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 BOBBY ATCHISON
-
My best WEHS memories are of Coach Roy & Ms Shelburne. They
told me how good I could be as opposed to how bad I was. Both are gone now
but I remember both of them fondly each day!
 FRANK
BAILEY -
Started trying to figure out what year I
graduated..'64?
Surely not, that is almost
40 years ago, that can't be right! Now I'm depressed. Went from WEHS
to AL College, married
Joan Cromer from Mobile '67. Worked in B'ham for the
Juvenile Court & Mercy Home for
2
years, got drafted, joined the USAF at the last possible second. Flew a desk for 4
years. Daughter Nicole born in '70. Tulane slipped up & let me in & we lived in New Orleans for 2
years. Masters in Social Work. Moved to SD & worked in a community mental health center 4
years. Moved to Chattanooga, worked at State Mental Hospital in Adolescent Unit. Joan finished her Masters at about that time & teaches special education. Moved to N. GA & for l5
years have lived next door to Rock City, where I am a School Social Worker. Can retire in 3
years. Nicole is married & teaches English in Houston. She tells me I will be a grandfather in November. Whew! Now I need a nap!
UPDATE:
I retired in 2005 from School Social Work, wife Joan (of 40 years) retired at
the same time. Only child Nicole continues to live near Houston. Twin
grandchildren, Emma and Bailey, just turned 5.
We
are spending lots of time between our little FL cabin and children in Houston.
Still trying to sell our house and acre of land in Chattanooga. Know anyone who
would like to live on Lookout Mtn near Rock City?
 JOE BAKES -
After graduation, I spent 3 years at the U of Alabama. I left 'Bama in '66 to
join the Air Force, spent the next 4 years growing up, then returned to
'Bama in '70, graduating with a BS in Education in '71. From '71 to '00, I
played in sales. I retired last May to become a house husband, my wife's
boy toy, & to pursue my life long passion of fishing. I've been
married for 27 years to my wonderful wife, Karen, & we have 2 sweet
daughters. Our oldest, Stephanie (The Goose) is 24, graduated from
BAMA with a degree in accounting. For the last 2 years she has worked here
in Chattanooga as an accountant & assistant controller. My baby daughter,
Stacey (The Princess), is 22, married, & is a registered nurse. For the
last year she has worked in the Mother-Baby unit of a local hospital.
Looking forward to grandkids, but for now I will settle for fishing 5 or 6
days a week. My
favorite memories are sports & girls!
 JO ANN BECKMAN -
I
married Walter Garrett & we recently celebrated our 35th wedding
anniversary. We both graduated from B’ham Southern. I am presently
Director of Human Resources with Christian & Small Law firm, having gone
back to work after the kids were older. We have 3 children: Scott is 33 &
works with International Wines; Jason, a field engineer with Nextel, is 30 &
with his wife Tammy, has 2 sons, Zac 3 & Hunter 9 mo. Our 3rd child, Katy,
is 19 & an all-star volleyball player & presently on athletic scholarship at
the U of West AL, where she will be a Jr in Sept. Walter has worked
for the B’ham Park & Recreation Board for 33 years (taught school for a year)
& ran Legion Field most of that time. We both are contemplating retirement,
but no rash moves yet.
 DANNY BENNETT - After
graduation, I took attended Florence State College (Now U of North AL). I
left after 2 years & joined the Army Reserve. I returned after 6 months
training & attended Athens College, graduating in '70 with a BS in
Education. I taught school for 3 years in B'ham, then sold insurance for 2
years. Got married & returned to active duty for the Army Reserve in '76
retiring in '96 as a Master Sgt. I went back to school, attending UAB
receiving a Masters Degree in Education in '99. During my active duty days
I traveled all over the US, Central America & Caribbean. Now I am enjoying
my retirement.
