 JIM ADAMS -
After
graduation, attended Auburn majoring in Industrial Design. Married Ann
Ruffner of Bessemer in '61, U of Alabama student. We lived in B'ham for a
year then in Huntsville where I worked on the Saturn S-IC program (lower
stage w/engines) as a designer for Boeing. I was one of the first from
AL to work there & stayed 8 years. We had 2 children, Tim & Amy.
Moved to Carrollton, GA & for a couple of years working with Southwire Co
developing a copper refinery, which today is the only one in the country. Moved back to B'ham & worked in the Air Pollution Industry designing
Electrostatic Precipitators & Dry/Wet Scrubbers for utility
companies throughout the country. 8 years ago I started my own business,
Computer-Aided Design CADWORKS. Ann & I stay busy since we both work
& stay in touch with 4 grandkids, 3 in TN & 1
in FL.
 JOE BOOTH -
2 years after graduation, I married Charline Dorough '60 class. We have 2
children, now grown & a grandchild.
 MARGARET BRETT
-
I am a nurse at Healthsouth Rehab in Homewood. Divorced
with 2 children & 3 grandchildren. I have
traveled the world, living & working from FL
to Alaska, settling back in B'ham area 9 years ago.
 SONNY DEATON
-
I left B’ham to join the USAF in ‘63 (after racing cars for 2 years) &
landed in Fort Worth TX. Served in Viet Nam until ‘67 & settled back
in Fort Worth. My wife, Linda, & I are now looking forward to
retirement & going full time with our own furniture design business. I
am an avid woodworker & Linda does the artistic painting. Have a son Brandon, a grandson Justin, & 2 very hyper Boston Terriers. We love sailing (when we have time) & are still restoring our home. I
have worked for 30 years for FFE Transportation as Key Account Manager
& Linda has been with Motorola 11 years as a Customer Relations
Liaison for the overseas market.
Hey Cliff, I was in that class of Ms
Whaley’s & I would have sworn it was you outside that window, but it's been
many years so I don't remember for sure. I do have fond memories of
visits to Mr Wood's (Uncle John) office & his saying,"I know you boys did
it, but I just can't prove it!" By the way, Bailey Dickinson was one of my
best friends. Would love to hear any news about how he is doing!
 BILLY FRAME -
After
graduation, attended Junior College in MS, then Samford. Got
married & produced 2 girls & 1 boy. Divorced after 7 years then
found the woman of my dreams. We have 5 children (she has 2 boys). Been
married for 31 years & looking forward to many more. 15 grandkids &
2 great grandkids. Been in B’ham most of my 60 years. After Acipco &
coal mining, have had many occupations. I now have a government job at
City of Tarrant Electric Dept & my wife works for Jefferson Co Family
Court in Bessemer.
 HESS FRIDLEY
-
I
live in North AL & own a Bed &Breakfast with my wife Kathy. We have 2 sons,
Hess & Marc, that live in B'ham & Tuscaloosa. I have retired & have gone
back to work at an Insurance Agency in Albertville.
 EARNESTINE GILMORE -
I
have been married to Terry Ingram, graduate of Talladega High, for 41
years. He is a Jefferson County retiree & I am a UAB retiree! We have 3
children, Wayne (a Bessemer Firefighter) married with 2 daughters, Lynn (a
beautician) married with 1 daughter & 1 son, & David (Sr. Engineering Aide
with Jefferson County Environmental Services) & still single. Terry & I
enjoy traveling in our motor home & now look forward to more extended travels
in our retirement years!
