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1962 Classmate Bios - Page 1
Most
bios were posted before 2005, though some have
since
been updated. New
postings and
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RICHARD
BARTLEY -
Well, my life has been very
simple. I went to night school at UAB for a couple of years, until I was told
that my "greetings" notice was in the mail. I joined the Coast Guard and stayed
in for 4 years. I married my next door neighbor, Joanne, the last year. I left
the service so that I would not have to move so often. I then took a job with
IBM and stayed for 25 years. IBM was true to their name (I've Been Moved or
I'll Be Moving). Seemed that I was always being ask to do a special project and
was chasing the next promotion, which generally did not happen, but I accepted
jobs all over the country. I was the key person on many projects and feel that
I made a difference to the computer industry. I was able to take an early out
in '93 and traveled around the country doing contract work for a while. My
official retirement was not until '98. I have a small farm in Grady, south of
Montgomery. We have 3 kids. Karen is a doctor. Wiley is a
professional chef. Nicole is a professional photographer and the mother of
our only grandchild, with another on the way.
RONNY
BEARD -
After WEHS, I attended Howard College. When I graduated in '67, it had
become Samford University. My senior year I married Judy Campbell, who
also graduated WEHS in '62. We were married 20 years and had 2 children,
David and Jennifer. David is in the 82nd Airborne and is stationed in
Gainesville GA. Jennifer is a freshman at Samford. After graduation
from Samford, I worked at Hayes Aircraft for a year. Next was a 3 year tour in
the Navy, which brought me to Marietta GA. After my discharge, I worked at
Western Electric while attending law school. I received my Juris Doctorate
in '75 and opened a private law practice in Marietta in '78. Judy and I
divorced in '88. I married Charlotte in '96. She teaches 5th grade at The
Walker School. Charlotte has 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. In '97, I closed my private practice and now represent the Cobb County Board of
Commissioners as in-house counsel. Last year we moved to Kennesaw GA. The house is only 15 minutes from the county model airplane flying field, a big
consideration when looking for a house. I began building radio control
model planes several years ago after a bad motorcycle accident. No
permanent damage, but crashing a model is a lot less painful than crashing a
motorcycle. Life is good. No complaints. Just trying to get 28
hours out of every day!
LYNNE
BLAIKIE -
After graduating from West End, I attended
and graduated from Alabama College (now
U of Montevallo) with a degree in Elementary Education.
I taught in Decatur, AL until I
married Ray Freeman from Hartselle. Ray's business moved
us to OK, KS, GA, VA, FL, TN and finally back to Decatur.
I'm still teaching, 7th grade at cedar
Ridge Middle School. We have a son,
Russ, who teaches and coaches football at Decatur High.
My years at WEHS hold some of
my most precious memories. I would love to hear from and
see all the group.
RALPH BOWLEY
-
I am living in Illinois. Been elected
Village Trustee for the last 8 years. No opposition this year, the locals
just cannot beat an AL boy. Married with 1 daughter living in Germany. Her husband is a Major in the Special Forces. They have a son, Josh, my
grandson, what a guy. I retired from the USAF after thirty years as a
Chief Master Sergeant. Been retired 9 years and am teaching accounting at
a local college.
BRENDA
BROWN -
After WEHS I received a BS Degree in Bacteriology from the University of Alabama
in 1966. I interned at the old South Highlands Hospital in Birmingham and am a
registered Medical Technologist. I worked at South Highlands, Jefferson Health
Foundation and East End Hospital (now Medical Center East). I have been married
to Doug Nunnelley (Woodlawn '60) for 35 years. He also
graduated from the U of A. He is a CPA --worked for Ernst & Young, was chief
accounting officer for Amsouth Bancorporation, and then CFO at Colonial
Properties Trust. He now works part time as controller for Thompson Realty at
Shoal Creek. We have been in Birmingham except for two years in Atlanta in the
mid-seventies. We have three children. They all graduated from the University of
Alabama and are all married and currently living in the Birmingham area. Kelly
(31) is a CPA, but is now expecting her third child (Jacob is 3 and Allison is
2). Kim (30) is a district sales manager for Eli Lilly Parmaceutical Co.