JACK BERDEAUX -
I left school in '60 to
join the USAF (guess it was that restless soul of mine), got my GED in '61,
& worked the intelligence section in cryptographics. Upon leaving the AF, I
started a photo typesetting business with a partner in TX. Later I sold my
interest & moved to AZ. Completed a program in electronics & computer
controls from DeVry in '72. Graduated from AZ State U in '75 with a degree
in Business Administration on the GI Bill for Vietnam Era Veterans. Took a
Masters in '79 & completed a doctorate in '84. While in AZ, I worked in
engineering as a machine designer & as a math teacher for the Phoenix Union
HS District for 6 years before moving to Alaska, where I homesteaded until
'96 (a whole history of adventures in itself). Then we moved to Michigan so
I could attend law school. I have worked in the legal & computer fields
since. In '85, I married a wonderful person, Tammy, & we have 4 children
together. 2 girls 5 & 8. 2 boys 10 & 12. I have 2 children from a
previous marriage, a daughter 35, who lives in Long Island with my 2
granddaughters, & a son 33, that lives in Arizona.
I
remember running around with Jack Hulon, Bill & John Cantrell, Buster
Patterson, Jim Roberts & too many others to list here. Playing kick-the-can
with neighborhood kids, even in high school, on warm summer nights with the
Holly kids, Jack Hulon, Sandra Barker, her brother & and many others. I
remember dates with some of those lovely ladies at WEHS, in particular
Charlcie Lively, whom I also considered a good buddy, as brief as our
relationship was due to my leaving for the AF. Thanks to WE Online, we have
had an email reunion, as with others, from those by-gone days. I also
remember the football games, running track, Alabama – Auburn games at
Legion Field & just a real care free life back then!
TERRY BICE -
Just a little note about the last years since walking the "hallowed halls"
of WEHS. I was in the Marines & served in Viet Nam in '66 & '67.
In '69 I married Ann Snider (Phillips) & we are still married (31 years).
Our daughter Jennifer graduated with a Masters Degree from U of Alabama.
"Roll Tide!" I have been in sales all these years, for the last 17
years as South Reg Sales Mgr for Ridg-U-Rak, a steel storage rack
manufacturer in Erie Pa. My territory includes 5 SE states so I stay on the
road & in the air quite a bit.
 LINDA BIGHAM
-
I married a man from Pinson, AL just before
completing summer school & we moved to Marietta GA. We had 3 children,
LuAnn (38), Jill (36) & Emory (33), then moved to Powder Springs, GA where
we lived for 15 years. Divorced in '85 & moved to Temple GA. Remarried to
a wonderful man, Bill Wise, in '86. I was a stay at home mother for several
years until all the kids were in school, then went to work as a church
secretary for several different churches in the area, one right after the
other. Have also had several other jobs. Am now working for a local
insurance agency as receptionist. Bill is a retired truck driver & is now
working part-time. My children have done very well. Both daughters live in
Douglasville GA. LuAnn is married with 2 girls, Kristen (15) & Jennifer
(12). She is a computer programmer for Coca-Cola. Jill is married with 2
girls & a boy, Vicki (14), Jamie (12) & Olivia (5). She is a stay at home
mom after working as accountant for several companies. Emory is not married
& lives in Houston. He is going to school while working & studying Korean
to be a missionary in Korea. He has been to Singapore as a missionary &
China as an English teacher. I have several hobbies such as ceramics
painting & sewing, but my favorites are motorcycling & camping. I have a
Yamaha V-Star 1100 & pull a trailer with all the kitchen stuff in it. Bill
& I are active in the Gold Wind Road Rider's Assn, Retreads & Women on
Wheels. I would love to hear from you out there and find out what you are
doing now.
BILL BURKETT - William
H 'Bill' Burkett, PhD - or at least I would have had I stayed. Being a bit
headstrong in those days I ran off & joined the Coast Guard. Many
of you probably remember my father who was pastor of West End Baptist better
than a quiet tuba player. I never did
get my HS diploma but I am Dept. Chair & Asst Professor of Computer
Information Sciences at Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach. I
play in 30's Big Bands (Bass Trombone), am a Scottish Highland Piper, fly
Cessna 150's (when I can afford it), fish offshore (as time permits) &
enjoy a wonderful life with a great wife. I have 3 children & a bunch
of grandkids scattered all over the US. Would love to see the old
gang again!
 DAN CARTER -
I Joined
the USN after graduation. My wife, Judith, &
I have 3 children.
