Maroon & Black Threads
November 2007
Published
in Greenville, SC
Season’s
Greetings Classmates,
I hope each of you have enjoyed a memorable Thanksgiving Holiday and had the opportunity
to celebrate it in the custom and tradition familiar to each of you and your families. We enjoyed the day at our home in Greenville, SC with a wonderful meal prepared by my wife, Margaret, and members of her extended
family. Wow, talk about traditional food; it goes without saying, the folks born in the 30s and 40s know how to cook using
receipts handed down from their ancestor’s generation after generation.
I am
a little late with the newsletter this month. I am almost ashamed to tell you why, so I won’t tell
you! Nawwww, the problem was something about the size of 5 mm; a kidney stone. Need I say more? The ornery thing would not
remove itself from my body, as recommended by my urologists, and for two weeks I almost drank the Greenville Reservoir dry
while rolling in the floor withering with pain. Finally, a little surgical procedure was necessary which left me with a sore
side and time away from being hunched over my PC.
Certainly by now, each of you are aware of the little dilemma
we have with our first choice of venues for holding our 50th Class Reunion. As stated earlier, The Country Club
of Asheville, our first choice for Friday and Saturday evenings, The CCA is planning major renovations of their facility after
the first of the year in 2008.
As a result of the renovation, we will definitely not be able to hold our Saturday
evening Dinner/Dance at that facility because once the dance floor is in place; we loose at least 50 seats. In addition, the
newly remodeled space will not be suitable for a program because of limited visibility.
The
renovation plans were not initially revealed to the search committee and a vote was taken by the Steering Committee to use
the facility for both evenings. Upon learning about the plans for the CCA renovations, which would greatly reduce the seating
capacity of the areas we planned to use; a meeting was called by the Steering Committee for November 6 to discuss the problem.
The Steering Committee
voted unanimously to begin search for a new venue in which to hold our reunion events. During the past two weeks 3 members
of the Steering Committee have been busy looking at new venue sites in and around Asheville. Our visits
included at least 15 facilities in the Asheville area.
As the search progressed, and
when considering the size of facility we would need for our 50th reunion, we decided we needed a headcount of those
who are planning to attend the reunion also. Thus, that is why we have aggravated you during the week prior to, and including
Thanksgiving week. Thanks to all of you who promptly responded, and for those of you who have not yet responded, please do
so right away. Just answer four questions for us.
1. I plan to attend the reunion both Friday and Saturday evenings?*
2. I plan
to attend Friday only?*
3. I plan to attend Saturday evening only?*
4. I do not plan to attend the reunion?*
*Please visit the website
at Http://www.lehsmaroondevilsclassof58.com and click on “Calendar of Events” for a description and approximate costs of the events.
I would like to give you the results of the headcount as it stands Thanksgiving evening.
Of
the 248 classmates with whom we are communicating, we have 165 e-mail addresses. We have received e-mail responses from 90
of those 165. On Tuesday, November 20, a second request was made to those 75 remaining classmates who had
not responded by e-mail. Ten more have responded during the past 2 days for a total of 104 e-mail responses. That leaves 83
classmates without e-mail addresses and those classmates are being telephoned by Steering Committee members to get a head
count from them. Right now the numbers look good. With 138 classmates responding either by e–mail
or by phone, we have 162 people attending Friday evening and 166 attending Saturday evening including some spouses. We are
still waiting to hear from 110 classmates.
Enough business, lets look at some fun things. I received e-mails from the
Texas gang of Betty Ann Ray Richardson, Mary Carol Hawkins Pfalzgraf. Mary Kat Ricker Thompson,
and Lynette Kelly Ames. It seems likely this small gang of LEHS female alumni recently got together at noon
in a Texas Roadhouse for lunch and had to be run off at 4:30 by the manager before the dinner
crowd arrived. Apparently they had a great time “catching up”. Mary Carolyn sent me the following
e-mail which I have edited to save space.
Hi Rex,
I am taking a big gulp of air as I press the Send button, mainly
because the four of us discussed the fact that we are not the skinny four we once were. But, that being said, the four
of us had one of the best times of our lives last Wednesday! We met at The Abbey Grill in Frisco,
TX, around noon and did not catch a breath from talking until we left there 4 ½
hours later. Interestingly, we were all a part of different groups in HS, and yet we were like the best of buddies taking
up exactly where we left off last Wednesday! We were all so glad to have the chance to visit with each other and to
feel comfortable talking about any and everything. The Hillbilly’s were brought but looked at very little—we
were just thrilled to see each other as we are today. We plan to get together again soon and may even make it a habit!