Todd (26) is director of public equity investments for Harbert Management
Corp. We love Alabama football and attend most home games. Also we spend as much
time as possible at the beach -- Seacrest Beach on Hwy 30-A between Panama City
and Destin. I enjoy tennis, bridge, reading, needlework, and love the time I get
to spend with my children and grandchildren. It has been great to talk with old
friends because of contacts made through westendonline!
GWEN
BRYARS - I retired from BellSouth with 30 years service in '94. I am presently
doing contract work for BellSouth through an outside vendor.
MIDGE
BURCHFIELD -
After missing our graduation at WEHS because of pneumonia, I went on to work as
a church secretary at Central Park Methodist Church for about a year and next attended school at the University of Montevallo. The death of my father called
me back to Birmingham where I worked at Jefferson Federal and then on to work for two
attorneys, Bynum and Bynum. I met my husband, Wes, who was a Navy pilot and
became a mother twice while moving 13 times in 4 years. We left the military and
he flew for Delta Air Lines for over 30 years living 15 years in Houston,
TX. There I saw Wayne Potter in the car next to me at a traffic light in Spring,
Texas and just couldn't get his attention ... next time, Wayne, look to your
left! Now we are retired living in Gainesville, GA on Lake Lanier enjoying our 6
grandchildren. We are so blessed that our daughter and son with their families
live within 40 minutes of us. I am busier than ever doing oil painting,
needlework, writing, gardening, love to refinish anything I can get my hands on
and traveling to see the world. We flew twice to Rome, Italy just for dinner! I
am enjoying being with my best friend, Wes and all my gal friends I have been
blessed with here in Gainesville. However, my friends from West End are my
"golden friends" whom I cherish. Email is a blessing isn't it, as I can keep up
with LaRae, Margaret "Burks" and Anna Abercrombie (Anna didn't graduate with us
but many remember her from Elyton). Thank you, West End, for all the good ol'
memories and how did our generation make it without cell phones? Thank you too,
Mrs Whaley, wherever you are, for the smiles. Now, I can tell you that "Kill
Roy" was started by my brother.
MARGARET
BURKS - Married Mike Burrough, '62. Moved to West Palm Beach
FL, have 2 children, Steve and Lynn. We lived in WPB, Anniston and Birmingham
and were married 17 years. Married again for 15 years and became a country
girl living in Springville AL with cows, horses, dogs and cats. I retired
from BellSouth in '91 and have worked off and on since. Have been single
again for 2 years and back to being a city girl. Lynn has a beautiful 10
year old daughter, Rashae and a handsome son, 3 year old Michael. Steve is
married, back in school and planning to coach and teach and start a family. We all live in the
Birmingham area now and see each other often.
JUDY
CAMPBELL -
After
WEHS I began work at Southern Bell in
the accounting department and what would become a 32-year career. That
fall I began college part time at UAB. In '65 married Ronnie Beard ('62)
and divorced in '88. We moved to Atlanta in 1969 partly because of his duty station at that point in Marietta and
partly because of business opportunities for me. The move was a major
stepping-stone toward career commitment as I focused on finishing school -
Georgia State, BS
Psychology. BellSouth transferred me among several departments before I
finally settled in Human Resources. Took time out twice to have David who
is now 28 and Jennifer now 19. They are the light of my life! David
is a sergeant in the Army attached to the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg but on
loan (thankfully) as a recruiter to the greater Atlanta area. He is engaged to marry Suzanna in April '02. Jennifer is a freshman
nursing student at Samford where she is enjoying dorm life and singing in the
chorus. I loved almost every job I had with Ma Bell
but in '94 it was time to refocus again. I retired to take a job as
executive director of a non-profit, which I did for 4 years from the office in
my home. This afforded me the opportunity to be available to Jennifer
during her middle and high school years - a period we both thoroughly enjoyed. Now I am employed at my church managing databases and hordes of volunteers. Favorite memory of WEHS is Mr Baughan's chemistry class and memorizing the
periodic table, which I still remembered when David and Jennifer took chemistry. I owe a great debt to Miss Batey for senior English and her encouragement in
learning to write. And who can forget Mrs Martin, "the verb to be never
takes an object."
