Buzzin' with News from Classmates

Comments: I am interested in a 30th reunion and will attend.

Private law practice since 1979 - Starkville, MS

I thought all of the ideas were great. I don't have a problem with the date as far as I know now. The only thing that might interfere is Nutcracker rehersals. I'll have to let you know for sure in September.

My professional accomplishments all occurred prior to 1986. When Ryan was born I was read to retire and be a full time mom. I have worked just enough to support my recreation. Tom's military career has taken us far and wide. The children have adapted well and are at home playing trick-or-treat with President Clinton or feeding pigeons with urchins in a third world country. Ryan is 13. He enjoys most any sport. Someday he hopes to be a professional golfer or bass fisherman. Anyone identify with that? Seriously, he is incredibly well adjusted for a military brat and maintains a good academic record despite his hedonism. Allye is 11. She loves to dance and is accomplished for her age. She spends most of her spare time in a dance class, which is fine with her. Recently she auditioned and was chosen as one of 25 out of 150 to participate in an intense summer workshop offered by Atlanta Ballet. She is an honor student, as well. We live on a small private lake northwest of Atlanta right now. I enjoy being back in the south for the time being. Loved reading all of the bio's and learning what some of my classmates are up to. I talk with Emily and Maria, but have not seen nor heard from many others in years.

Comments: No, I will not be able to attend.

I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend.

Comments: I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. Will let you know by November 1.

We recently celebrated our daughter's graduation from Ravenscroft School (high school) in Raleigh. She will be attending The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; she is interested in majoring in the Classics. Our son will be a Junior at North Carolina State University in the Business Management program.

I have been working part-time as a Speech/Language Pathologist at Magellan Charter School. In addition, I've been taking computer classes to up date my knowledge. My husband is a Captain with American Airlines; he is a check airman on the 737.

It sounds as if lots of effort has gone into the reunion plans. The committee should be very proud of its efforts!

Dick and I hope to make it back to Starkville for the reunion. However, he will not know his schedule until the end of October. We have the dates marked on our calendar, and we hope to attend all the activities.

If anyone is in the Raleigh area, please call!

Comments: Think time frame for reunion is better. Will allow alot more people to attend. I know it is better for me. Summers are tuff for me.

Still work for the National Guard full-time. Been in the guard since 15 October 1969. Working for them since June 1980. Able to retire 20 June 2000, but looking for another strip (E-8) and move to Brigade Headquarters in Tupelo, MS.

Have married again to Vicki (Gault) from Tupelo, MS. Have two red headed grandchildren. Boomer 8 yrs and Kati 4 yrs.

Comments: I am interested and will attend.

Comments: I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. Will let you know by September.

Really not much has changed for me. I am still playing and enjoying tennis. Even though Lindsay is in college I still volunteer my time with the youth at our Methodist Church and I also teach 5 year old Sunday School. I have in the last year joined a book group which I enjoy very much.

Lindsay is a Junior at Tulane University. She loves New Orleans so much she is working there this summer. She will study in Madrid, Spain this fall.

Frank and I have been in Katy, TX (suburb of Houston, TX) 15 years now.

Plans sound wonderful to me. The tour of Starkville High School and stadium would be nice. A meal at Plymouth Bluff Center on Saturday night would also be nice.

Comments: I am interested but do not know if I will attend. Will let you know by August 31, 1999.

I have a new granddaughter (MY First Grandchild!). Her name is Hannah Elizabeth and she was born March 22, 1999. The only bad thing is she lives in Houston, TX.

Comments: I am interested in the reunion and will attend.

No children! I'm an accountant at the MS Department of Education in Jackson. I've been there since 1994. I can't say I've accomplished very much at this point! I am physically fit -- go to the YMCA several times a week to work out. I read as much as I can. Spend time with friends.

Yes, my hair is still long! And with the help of Loving Care, it is still brown and sometimes auburn!