Be
kind, Mary
(They sent photos but I was not able to copy and paste them to the website.)
A reunion was held in October for those Beaverdam folks who grew up in the valley during the 50s. We were asked
to bring memorabilia from the 50s to the reunion event held at the Beaverdam Valley Baptist Church picnic shelter where many of us worshiped during the 50s. One
such piece of memorabilia on display was a 1955 David Millard year book, The Bagpipe. 1955 was
the year we were ninth graders at David Millard.
I now have a genuine copy of that 1955 year book; all bound and ready for display and review at our 50th
reunion. The 1955 Bagpipe was dedicated to science teacher, Mrs. Julia Parker. I
am sure those of you who attended David Millard will recall the home room teachers for us ninth graders. They were English
teacher, Mrs. Bowyer; Woodshop instructor, Mr. Clark; Football Coach, Mr. Colman; Algebra teacher, Mrs. Hubbard; History teacher,
Mr. McGuire; Civics teacher and wife of Mr. Norment, LEHS principal, Mrs. Norment; science teacher and husband of the Spanish
teacher at LEHS, Mr. Owens. and Mrs. Weaver. (I do not remember what she taught.)
Class presidents were, Johnny Watkins, Margaret Mitchell, Bette Dermid, Billie Ellington,
Sidney Mitchell, Jim Groce, Mickey Ammons, Martha Ann Fuller and John Bradford. Vice presidents were, Lee
Maney, Bobby Gray, Jackie Smith, Bill Morgan, Martha Alice Miles, Malcolm Sorrells, Pat Farmer, Charles Beaman and Johnny
Connelly. Other home room officers were, Dot Miller, Pat Brookshiire, Mary K. Ricker, Lynette Kelly, Judy Lineberry, Jerry
Garren, Stuart May, Dale Hampton, Margaret Ann Garren, Suzanne Jacobs, Sue Ann Cook, Evan Kirby, Babs Burleson,
Pat Owens, Sandra Messer, Emily Osborne, Carol Ann Freeman, Barbara Carland, Nancy Drum, Larry Freeman, Jacquie Stead, Betty
Ann Ray, Dot Sutton, Bill Martin, Jean Fitzgerald, Keith Higgins, Grace Powell, Edward “Possum” McDowell, Jackie
Young, Gwen Richardson, Jimmy Rickman and Bobby Robinson. Bob Sevier was the Student Body President at David Millard in 1955
and the late Bruce Campbell was Vice President. .
Some of the interesting Class
wills state; We, Mickey Ammons and Jim Groce, do will to Joe Sutton and David Beaman, our ability to make disturbing noises
in study hall.
We, Betty Ann Ray and Vic Meade, do hereby will our window in the basement to
any couple who can stand the cold air.
I, Judy Lineberry, will my majorette boots to anyone who wants
blisters.
I, Beverly Ward, will my cheerleader outfit to Dickie Davis in hopes that he will become head cheerleader.
I, Nancy Drum, will my ability to
laugh at Miss Felmet’s jokes to any bored eight grader.
I, Tom Hatcher, being of sound mind
do will 150 tin can motors to Mr. Owen, so the science students next year will not have to make any. .
I
Jo Ann Chandley, do will to Ann Smith my nickname of “Blondie”.
And finally, I, Rex Redmon, will my basketball uniform, number 13, to anyone who is unlucky enough to get it.
The Class prophets at David Millard, Gwen Richardson and Jeanette Warren, did not do so well predicting their classmates
futures. For instance;
Sidney
Mitchell attended the University of Maryland where
he is a famous basketball and football star. He never dreamed he would become the future coach at David Millard.. (Sidney graduated from
The Citadel and is a commercial contractor in Greenville, SC.)
Suzanne
Jacobs is heading a Lonely Hearts Club. What’s
that all about Suzanne? (Suzanne is in business with her husband in Henderson County, NC).
Judy Lineberry has a new job as a chorus girl in a big Broadway Review. (Classmate John Watkins intervened on Judy’s behalf and
the happy couple now live in Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Hugh
Bryson and Johnny Watkins are still roaming around after all these years. (Hugh is happily married and lives in Clemmons, NC and Johnny Watkins…well, Judy Lineberry had something to say about his future as well.)