PAT
CARNEY - After graduating from WEHS, I graduating from Auburn with a
BS in Business Admin. I spent 2 years in the Army serving 1 year in Viet
Nam. After military service I moved to Houston TX and began a 31 year
career with Edison Brothers Stores, retiring in Aug '99, as a Regional Loss
Prevention Mgr. I moved to San Antonio in '78 and married my wife,
Rosemary. We have 1 son who graduated from Baylor U and is getting his
Ph.D. at LSU. Rosemary was a middle school teacher for 30 years and
retired in May '00. I had been an independent retail loss prevention
consultant since retiring, but have recently started another career as a
District LP Mgr for Ross Stores.
GERI COATES -
Living in
Snellville Georgia. Married in 1963 to Joe Meek (WEHS '59)
while he was in the US Marine Corps.
We both retired from a family business in 2007.
LINDA COX - I left WEHS very early and got married; doubt many will
remember me. I would have graduated in 1962. Wayne joined the USAF and we moved
to FL where I finished school. Had no clue what marriage was about. A great
thing came from it though; my daughter, Anne Marie. She won scholarship to
Samford U; graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian; got full presidential
scholarship to Cumberland Law School. She's now City Attorney for Madison, AL,
married to Alan Lacy, CFO of Intergraph Corp. They have horses and are members
of Hillsboro Hunt Club in TN. I married again to a unique interesting guy
(shouldn't have let this one go; fortunately, we still keep in touch. Guess
marriage wasn't for me though; just happier single, I suppose - a curse or
blessing for the Cox family. Anyway I thank God for all blessings; still having
fine time so far. Presently I'm the medical transcriptionist for AMSG, PC;
busiest medical practice in Tuscaloosa; been there 4 years and love it. Enjoyed
the pictures, news and info at West End Online. I'd love to talk to/see the few
I really remember; it'd have to be interesting!
CATHERINE
DILLARD -
After WEHS, I attended Auburn and spent 2 years there having some great memories
there with some friends from WEHS. I transferred to Birmingham Southern and
married. I graduated in '66 with a degree in Elementary Educ. We
moved to Montgomery where my husband worked as a syndicated cartoonist. We
have 4 children; Christopher 33, an Auburn grad, married and living in Atlanta;
Elizabeth, AUM, a stay at home mom with my 2 precious grandchildren; David 22
yesterday, an Auburn grad in Management Information Systems; and the baby, Ellen
19, attending AUM. These are my great children and I am so proud of them. I did teach school off and on for 13 years, but spent most of my life being a
mom and wife. I am very active in Frazer UMC. I volunteer to tutor
underprivileged children and at Sav-a-Life and do genealogy in my spare time. Also spend 1 day a week having fun with a group of retired teachers. I feel so
blessed for having such a wonderful childhood in Central Park and West End, and
having some great friends. I treasure these times!
FAYE
DUNN - I can remember being in Ms Whaley's class
with her episode about the peanuts. She would line peanuts on her desk in
rows and name each one. If she ate the peanut named after you, she liked
you. The ones that would just sit there would be questionable of whether
to pass you or not. Of course, the last choice was to knock you off the
desk and you failed! I guess I was one of her questionables. We will never
forget Ms Rakestraw. I only wished when I was in high school that I would
have taken it a little bit lighter!
SUZAN
FORTE -
I have 3 grown children and
6 grandchildren. We are all doing great. I have worked at Shoal
Creek for the last 9 years. I live in Lincoln AL.
RAMONA FRANKS - I have many fond memories of my life at West End High, but I did not
graduate. I married in March of l961, before I was to graduate in January l962.