 ART HARTLEY -
Now
days most folks call me Art. I was to have graduated in '58 but worked a
half day & school a half day that last semester
& finally graduated in '59. Stayed in B'ham working at different jobs,
then got married in '61 to Dell Atchison, Tuscaloosa. We had 3 children. Greg, our oldest, & his wife Lori & new son live in Tuscaloosa
where Greg is a Police Sgt. Lori teaches 12th grade math. Our daughter
Pam, husband Mark & 2 children live in Selma. Mark buys & sells
cotton, while Pam is Public Relations
Dir of International Paper. Our youngest son Tony, his wife Angela & their 2 girls live in Mobile
with 1 on the way in May. I graduated from Samford in '72 with a BA &
attended Southwestern Seminary in Ft Worth for a Master in Religious
Education in '74. I have served as a Baptist pastor in Selma, Tuscaloosa,
Alexander City, Cullman, Maplesville & have now returned to my first
pastorate in Selma. I will retire from the active pastorate in a
year
& look forward to spending time with all my grandchildren. Dell &
I will celebrate 40 years of marriage in Aug. When we retire (she's been a
Dental Hygienist for 30 years) we're planning to move to Mobile &
spoiling the grandkids! Like
many others, I remember Ms Whaley & her peanut circus, Mr Evans &
his 'board of education', Ms Draper & Ms Walls from Speech & Ms
Sophie Davis from Music. I remember Ms Davis came to my home room &
informed me that she had enrolled me in the choir (without me knowing)
& that
I
would attend. She had me sing my first public solo. Today, along with
pastoring a church, I do quite a bit of singing. I have written gospel
songs that have been recorded by the Dixie Echoes & the Florida WMU. I
suppose my most painful memory is when I heard that Scotty Harris, WEHS
grad, had been shot down over Vietnam. Nothing more was heard about Scotty
until nearly 20 years later when his bones were returned to the U.S.
 JACKIE KIRK -
After graduation, attended U of Alabama in conjunction with Druid City Nursing
School. Married Richard Smith in '60 & spent the next 6 years in CA
while he was in the Navy. Have 3 wonderful children: Rick 37, Shelly
36 & Scott 32. Grandchildren: Amber 16 & Caroline 7. Moved back
to Tuscaloosa in '67. Divorced in '84. Remarried in '86 to John
Ray, Supv of Engineering & Drafting for McAbee Industrial Contractors.
Spend most of my years as a stay at home mom. Worked at Gospel Supply
House Christian Bookstore 10 years. Worked 5 years for a group of
Internists. Took care of my mother from '94-'99. Am now working
as a Medicaid Insurance Specialist for Tuscaloosa Radiology Clinic.
Very active in county & state Republican Party. Teach Sunday School.
Church librarian.
 PINKYE LYLE -
I
married Phil Skewes, class of '55. After graduation, I became a stay at
home Mom to Philip (now 42) & Jeff (now 40), for the next 10 years.
After receiving my degree in Foods Management, I worked at the Jefferson Co
Board of Ed in the Child Nutrition Dept until Jeff graduated from high
school. We spent the next 2 years in scenic NJ (need I say more?)
where I served as Supv of Food Svcs in the nutrition dept at a large
hospital. We returned to B'ham where I served as Food Svc Dir at an
Assisted Living Facility. We remained here until '92 when we accepted a
transfer to the SF Bay Area. Oh my, how we loved that city, known as
Baghdad by the Bay! Between exploring our temporary home state &
enjoying all the wonderful food & drink, I worked as a Nutrition Svcs
Coordinator for a nursing home chain. We remained there until our
retirement in 98. The pull of our southern heritage & 4 beautiful
grandchildren brought us back home. We spend our days now trying to
spoil Ashley 17, Tyler 11, Casey 19 & Cody 9, enjoying occasional trips
back to our favorite city by the Bay & fishing at Logan Martin Lake.
DAVE ORR -
After WEHS, attended Howard College before choosing a
career with the US Postal Service. I was a letter carrier in B'ham for 10
years before my promotion to Postal Inspector. After assignments in Trenton
NJ, Norristown & Philadelphia PA, Gadsden AL & Memphis TN, I returned to
B'ham where I retired in '94. I currently work as a field investigator for
the Dept of Defense conducting background security investigations. My wife
Becky is from Gadsden. I have 2 sons, 1 daughter & 1 granddaughter.
Click on my name above to visit my family photo album. User name - "family". Password
- "friend" (both must be lower case).