Who else but Kent Lominac is a star player for the Cardinals! (Kent did become a star player but for Harry’s Cadillac in
Asheville where he had a successful career in the automobile business.)
Malcolm
Sorrells has finally decided to settle down and sell insurance. (No that was Johnny Watkins’ gig. Malcolm is retired from the distribution industry
and lives in his dream house high atop Beaverdam Valley.)
Lynette
Kelly is now a infamous piano teacher. (Missed that one too girls. Lynette is a fashion designer living in Texas.
Elaine
McPherson and Judy Gutnick are in a prosperous jewelry business. (No, missed that one too. It is Judy Lance who is in the jewelry business.)
One more prediction caught my eye, and for the life of me, it is difficult to understand. Nancy Drum, Frances
Bruce, Shirley McDonald, Anne Wells, Martha Alice Miles, Anne Moore and Belinda Hughey are charter members of a very exclusive
club in New York City—The Old Maids Club. (After questioning a couple of these ladies about those predictions,
they cannot imagine such a thing.)
Finally, the prophets hit a correct prediction. Don Printz
has been neglecting his medical practice. (Don is a retired physician and recently returned from a
trip to Eastern Europe.)
Classmates from Hall Fletcher will not be left out of the newsletter. Next month I plan to use some
material sent to me by various members of the other Jr. High located across the river that was known as the Mighty Mites.
I have received many photos and hope to get them into the website soon.
The next scheduled meeting of the Steering Committee is set for January 15th, at Kelsey’s Restaurant
in Hendersonville, NC. We plan to have new venue proposals ready by that meeting
if not sooner.
Until
December, take care and be safe during the Holiday Season.
My Best Regards to each of you.
Rex
The Maroon and Black Threads December
2007
Published in Greenville,
SC
Season’s Greetings LEHS Class of 58 Alumni. Where ever you live, and how ever you plan to celebrate this
festive; and for many of us, this sacred time of year, I wish each of you Happy Holidays.
Margaret and I will have a house full
of relatives visiting during this Holiday Season. We have family arriving from Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Little grandchildren running about in our
house for several days will be a new experience for the two of us. We have only been married 3 ½ years.
So, with her grands and my grands from our former marriages; need I say more?
Oh, but it is a festive time of year and a time of year not only for reminiscing of Holiday
Season’s of the past, but to also pause and celebrate the Religious Traditions each of our families practiced over the
centuries. It is also a time to enjoy our favorite holiday music. My favorite holiday
tune is The Little Drummer Boy. I still “tear up” when I stop to listen to the words
and the music.
Yet,
behind all of the holiday activities is the spirit of love. We give special gifts to those whom we love.
We visit friends and family and share holiday cheers out of a spirit of love. And you know what my fellow
classmates? We plan high school reunions out of a spirit of love.
During the November “Canvas Every Classmate Campaign”, to get a head count of those
of you who are planning to attend the reunion, I experienced a very special camaraderie of love from many of you with whom
I communicated. In addition, members of the Steering Committee shared with me the joy they experienced
while telephoning many of you as well. The excitement is building as we continue making plans for
the 50th Lee Edwards Class of 58 reunion.
To
date, (December 16th) results of the “Canvas Every Classmate Campaign” show at least 75% of you are planning to
attend our 50th class reunion. Those results are definitely the true spirit of what reunion
is all about.
I know
for some of our classmates their teenage years and high school years were not particularly kind to them because of bitter
memories for various reasons. As a result, they desire not to attend reunion functions with former classmates. Yet, there
are many classmates I’m sure who would say, “I’d give up a tomorrow for just one yesterday at LEHS.”
Moralists
and psychologists will tell us that true happiness and confidence must originate from within. Am I fantasizing
to wish for a more than 75% turn-out of all living classmates? Of course I am! But,
would it not be wonderful for the Class of 58 to have that special spirit of love in our hearts for our classmates, our school,
our teachers and most of all, for ourselves?
I think Mary Carolyn Hawkins Pfalzgraf summed up the true spirit of reunion in her e-mail to me in November
when she and Mary Kay Ricker Thompson, Betty Ann Ray Richardson and Lynette Kelly Ames, all who live in Texas,
got together in Texas for a 4 ½ hour lunch.
Mary said, Interestingly,
we were all a part of different groups in HS, and yet we were like the best of buddies taking up exactly where we left off
last Wednesday! We were all so glad to have the chance to visit with each other and to feel comfortable talking about
any and everything.