I just wasn't interested in school. I wanted to get married and have children. I
had a beautiful daughter. I went to Business College and took a job working as
secretary, bookkeeper and receptionist to an optometrist in Five Points West. I
divorced and began to raise my daughter. I met and married my second husband two
years later. Our son, Jim was born in '71. I worked at Carraway Methodist
Medical Center for almost l9 years, first in Admitting then as a Pharmacy Tech
in the Operating Room Pharmacy. In l999, a year after I retired, my husband
retired after 31 years with U.S.Steel and we moved to Panama City Beach. A year
later Jim moved his family to Niceville and is now a financial advisor in
Destin. Sadly my daughter died in 2001, but left me three beautiful
grandchildren, Bradley 20, Christine 18 and Tyler 17. Jim and his wife, Allison
have two beautiful daughters, Julia-Love 5 and Jillian 16 months. My sweet
husband of 33 years died in 2003. I have since become involved with the Senior
Center and now work part time in the office. I schedule computer classes for our
Senior Members, assist with planning bus trips and other activities. I feel
truly blessed to have made the wonderful friends at the Senior Center and to
have them in my life. I enjoy hearing from friends and classmates, especially
those from Central Park and Green Acres. I try to visit my Dad, who still lives
in Birmingham, at least every other month. I will always cherish the friends
I had and the times we spent at WEHS.
JOHN
FRIDLEY - After graduation, I attended Alabama College (now U of Montevallo) along with at
least 10 fellow WEHS classmates. I joined the Delta Chi fraternity and served as
President of my chapter. I was very active in the Student Gov't Assn and the
athletic club (I ran cross country). I graduated in '66 with honors and a major
in Chemistry (thanks to good ole Mr. Baughan) and minors in Math and Physics. I joined IBM after graduation along with several fellow WEHS and Montevallo
classmates. I worked as a Systems Engineer in the new field of Information
Systems. I left IBM in '70 and hitch-hiked (back when you still did so) from
Birmingham across the US, to the Yukon and across Canada (an interesting 3 month trip
where I met many different types and had a number of unusual experiences). Over
the next 4 years I worked for NCR, Jefferson Federal and Guaranty Savings and
Loans - all in Birmingham. I joined Price Waterhouse in '74 as a consultant in
Birmingham and married Tracy Newman (Mountain Brook, Auburn) in late '74. My work
took us to a number of different places including 4 months in New Zealand. Then,
in '78 we moved to Jefferson City, MO where I worked on a major consulting
assignment for 3 yrs with the State of MO. While there, our daughter Caroline
was born. In '80 we moved to St Louis where we lived for 6 great yrs. While
there, I became a Partner in Price Waterhouse and worked on a number of very
large international assignments in Egypt, Costa Rica and Pakistan. In '82 our
son Tyler was born. In '90 I joined Ernst and Young as a consulting Partner and
subsequently retired in late '02. I now serve as a Group VP with Gartner, Inc.
and lead our global Benchmarking Business. Our children live in Atlanta close by
and our daughter Caroline has been married three yrs (no grandchildren so
far). In '03 we bought a second home in Fairhope and spend as much time as we
can down on Mobile Bay. I remember the great days at WEHS with fondness and look
forward to the 2008 Class Picnic. The education I received at Jackson
Elementary, WEHS and Montevallo have allowed me to have a very successful career
working as a consultant all over the world with senior executives for some of
the largest companies and public sector organizations. Final note, my avocation
is still fishing (any kind) and I have been able to fish in some very exotic
parts of North and South America as well as New Zealand.
ANN
GOODWIN
-
(deceased)
-
Married Sam Bryant, '61. 2 daughters, no grandkids. In '70 we I started the old corporate transfer life. Tampa, Orlando,
Greenville, Atlanta and a 2 year stint in Ft Walton Beach, where we thought we
could retire as beach bums. Now living in Marietta GA.