Daughter Terri is a CO in our new prison here. Daughter Tracey is
assistant to the dean of Eastern Arizona Community College. A son, Eric. Another son, Brian, was killed by a train when he was 12. No
grandchildren, but twin nephews & a niece we consider as close as
grandchildren. I work for SparTec, a plastic company.
I have lived in Ohio for 27
years & would like to
hear from classmates of WEHS. I had a twin brother, Robert Carter, who
passed away. My 2 sisters, Warrene & Susan, also Graduated from WEHS. My nick name was "pinky" because my mom washed my football uniform & turned it
pink!
 SHERRY CLARK
-
Currently
living in Omaha, NE. I am an Associate Professor & teach in the
Physical Therapy Program at Creighton U.
 JOHN DILLON
-
Married
a girl from Ensley (forgive me). Have 2 sons. Attended tech school after
graduation, ending with 2 year degree in Industrial Electronics. Employed
with SCI in Huntsville, then with UAB in Clinical Pathology for 5 years,
where I taught basic electronics to the med tech students. Also did
repairs on the lab equipment & set up courses for the Clinical
Pathology interns & lab directors. Went from there to USS/USX in
Fairfield, where I have been for 29 years. After reliving all this, I
should feel old, but I don’t. It’s fun to think back!
 TRUDY DOBBS -
Graduated St. Vincent
School of Nursing in '67. Married high school sweetheart Lee Stricklin
in '64. We spent '65-'66 in Germany compliments of the US Army.
We moved to Hoover in '77 where we presently live. I returned to
college for a BS degree in Allied Health (Healthcare Admin). Have been
employed at Medical Center East since '82 as Dir of Quality Review programs.
Lee received his BS in Criminal Justice & retired from the Hoover Police
Dept as Lt Commander of Technical Services in '00. We have 2
daughters, Kerrie & Kim, both are married. We have a 5 year old
granddaughter (Kerrie's) & a new grandson (Kim's). Both live close by.
I have been a career mom since nursing school & am looking forward to
retiring in a few years & doing NOTHING of any significance.
 SUSIE DOUGLAS -
So
many great memories of growing up in West End. Those were "Happy Days". After
WEHS graduation preparing to attend University of Alabama, married Lanny
Gardner. Attended Jefferson State Jr College for awhile. Being a high achiever
much credit to the wonderful WEHS teachers. Thank God, my Mom made me take steno
& typing. Worked as Alabama Gas secretary & after 6 years had a son, Brent. In
1970, moved to Montgomery & 17 months later had a daughter, Wendy. Again, being
a high achiever, accepted a position with IBM Corp in Montgomery. Taking a leave
of absence after 5 yrs to follow Lanny as he climbed the corporate ladder. In
1977, we moved to Salina, KS... a tiny speck of a town that I felt was the end
of the world. The old saying..."Bloom where you are planted". We jumped right
into community volunteering, hospital, church, grade school, Brownies, Den
Mother, Community Theatre, golf, tennis to name a few. Becoming very active in
the community, we made wonderful lifetime friends. Then opportunity called Lanny
& we relocated to Wichita, KS where we had a great life raising our children in
small town America. I returned to IBM Corp. in Wichita & retired with 28 yrs
(Corp downsizing). This gave me an opportunity to do what I had always wanted to
do. Operated my own interior design & furniture business becoming my 24/7 for
the next 12 years. After 9/11, moved to Dallas, TX to be near
grandchildren. All the plans of moving to Destin was not God's plan. We have a
home in Corinth, Texas just north of Dallas near Lake Lewisville where we enjoy
boating. We have been blessed with 2 beautiful grandchildren (boy and girl). My
son still lives in Wichita & my daughter, is RN in Dallas so I help with grand
kids a lot. The reunion times were always at peak business times but hope to
attend in future. Thank you for all the work you guys have put into this web
site. Thank you for all the memories!!
