!

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then, it dawned on me. They were cramming for their finals. As for me, I'm just hoping God grades on the curve.

Enjoy your days and love your life, because life is a journey to be savored.

Last week I wrote about a current TV game called Rockband. Even though the video game did not come to be before most of us graduated, many of us were quick to purchase them when they did become available. This is a photo of the world's first home video game console. It was first demonstrated on May 24, 1972 and released in August of that year, predating the Atari Pong home consoles by three years. What is it? Did you have one? Do you still have one? Class year and school with your answer please.

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