HELEN
HAYES - After graduation in '62 from WEHS, I worked at Long-Lewis Hardware
Company for 9 months. I then got a job at Alabama Power and stayed there 46
years. I retired in 2009. In '67, I married Fred Earnest (Hueytown High '57)
whom I met at Alabama Power. We moved to Concord (right past Hueytown, AL) and
are still there. We have a 650 acre farm which we have leased for 22 yrs. with
commercial cattle. Fred is still working at the farm. He had one daughter,
Shelley, when we married. She is 49 now and has two girls, 25 and 19. We are
very close. In '73, we had one son, Tim, who is now 39, works for DirecTV and
has two girls, Adison, 6 years old and Peyton, 19 months old. Tim's wife,
Jennifer, is a teacher at Oak Grove Elementary. Since retirement, I have enjoyed
keeping my grandchildren from time to time. They are precious and keep me
laughing. I have also enjoyed helping Jennifer at school one day a week. While I
was still working and when I was 57, I decided to take a modeling course,
something I've always wanted to do. The course was several months long and I
graduated in September 2001, being the oldest one a class of teenagers. I
started modeling, mainly for Steinmart here in Birmingham for about 8 years and
really enjoyed it. In April, 2011, we were at home in Concord when the tornado
hit. It demolished our house, everthing in it and three vehicles. It was quite
traumatic, but we were not hurt and have now rebuilt where we were. We moved in
our new house in Sept, 2011 after living with my son for 5 days, in a rental
house for several months, then in a motel for one month. It doesn't seem like
home yet, but it will eventually. That experience really changes your
priorities. We go to Concord Baptist Church and they were really generous and
helpful to us.
EDDIE
HIXON -
Received a BS in
Metallurgical Engineering in '66 from U of Alabama. Married while on
campus in '65. Lived in VA for 4 years building the aircraft carrier
Nimitz and various types of submarines. Worked at Republic Steel in
Gadsden for awhile, living in Trussville and Forest Park. Developed land
outside of Pell City and called it Deertrace. Marriage couldn’t stand the hot
summer of '80. Moved to Houston for the oil boom, 2nd marriage in '85 to
Twila Vidrine (La Tech '67). She is from South Louisiana, a different
place from what I’m accustomed to. Worked for different engineering and
pipeline companies building pipelines and offshore platforms, working for Enron,
Fluor, Brown and Root. Foreign assignments in Italy and France, staying a
year in each. If I had the money, I would live in Paris. Never had
children. I try to keep up my grandfather’s house in Plantersville, 20
miles N of Selma and keep having to go the Pell City to check on Deertrace. I like Houston, but think the best place I have every lived is AL. I miss
AL every day and at times get so homesick. I’m a computer addict, think I
blow too much money on them. I have always lived in a handyman’s dream and
my present home of 14 years is no exception. I have come to realize that
the education I received from Hemphill and West End was a good one and feel that
I was lucky to go to both.
ANEDA
HOWARD -
Been married to Dronnie
Chandler (Mortimer Jordan) for 37 years. We have lived all over the Birmingham
area, but in Inverness for the past 25 years. Dronnie is a General
Contractor and builds commercial and residential. His business is Chandler
Construction and he also designs and draws house plans (CCC Home Plan Center). We have a daughter, Nicole 29, who married Tom Anspach (Auburn) 4 years ago. She teaches 5th grade at Lake Park Baptist Church School in WP Beach FL. Tom is a Mechanical Eng, who owns and operates The Anspach Effort in WPB, a
designer/manufacturer of surgical instruments. They tell us they are
trying to give us a grandchild. Our son, Dustin 25, graduated Auburn a
year ago, where he met and married Christy. Dustin works as a computer
analyst in the MIS Dept. at ACIPCO in Birmingham. We are thankful to have one
of our children close. My brothers, Calvin and Charles, along with our
spouses, look forward to seeing and meeting everyone. God blessed us all
for letting us live in West End and know each other. I feel like everyone
from West End is part of my family!