 EMILY FREDRICHSEN -
I
worked at the Jefferson Co Health Dept from '63-'94 & retired to draw my
pension. Since that time, I have done some temporary work at the B'ham
Museum of Art during the Chinese exhibit. I have lived in B'ham all my life
and have worked for a real estate management company, engineers,
construction consultants & now 2 days a week with a landscape architect. I
have a booth of collectibles & stuff at Gardendale Antique & Flea Mall (stop
by if you are in the area). I volunteer at The Children's Hospital,
Children's Harbor Family Center & B'ham Museum of Art. My brother, Charles
Theim, WEHS '51, was in the USAF 4 years & graduated from the U of Alabama in
'60. He has 3 daughters & six grandchildren. The triplets will be 7 this
year. The other three are 11, 4 & 11 months. They are the joy of our
lives. Even though I am their aunt/great aunt, they consider me their
second mom some of the time & I love it. I also enjoy keeping up with West
End classmates!
 ELIZABETH FREEMAN -
John & I have been married 35 years in Aug. We have 2 married children. Mark
is 31 & Heather is 29. Heather is married to Brad Durham, 4 years this June.
They haven't given us grandchildren yet - John & I are ready, however, to be
grandparents!! Mark & Nikki married this past Dec & just moved into their
new home. John is Vice President of Engineering at American Cast Iron Pipe &
I have an Interior Design Company, Liz Woods Interiors.
 JOHN FRYER
-
Married
to Jenny Ethridge, ’63 class. Retired from the USAF in '88 in Ft
Walton Beach FL & have worked for various companies in this area
since. Now with Motorola as a computer network administrator.
 BART FUNDERBURG -
Married
Mary Jo, Hueytown '65. Have 2 daughters, Andrea & Amy, & 2 granddaughters. Taught
math at West End for a year, Phillips for 3 years, Pleasant Grove for 24 years
with various jobs since retiring at United Labs, Thrifty Car Rental &
Fisher Scientific.
 WALTER
GARRETT -
I married Jo Ann Beckman
while in college. We recently celebrated our 35th Wedding anniversary. Jo
Ann & I both graduated from B’ham-Southern. We have 3 children: Scott is 33
& works with International Wines; Jason, a field engineer for Nextel, is 30
& with his wife Tammy, has 2 sons,-Zac 3 & Hunter 9 mo. Our 3rd child,
Katy, is 19 & an all-star volleyball player & presently on athletic
scholarship at the U of West AL, where she will be a Jr in Sept. I
have worked for the B’ham Park & Recreation Board for 33 years (taught school
for a year) & have run Legion Field most of that time. Jo Ann is Dir of
Human Resources with Christian & Small Law Firm. We both are contemplating
retirement, but no rash moves yet.
 BECKY
HAFFNER -
I'm married to David Cook & we have a daughter, Jill.
Many of you will remember Juanita Culberson, our former classmate. The day
of graduation, her family moved to Portland OR. David & I went to
Portland & visited her March 2001. We all had a great time! Just a
note: Coach Billy Mitchell has become Dr William Mitchell, a noted educator
& author.
He
was co-author of a Bantam book published in 1985, "The Power of Positive
Students." At the
time the book was written, he was Supt of Schools in Allegany County MD.
He has come back here to speak of his POPS program. 3 things I
still find funny today were indirectly involved with science. 1)
Watching Mr Merchant rolling the skeleton from classroom to classroom always
made me smile. 2) I was in Coach Mitchell's class one day when he
asked, "Have any of you ever been shocked when you slid across the seat of
the car?" Hands shot up all over the class. He said, "Stay on your side of
the car!" 3) I believe I was in a history class when some science students
came in to share with us some fried grasshoppers & chocolate covered ants
from a deli. 3 in our class tried them. A short time later, all 3
jumped up holding their mouths & ran out of the room!
 CAROL HODGES -
Since graduation, I continued to live in B'ham. Before graduating, I
started working for the telephone co. Worked there 28 years & retired in
'91. Since my husband retired in '94 from the telephone co, we have been
able to travel & enjoy lots of leisure time. We have no children, but he
has a son from a former marriage. I have enjoyed the previous reunions I
have attended. I have been disappointed that we have been unable to locate
one of my best friends from school, Ann Gary. Hopefully one of these days
we will get lucky!
 ANNETTE JACKSON -
Graduated from Judson College.
Taught HS English in Ohio, then spent 5 years in KY completing a Master's
degree. Have been in GA since '73. Now live in Atlanta.