Judy Patton Virnelson who recently attended the Class of 57’s 50th reunion, also summed up
what reunions are about. In an e-mail to me on November 27, Judy said,
Yes, we (She and I) have quite a few classmates in common, who over the last fifty
years are now gray, bald, fat, skinny, crippled, ill or have lost their lives and are with GOD. But, we all came
from Lee H. Edwards High School and still have a bond.
Amen Judy!
NEW REUNION SITE SELECTED
As you learned in November’s Maroon and Black Threads, The Reunion Steering Committee
and Locations Committee were challenged to find a new reunion site because the previously selected site, The Country Club
of Asheville, plans extensive renovations next year which will limit seating for our Saturday evening Dinner/Dance activities.
As a result, a scramble by 3 members of the Steering Committee combed the streets and by-ways of Asheville
and the surrounding communities in search of a special and suitable venue with the appropriate environment for our 50th
Class Reunion Dinner/Dance.
The 50th Reunion Steering Committee is happy to announce we are still planning to use The Country
Club of Asheville for Friday evening’s reception and cook-out type dinner. (Not Barbcue). For those of you
who have been away from Asheville for a considerable length of time, The Country Club of Asheville
is now located in the area where the Beaver Lake Golf Course existed.
However, we are returning to
The Renaissance Hotel Ballroom in downtown Asheville for our gala Saturday evening
dinner/dance and extended program where we celebrated our 25th Class of 58 reunion dinner/dance in 1983. Contracts
are in the processing of being written and signed as we go to press.
The final costs for each event will be available as soon as Jennie Lazenby’s Food Committee completes putting
the menus together for each event, including the box lunch for the Saturday tour of our Alma Mater.
Hotel and Lodging Accommodations in Asheville
In
addition to looking for suitable venues in which to hold our reunion events, Ken Cooper and I have also visited many of the
hotels and motels in the Asheville area in an attempt to persuade them to offer The LEHS Class
of 58 Alumni who live out of town special price consideration for rooms. We are still in the process of
negotiating and will not have a full report ready until January.
When
that report is ready, I will list all of the hotel and motel locations as well as special pricing for each facility. We will
have prices from exclusive hotels such as Grove Park Inn as well as prices from moderate price hotels such as Days Inn and
with many in between such as The Marriot as well.
Are You Feeling Generous This Holiday Season?
If you are feeling very generous, or
even a little generous, this Holiday Season, and if you what to spread some holiday cheer, consider making a donation—or
contribution―toward the operating expenses for our 50th Class of 58 Reunion. The $1,400.00 seed money
with which we began this exciting adventure is almost depleted. We have given deposits to both the Country Club of Asheville
and The Renaissance as well as spent money for postage for mailings to those classmates who do not have e-mail addresses and
as a result our funds are getting low.
Please make your checks payable to The LEHS Class of 58 Reunion and mail them to either
Ken Cooper or me. Ken’s address is; 240 Balfer
Drive, Greenville, SC 29615, and my address is 11 Cantera Circle, Greenville,
SC 29615. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated as we continue the
countdown until. September 19th and 20th, 2008.
Classmate Concerns
Many of you I am sure will remember Janis Solomon, Class of
56. Janice was involved in many extra curricular activities while she was at LEHS and was quite popular
among her peers. I received word from Dave Roberts, my contemporary with the Class of 56, that Janice recently passed away
from complications of cancer. Please remember Janis’ immediate family--the Bozemans—in your
prayers as they go through this very difficult time.
With regard to cancer, we have six classmates from the Class of 58 who are currently suffering from the disease. Also,
several of our classmates have spouses who have cancer as well. We too need to remember all those classmates in our prayers
as well as their spouses.
We learned about the cancer illness of three of our classmates during the “every classmate canvas” in November.
Yet, we did not hear excuses from those classmates about not attending the reunion events. Each of them said< I
plan to be there! Put me on your list!
I am a great believer of maintaining a positive attitude during all adversity. As a cancer patient in remission, I
learned 33 years ago a positive attitude is the first step toward healing.
We do have a number of classmates
who are in poor health and cannot attend the reunion because they are either in nursing homes, or are shut-ins and live with
a relative. Gwen Richardson Redmon is one such person and lives with a son in Hawaii.