Comments: No, I will not attend. Even though I didn't graduate with you guys, I was in Starkville from 1959 to 1966. In 66 I moved to Ithaca, New York where I graduated from high school. After high school, I was a hippy for a while (until I decided I didn't want to be a street person when I grew up). I decided to do some type of public service and discovered I could be a Registered Nurse in two years. I graduated in 1973 and started working in an ICU in New York. After a year I hit the road again. I ran out of money in Tucson, Arizona and have been here ever since. I worked in an ICU and Cardiac Testing for a few more years until I got my first management job in 1980. I eventually went back to school getting a MS in Healthcare Administration. I still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. Currently I'm the Manager of Cardiovascular Nursing at the University Medical Center in Tucson. I have about 250 employees and direct the operations of 3 Units with a total of 78 beds. The most interesting part is the fact that these units are part of the largest Artificial Heart program in the World. I'm married with 4 kids, two sons and two step-daughters. Nate is 18 (He was born on my 30th birthday!) and in his first year of college. The twins, Evan and Laura 16, are Juniors at the local High School. (They aren't really twins but I've called them that ever since my wife and I married 4 years ago.) Emma, 12 is in middle school and trying hard not to grow up. My wife is also an RN and also works at University Medical Center. E-mail: rgrogan@azstarnet.com or rgrogan@umcaz.edu For fun and to unwind after work I create Web Pages, most of which can be found at: http://www.azstarnet .com/~rgrogan/official.htm Be warned, I frequently offend people with my attempts at humor.

Comments: Everything sounds great and what a wonderful idea to have it over the Thanksgiving Holiday. We have a very long way to travel, (13 hours) so staying for dinner on Saturday night will be iffy at best, so we won't have to make the whole trip back in one day, on Sunday. We could also spend time with our oldest son, will be a senior at MSU. Would it be possible to have a "big get-together" on Friday and make the whole reunion a 2-day affair? That way, people like us who have a long way to travel can stay for the main event and still make it home in good time. Well, anyway, we are going to try our best to get there, sounds like fun! Thank all of you for all your hard work in the planning such a big event!

Comments: I am interested and plan to attend.

I hope to be able to make it to the reunion.

I am divorced only married for 2 years. I retired from the Army. I work on personal computers and play on the internet all day. I am not as good looking as I was in '69 (but I may not have been then either!)

I am living in Lawton, OK and going to move back to SC or LA to be closer to the Gulf or Atlantic.

Comments: I am interested and plan to attend.

Getting old, fat, blind, and in debt. However, children doing well - Danielle (14) & Amanda (16) - Starkville Academy and Slade (19) at MSU; Wife, Gayle, has not left me yet.

Comments: I am interested and plan to attend.

Associate Pastor - Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo, MS; Has served churches in Madisonville, TN, Birmingham, AL, Clarksdale, MS and attended and participated in numerous conventions including Ridgecrest National Baptist Assembly, Canadian Baptist Convention, Hawaii Baptist Convention, and New York Baptist Convention

Hello to all the former classmates of SHS. It was interesting to read the different things here on your site. I hope more write in and you are able to add to it. Sometimes (not too often) but sometimes, I think it would be interesting to talk with old so and so (see you forget names at our age). In fact some months back I tracked down my old friend Ronnie Casey whom I had not talked to in about 25 years. That was fun to talk to an old classmate again.

Well, about us here, lets see, my wife and I had our 26th anniversary this March,, she is still young and beautiful. Notice I said she is, not me. We have 5 children: the oldest, Amber (24), married a South African boy in '94 and they have a girl, my granddaughter is a true African American and yet no one is black..strange world isn't it? This son-in-law became an American citizen over a year ago now. They are expecting their second child in summer. My next oldest daughter, Jennifer (22) married a boy from New Foundland a year ago and they have one child who was born at 23 weeks old at 1 pound and 4 oz. Now the little fellow is 11 pounds. That was something to see..this little preemie baby struggling for life. My next, is my son, Caleb (19) who has been working with me and for a chemical-agriculture business and now coming back to work for me while he goes to college (he is not married yet but dates a girl in Kitchener, Ontario. My next is Timothy (15), freshman in high school and loves to act. He just finished the lead role in the high school play and has a real good singing voice (they do musicals at the school). Not bad for a freshman beating out the SR's and JR's for a role. (Sorry, did that sound like a proud parent bragging. Oh well!) Next is Jared, a 20 year old in a 7 year old body! We keep busy here at our mini farm, we have black angus cows (2 and 1 heifer) with both cows expecting again, one quarter horse, about half dozen chickens if the one dog a husky hasn't eaten anymore today, another dog, and our newest hobby Llamas. We have 11 of them with one of the females due any day now. Now those are a different kind of an animal, but neat.