Married in '76 & have 1 son, Harold, who is about to graduate & head to NYC
to seek fame & fortune in the film industry. I have more than 30 years
experience in the field of aging, currently working for the State of GA
doing research for new funding, write grants & work on quality teams, etc.
I started WEHS in the 10th grade & remember that several key
friendships were made in the transfer students' home room that year. Fun
teacher memories are of Ms "Rooten Tooten" Wooten reading
"Bells, Bells ...." & of Mr/Ms Baughm for Chemistry/History
respectively. Also had special fondness for Ms Sophia Davis, the choral
teacher, who died of cancer during my HS days.
 DONNA LIMEHOUSE -
Attended Ida Moffett
School of Nursing in B'ham for 2 years. Married John Key in '65.
John was a Lt. in USAF stationed in Biloxi MS. He left the AF to
pursue a career in engineering. He graduated from Auburn in '62 prior
to entering USAF. We went to Atlanta with Shell Oil, then to
Carolinas. I finished nursing school, graduated from Presbyterian Hosp
School of Nursing in '76 & went to work in ICU/CCU, my specialty, for the
next 30 years. We moved to Chicago in 77 & shoveled a lot of snow for
13 years. Then to Houston for 8 years (a nurse can always get a job).
John took early retirement & we located nearer family, a first in over 30
years. We chose Gadsden near Noccalula Falls. Have lived in big cities
with high cost of living all these years, so this is quiet small town USA.
& we can pursue our love of canoeing, hiking, fishing & go to recreation &
family within a few hours. We volunteer a lot, do church, became
certified master gardeners for AL (the one thing I wanted to do). John
drags me along on the rest! I saved the best for last. Our
daughter Lisa & husband Ron & granddaughters Rayna 6 & Tori 4 moved to
Gadsden 2 years ago & bought a house 3 blocks from us. We spend lots
of time teaching, playing & loving these little girls! Lisa teaches
Spanish at Emma Sansom HS & is pursuing her Masters at UA extension in
Gadsden. Ron works for Phillips Electric. I maintain an active
nurses license, go to seminars for continuing ed & hang out at Little
River or our home garden. John & I are healthy & have had 35 years
together.
 SANDRA MASSENGALE -
After graduation, I attended Massey Business College graduating with the
secretarial award. I married Ron Kelton in '65. I was a stay at home mom &
loved every bit of it. We have 2 children & 5 grandchildren with another on
the way. We raised our family in Pleasant Grove AL. We attended Cottage Hill Baptist Church where I
taught 4 year
olds in Sunday School for about 20 years. We now live in Moundville AL. We built a home next
door to my parents. I am now the secretary at Moundville Baptist Church. I
have been active in Girl Scouts for years & years.
JUDY McDONALD -
Upon graduation I attended U of Montevallo & graduated with a Business
degree. I later went to UAB & completed work on a degree in
accounting. I worked for the Jefferson Co Health Dept as a
statistician until '75. By that time I had married & my husband's job
took us to Florence AL area & then Chattanooga TN. After we divorced,
I stayed on & consider Chattanooga my home. In '87 I passed the CPA
exam & now am a Tax Supervisor with TN Dept of Revenue. We have a new home on Signal Mountain that has
been under construction for the past year & a half. I have served as my
own contractor so it has been quite an experience.
I remember taking a bookkeeping class under Ms Shell & how that started my
interest in accounting. When I went to college I began in secretarial
science, but discovered early on that accounting was the field I wanted & I
credit my experience in Ms Shell's class for this. At the time I made
the change (I might add much to the disapproval of my counselor) to a
business major there was one other female in the business program. My,
how times have changed!
JACK McDOWELL -
After graduation I
attended MS State where I graduated in '69 & was promptly drafted. I was
sent to Viet Nam as an MP, where I'm sure I set records as the Army's worst
MP. After that, I got my Master's Degree at U of New Orleans & got married.
I worked at U of Southern MS from '75-'79. My twin daughters Megan &
Jessica were born there. In '79 we moved to Richmond KY where I've been a
TV Producer at Eastern KY Univ until the present time. It's interesting
work. I work on a lot of law enforcement, juvenile justice & corrections
grants for the University producing video tapes, satellite teleconferences &
CD-ROM's. My daughters are 22, living in Chicago. I'm now single. |