Every Classmate Canvas
The results of the “Every Classmate Canvas’ were very good. As of December 16, we have 216 people committed
to attend Friday evening’s reception and 218 people committed to attend Saturday evening’s event.
The numbers will fluctuate between now and now next September I’m sure because we have 68 classmates who failed
to respond to either our e-mail solicitation or did not return phone calls.
Messages from Classmates
I am indeed privileged to be in a position
where I receive communication every month from various classmates located all across the USA.
This past
week I received an interesting publication from David and Connie Edwards who live part time in Knoxville,
TN and part time on Marco Island, FL. David and Connie write; This is a little
newsletter about the last 28 years and what’s next. Connie and I were married in Madrid, Spain over 28 years ago. We have had a world of adventure together
and were lucky enough to travel extensively. It was very safe back then.
David lists and shows 7 pages of colorful photographs of his and Connie’s travel itinerary
in the past 28 years:
First, travel with us to our favorite countries in Europe.
We were in Russia when it changed to new government (Christmas 1991).
David adds; I took 1400 pictures of animals on a flying Safari to Kenya, Kilimanjaro, and the Serengeti during the African trip. (Christmas 1997).
Egypt, the Great Sphinx, the Pyramids of Giza, and cruising up the Nile, was our favorite. (Christmas 1996)
Finally, we’ll go to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, and Bora,
Bora. Then how about China, Japan, and Bangkok, Thailand—all very interesting.
His letter continues; It is like taking
these trips all over again as we stroll through the “best of the best.” included in this special retirement Christmas
card for the year 2007.. `Oh, I haven’t told you yet but I am officially retiring at 5 o’clock P.M. on Christmas Eve, December
24, 2007. I’ll be 67 & ½.
Of Course Connie gets to retire too, for the second time. The first time was back in 1991. She was an executive with Bell South Corporation.
What’s next? We are doing a lot
of thinking about that. I have only missed two days of work since I was fifteen or so. I will have to make
some adjustments.
The final
photo in David and Connie’s publication shows has a caption that reads; “David’s Retirement Plans”.
The photo shows a bearded long haired traveler dressed in a jump suit sleeping on a duffle bag with a jug of fine wine laying
by his side surrounded by cats of every description.
David regrets his plans for September 2008 include a planned trip to Spain.
If you want to congratulate David on his retirement send an e-mail to marcobch@bellsouth.net.
I heard from
our class celebrity, Ron Rice. Ron does plan to attend both Friday and Saturday Evening reunion events. For
those of you whoa are not in the know, Ron Rice is the founder of Hawaiian Tropic Suntan Lotions. His daughter, Sterling, is a TV and movie actress.
Larry Ingle and wife Donna, are excited
about an announcement from their daughter who is expecting her second child. Larry says the announcement is an unexpected
Christmas present.
Martha
Ann Fuller Hale is back in Goodyear, Arizona until next May after spending
the summer on Camano Island, Washington.
George Holmes I’m sure has returned to Cullowhee, NC
for the winter after spending the summer in Hudson, Minnesota.
I heard from Paul Thomas who lives in
Pearl City, Hawaii. Paul sent a nice donation and also sends
greetings to everyone. He tells me he hopes to attend the reunion.
Travers Choitt sent an e-mail message. He says, Charlotte and I will definitely be there for Saturday
night. Thanks for doing such a great job in putting this together.
Travers’ compliments were duplicated by many of you and his thanks echoes the sentiments
of all of you who responded to our “Every Class Canvas”.
Apparently
we have lost Larry Freeman again. We thought we had him located in Lawrenceville, Georgia but his mail is returned by the US Postal Service.
Also the phone numbers we have for him are incorrect. If anyone knows of Larry’s whereabouts or knows a relative
who might know where he can be located please let me know.
Steering
Committee Meeting in Hendersonville, January 15th
The Reunion Steering Committee is planning a dinner meeting at Kelsey’s
Restaurant in Hendersonville on Tuesday, January 15th. We are having
so much fun planning your 50th Class Reunion we expect three new faces to join us for this meeting. Bob Sevier,
our student body president, who could not attend the last meeting due to previous commitments, again expresses a desire to
attend the meeting, as is Suzanne Jacobs Gershen and Becky Denton Lawrence. Becky recently moved from Asheville to East Flat Rock to enjoy her retirement years.
Until January everyone, Happy Holidays,
Rex Redmon
Redhrex13@aol.com
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