Well that takes up our time and when not busy with all of that, I have a corporation I started about 3 years ago now and I make special machines for Rockwell International and send them all over the US and Canada and now one to Mexico where I have to go in June, so that fills in the time when we are not busy.

I have been song leader for the last 18 years at our church and the elder, so at times I have preached here or at some other sister churches in Canada and North Carolina to just help out. We are non-denominational Christians which is our whole life with the rest just fill in.

Well, that's about it. If anyone feels like killing time our email address is righttrk@bright.net and our ICQ number is 15613421. I hope to be able to attend the reunion. A good idea would be to , as someone already said, invite teachers. (I know my mother would like that.) So long for now.

Comments: Don't have any suggestions at the moment, except maybe some more of that delicious BBQ. I'll read things over and submit something later.

Retiring from the Navy in 1993, I have been with the Federal Reserve Board in Washington DC for 6 years. I am an Information Systems Analyst and provide network administration, desktop computer support, and web training and administration for a branch of approximately 80 applications programmers. My primary hobby for most of my adult life has been golf, until recently. About 3 years ago, I renewed an old interest, Trombone, and have been playing ever since. I play mostly for fun in several different groups, but have done some professional studio work and recording recently and play in a professional band called the Crabtowne Big Band every Wednesday night.

For more information, please visit my website at:  http://www.john-mcvey.com/
 

I hope to be able to make it down there in November. However, there is a tremendous amount of paranoia at the FRB and in the banking industry in general about the Y2K thing, and our annual leave after September has been severly limited. But I will try. It will be good to see everyone again. I certainly enjoyed the last reunion.

Please send e-mail to john.mcvey1@comcast.net or respond via my web site.

Comments: I am interested and plan to attend.

Divorced since November, 1996. Am dating and enjoying life. Work as a third grade school teacher.

3 daughters - Rebecca Anne graduating from University Medical Center in May 1999; wedding on July 24. Connie Marie - KD at Southern - Majoring in pre-dental. Jamie Michelle - 14 - junior high cheerleader, elected for 9th grade.

I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. Will let you know in September.

Two children in college. Inside salesman for welding supply based in Memphis. In spare time blacksmithing, knifemaker, and hunting and fishing. Single again for 10 years.

Other than a tour of the High School and stadium, the other suggestions are fine with me.

Comments: I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. This could be tricky due to other family commitments.

I have two sons, Matt and Clayton. By reunion time, Matt will be a senior at Mississippi State. Clayton will be a sophomore at Ole Miss (unless I can convince him to attend a college.)

My life used to be filled with fun. Now my boys have gone off to school. My husband has become a member of the infamous Jackson City Council. Once I went to ballgames and school activities. Now I go to "functions" and try to avoid the FBI. Trust me, kids are more fun (this includes the "terrible twos").

I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. Will let you know by June 15 (hopefully!)

I am interested and will attend.

Comments: I am interested but don't know if I will be able to attend. Will let you know.

I work for National Speciality Services and sell pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. I have 3 girls, the youngest graduates from high school this year and 2 grandchildren, both girls.

I am interested in a reunion and will attend. Thanksgiving is NOT a good time for me. I like the idea of a football weekend, but not that one.

Have a son who finishes grad school and has a real job at last. Daughter a Junior - living at home (time to move her out).

I am interested and plan to attend.

2 children - Jennifer (Married April 1999) and Joshua, plans to go to MSU Vet School.

Comments: I just have a couple of questions: 1)How will we know where the informal gatherings will be? Echols or Len Lou's? Seriously, will invitations be sent to these on an informal basis?

(2)If I am unable to attend, will I be able to purchase the class update book or will it be posted on the web site?

(3)Where is Ron Casey?

The last 30 years have seemed to blow by in the Oklahoma wind...where did that time go?

My major accomplishments are: 1)My wife, Georgia, has not killed me and she has had every opportunity in the last twenty years. We recently renewed our vows, so I expect she will keep me.

2)We have raised two children, Elizabeth (22) and Amy (19). I am very proud of them both.

Recently, I retired from the University of Oklahoma, Physical Plant, where I was the Manager of Technical Trades. I don't know why, but I have not had a headache since that time.