BECKY PARRISH -
I
moved away from West End before graduation. I graduated from Manatee
Communiity College. I was Executive Administrator for Siemens Power Corp
for 16 years & am now retired and living in Bradenton, FL. I enjoy hanging
out around the pool & watching the golfers behind our house throw their golf
clubs - what a hoot!
 JAN PATTERSON -
After graduating & working briefly in
B'ham, I married Sherrell Latta (Glenn,'60) & moved to scenic Salina, KS.
After leaving the USAF, we moved back & now live in the Locust Fork, AL.
We have 2 children. Wayne is with the Sheriff's Dept. & has 2
children. Julie married a yankee & lives in Fountain Valley, CA with
her 2 children. I have worked at Energen for 16 years & am looking
forward to retirement soon.
 BARBARA POWELL -
After WEHS, I attended Jacksonville State
then came back to B'ham & attended my sophomore year at Howard College.
Returned to Jacksonville in '61 & graduated in '63 with a BS in Secondary
Education majoring in Mathematics. After college, I taught 8th grade
for a year at Wylam Elementary in B'ham. Married Tom Wollan in '64 &
worked briefly at Ensley Baptist Church (worked with Coach Mitchell & lived
in an apt owned by Ms Abrams) while Tom worked for US Steel. In '65,
we moved to IL where Tom worked as engineer for Underwriters Lab. I
became a computer programmer for UL after our move there. Our daughter
was born in '68. I have become an avid quilter over the past 25 years.
When UL set up an office in Research Triangle Park, NC, we accepted a move &
have been living in Chapel Hill since '85. I am now employed by the
School of Medicine at U of NC as a Production & Database Specialist.
 JOYCE PRINCE -
I live in Blairsville, a small North GA
town. We own a T-shirt shop & have 4 kids, 3 grandkids. Would
love to hear from anyone, especially LaBrenda Luquire, or Linda McIntyre.
We went to Central Park Elementary.
 GAYLE REEVES -
How can you cover 42 years in 25 words or less? Well, here goes.
After WEHS, I married George Jordan & had 2 sons, Gentry & Cameron. In
'73, I married Johnny Johnson & he had a daughter. We now have 5
grandchildren. I retired from Sears in '98 & I love being retired.
I don't know how I ever found time to work. I love to travel & stay at
the beach as much as possible. I have been very blessed & try to enjoy
every minute that I can. I do stay in touch with several WEHS
graduates, but would love to be in touch with more, especially some from the
old Central Park neighborhood.
 BOB RIGNEY -
Jackie Sewell & I
were voted 'Hollywood Bound' for the '59' Senior Resume'. I never made
it out of B'ham & am wondering if Jackie did. She was a GREAT piano player.
Mary Linda (Hendrix) & I will celebrate our 40th anniversary this month.
We have 3 children & 5 grandchildren all living here. Our marriage
never faltered in 40 years. I would love to hear from anyone I went to high
school with during my tenure of 5 years at WEHS. I recognize some from the Web site as being kids
that I taught in Sunday School (believe it or not) at Beverly Methodist
Church when they were younger. I was also in that "window leap" class.
Poor Ms Whaley. A lot of people, including me, really gave her a hard
time. I wish I could have made it up to her!
 GLORIA SALTSMAN -
In
'65, I went to work for Alabama Power; In '7l married Jimmy Whitlock from
Ensley & celebrated our 30th anniversary this year; '96 retired from
Alabama Power. In looking back over the years, the greatest event in my
life happened in the Spring of '72 when I received the Lord Jesus Christ
into my life as my Savior & Lord. He is my strength & gives me peace
through all trials & difficulties. My prayer for my former classmates &
friends is that each one will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
SHIRLEY SHORTNACY -
If I had not been
accelerated in classes at Hemphill Elementary, I would have graduated in
May, '59 so I know so many people in the 3 classes behind my time. I have
been married to Hubert Frost, Jr. from Ensley High '56 since '59. We have 4
children: Valerie, Teri, Steve & Susie & 8 grandchildren. I am a realtor
with RealtySouth & have been helping people sell & buy homes for 27 years.