MIKE
JORDAN -
I
worked in Educational TV for 8 years after WEHS, then 2 years at Channel 13
(WPAI back then). I moved to Tuscaloosa in early 70's and worked as a musician
for 5 years, a milk bottling plant a few years, managed an equip rental center
for awhile, got an LPN nursing license and worked as a nurse for 2 years and am
now managing a medical equip distributorship. I remember Ridlehoover's BBQ
at Five Points West, West End Theater and Spivey's 5 and 10 cent store (now
where the theater was). I remember the big tree out in front of the school
where everyone gathered in the mornings to talk. My friends and I gave that
tree a special significance, reverently calling it "The Tree". Does anyone
remember having a W shaved in the back of their head on the 1st day of school as
a Freshman Rat? I do and I was always grateful to that guy for not doing any
more to me. I was also glad the suspense was over, it had been the worst summer
of my life not knowing what terrible thing was going to happen to me when I
started school!
JUDY
KELLY -
Right after graduation I married Mr Wrong and had 2
children, a girl and a boy. I was divorced by the time I was 21. I
had taken typing so I could get a job with no more education. I became a
medical secretary and did this for many years. I eventually met the real
Prince Charming, Roger Forehand, disguised as a tax collector for the IRS. We married in '75 and he helped me raise my 2 children and the daughter and son
we had together. The oldest is l7 years older than the youngest. Because of the 2 sets of children, we had the pleasure of having teenagers in
the 70's, 80's and 90's. I eventually returned to school and became a
registered nurse at the age of 45. I have done several things in nursing,
but for the last 3 years have worked as the nursing supervision for the
Enterprise City Board of Education. It's the best nursing job there is, regular
hours, no nights, weekends or holidays. We have a nurse in every school. We have lived in Enterprise for l7 years, Roger's home town. He has been
retired for a couple of years from the IRS and has an office here doing income
tax and helping people sort out their tax problems. Our youngest children
are still being educated. Chris is a senior at the U of S Alabama in
Mobile, majoring in Sports and Event Marketing. Heather is starting her 2nd
year at the U of S Alabama Medical School. She wants to do rural medicine
in a small town, but not Enterprise. I feel that even though I have lived
a pretty ordinary life so far, it is extraordinary in that I have more happy
times that sad times. I have been blessed with a good husband, good
children and one grandchild who is 15. My memories of West End are a
little dulled by the passage of time. The high school here has a student
body of around 1100. It truly amazes me that it takes over l00
professional staff to educate that many now. The parking lot is huge. The students drive nicer cars that the teachers. I think about the
students a WEHS who were lucky enough to have cars. I don't remember
anything outstanding in the parking lot!
JOYCE
LAWRENCE -
I did marry that good-looking guy, Johnny Davis (Ensley
'57, U of Alabama '60), the month after graduation and we just celebrated 39
wonderful years. We have 3 children, 2 sons (biological) and 1 daughter
(by adoption from Korea) and have lived in Decatur AL all this time except for 3
years on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. I was blessed to be a full
time mom, then worked for 4 years until caring for my parents became my
"outside" job. Both sons are engineers, graduates of Georgia Tech. Our
daughter graduates from the U of Louisville in Dec and is married to a surgeon. We have 3 beautiful grandchildren and it's a good thing we love to travel since
our children and grandchildren live in KY and Colorado. Johnny has retired
once and we're trying to decide where we want to live when he retires again. I feel I've had an incredibly blessed life and I've really enjoyed reading about
what has happened to everyone since I've been so out of touch. Thanks to
y'all for bringing so many memories back to me. Does anyone remember
driving over to cruise around at Ed Salem's or going to the Spinning Wheel for
the best milkshakes? I remember having to dress up to go downtown shopping
and we didn't even wear pants to school in those days. Having so many movie
theaters with the movies changing so often. The privilege of having so
many excellent teachers, but especially the "mature, unmarried" teachers who
were so dedicated, capable and yet each one unique and special, from Hemphill
through WEHS. Riding the bus to go to the symphony in grammar school and
then the wonderful vocal classes with Ms Sophia Davis. Kick ball, dodge
ball, playing on the bars at "play period" and the lunchroom in the basement at
Hemphill. Hope others will send more good info, stories and memories! |
Continue to 1962 Classmate Info, Page 2,
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