I have a major addiction ...Bass Fishin! My other hobbies include reading, landscaping, feeding hummingbirds and chatting on the internet. If you see someone named "SweetOBob" that would probably be me. Most of the other chatters just call me SOB for short. Look for me in #40s or #Babyboomers chat rooms on the MSN network. We also have ICQ and our number is 18040422. I am usually online mid morning and sometimes early night, except weekends. Our email address is elr@ou.edu.

Comments: I am interested but do not know if I will be able to attend. Should be able to make a commitment by October.

Our family has been living in Paris, France for the past three years with my husband's job in the international aerospace business. Our teenagers, 16-year old Tom and 14-year old Katie, are almost fluent in French, even if their parents still struggle. We have used our time here to explore all of Europe, Russia, and north Africa. Tomorrow, we depart for 12 days in Nepal for our school's spring break -- it will be our greatest adventure yet! Our time in Paris will come to an end this July, and we will return to McLean, VA for my husband's new job and for the children to finish high school.

Yes, I am interested and plan to attend. Sure do hope I can be there! Sounds like a lot of fun.

Would be cool to see SHS, even cooler to see some of our SHS teachers from back in the late 60's, if any of them are still around!??!

Since graduating at SHS I've worked in radio in Jackson, Natchez, New Orleans, Miami, Pittsburgh, Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Tuscaloosa, Charlotte, Jacksonville, and on the internet.

Now I'm writing for a music industry trade magazine called HITMAKERS in Los Angeles. No. I'm not crazy, that's just where this job is!

Sure miss my old friends in Starkville. I remember a lot of very fun times there. Will never forget Andy Rushing and Mike Kracker making sound effects during SHS pep rallies! Hope I can get back to Mississippi this November!

Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
and the other gold.

Comments: Yes, I will attend.

I am married to Chuck Hill, and we have a perfect son, Ethan, who just turned 7. We've been in Auburn, Al, since 1986, and have enjoyed being back in the South (for the most part!). We had lived in Lubbock, Texas, for 7 years before moving here. I'm a professor of family studies at Auburn University, and have also been involved in quite a few administrative responsibilities, both here at Auburn and in national and international professional organizations. That has meant that I've been able to travel to some interesting places--Canada, Israel, the Netherlands--with Australia coming up next summer. Chuck also works at AU--he is in charge of development for the 4-H Foundation.

We come back to Starkville once or twice a year--my parents still live there--and it's quite amazing to see all the changes.

Comments: I am interested and plan to attend.

Comments: Yes, I will attend.

Still married - 29 years this July. Three children still in Starkville, but Ryan will be moving to Virginia Beach, VA in July where he will attend Massage Therapy School. Amy will be moving out in August to an apartment near MSU. Robin and her husband live in town and gave us our first grandchild, Anna Claire, in April of this year. Life is wonderful!

Am employed at MSU as Web Designer/Trainer in the Office of Agricultural Communications. Love my work.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Comments:Yes, I plan to attend.

I am now married to John Guyton. Some of you will remember him as Jack Guyton. John and I live on the beautiful, sunny, hot! gulf coast. We moved here in 1995 when John took a job with Mississippi State University as the State Environmental Education Specialist. I work with Ingalls Shipbuilding, Inc. in the Labor and Employee Relations department. Before that we were in Murray, Kentucky for eight years. I worked with the President's Office, the Office of Equal Opportunity and finally the Department of Biological Sciences. John was a Professor in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

We have two beautiful daughters, from a previous marriage to John McVey. Jen is the oldest, 27, and has just received her RN license. She is engaged to be married soon to Andrew. She lives just outside Baltimore, MD. Suzy is the youngest, 23, and is working as Merchandising Assistant with J.C. Penney in Madison, MS.

We have no grandchildren yet, thank goodness since they aren't married. We can't wait until we have grandchildren though, that way we can spoil them on the weekends and send them home to be brats like we were.

Comments:I am interested and plan to attend.

2 girls - Rachel (16) and Marla (13). I am a dentist. Stayed married to the same woman for 20 years.

Comments: Plans sound good. We are usually in S'ville on Thanksgiving day.

In May of 1998 I left JVC after 9.4 years and took a job with Michelin in their Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Manufacturing plant in Tuscaloosa. I currently have a staff of 5 that I manage. I am responsible for Safety, Security and Environmental compliance at our 200 acre 1900 employee site.

We now have one grandchild, Ricky, who is two.

Dot retired again in February. She stays quite busy with church activities.

I was ordained an Elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA) in February of 1998.

Our health remains good.