My youngest daughter, Susie Helton is my business partner.
 SANDRA SKINNER -
Married that guy from Jones Valley that I dated all during WEHS, John
Langston in '59. Lived in B'ham 6 years, moved to suburbia Atlanta,
Tucker GA for 9 years, then moved to Lilburn GA where we have been for 28
years.
We have 4 wonderful married children who have blessed us with 12 beautiful
grandchildren. Not bad for an only child. I would love to hear
from old & dear friends!
 CHARLES SMITH
-
I
retired from Jefferson County School System after 35 years. I coached at
Shades Valley HS for 10 years & was head football coach for last 4 years. I
was the School Administrator at Bottenfield Jr. High & Patterson Middle
School. I married Nola Bowman from MS. We have 2 children, Ricky & Staci,
& 2 grandchildren, Anna Marie & Mary Kathryn, ages 4 & 2. Nola has been a
Budget Analyst for Social Security for 38 years. We live in Shelby County
on a 13 acre farm.
 "BIG" JERRY
THOMAS - I
am married to Dr. Katherine Thomas, Assoc Prof at Iowa St Univ). I am Prof
& Chair ('98-current) at Dept of Health & Human Performance at Iowa St Univ
in Ames. Previously was Prof at Arizona St Univ ('88-'98), LSU ('77-'88) &
FSU ('74-'77). Got my BA from Furman, Masters & Doctorate from U of
Alabama. We
have 4 children. Rick is MD in Houma LA; Jenny is CPA in New Orleans;
Matt is computer engineer in Phoenix AZ; Deani is elem school teacher in
Ames IA. We also have 5 grand children: Ashley 7, Amanda 8, Mitchell 3,
Katie 4 & Robert 4. We have three horses (Shire, Belgium-Shire cross,
Shetland Pony), a goat, 7 cats & a dog. I'm an avid golfer (different from
being a good golfer)!
 JERRY THOMAS - After WEHS, I attended Auburn & graduated in '63 with
a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering. June '63 proved to be an
important month in my life in that I graduated from college, took a job in
Huntsville with a small start up company & married Beth Rives (Jones
Valley). These decisions must have been divinely blessed in that my job &
my marriage have lasted for 38 years & Huntsville is still home. Beth & I
graduated from U of Alabama in Huntsville, Beth with an accounting degree & I
added a Masters in Engineering. We have 2 sons, Scott & Stephen, & one
grandson, Jackson. We are fortunate to have all our family still in the
Huntsville area. Scott & Stephen graduated from Auburn, Scott in Business &
Stephen in Engineering. Stephen also graduated with a Masters from GA Tech.
I have been profoundly blessed with a great wife & 2 wonderful, grown, self
sufficient children. As to that small start up company that had 50
employees when I was first employed, it is SCI Systems, the largest publicly
owned company in AL with over 50 plants in 19 countries & approximately
35,000 employees. I became an officer in '76, a VP in '81, & a Sr VP in
'92. It was terrific to have a job that I totally enjoyed, & it was
educational to have business units all over the world. My business groups
included plants in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Europe & Asia. It was nice to
meet people from all over the world, but the time spent traveling was
demanding. I retired from SCI in May this year & enjoy being in Huntsville
for a change. Most of my activities outside work related to either
University Boards, church or kids sports. I served on the College of
Business & Electrical Engineering Advisory Boards at Auburn, & continue to
serve on the Foundation Board of Directors of the AL Institute of the Deaf &
Blind. At UAH, I was privileged to serve as President of the Alumni Assn &
Athletic Assn. I attend a Baptist church & have taught in Bible study for
many years. I have a plaque on my desk that says " I may be getting older,
but I refuse to grow up." It seems appropriate at this point in my life, in
that I still love rock & roll music & despite being a Baptist, love to
dance. I will always remember the high school
years as one of life's most pleasant experiences!
 JIMMY WELLS - I'm
a retired high school teacher, state of AZ, Navajo Indian reservation. |
