Comments:
A lot of things have happened since 1961. Graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1965. Married my high school sweetheart in 1965(Linda Lumley a graduate of South Meck). Went to work for Coopers and Lybrand and stayed with them until 1979 and then joined Ray Hough(Kay Dorton's husband) to form a CPA firm. Lived and worked in the Mint Hill area all those years until I retired in 2008 from Rowell Craven & Short, PA , CPA(Ray Hough retired several years earlier). Linda and I reared our 3 boys in Mint Hill and they attended Independence HS all graduating with Honors!! John is now a Lieutenant with the Mint Hill Police Dept, Richard lives in Gainesville, Fla with his 5 children as he lost his wife in 2010 to Leukemia and has since remarried. He is a partner with a Nationwide Insurance Agency there. Mark is a manager with The Carolina Ice Palace in N. Charleston, SC and lives in Summerville SC with is wife and 2 children, Cooper and Cailey. John graduated from Appalachian while Richard and Mark graduated from USC also.
Linda and I were very active in the MInt Hill community before we retired in 2008 and realized our life long dream and moved to the beach to live. We have become very active in the community here at Ocean Isle Beach and are enjoying life. We've been truly blessed and give thanks every day for good health, beautiful productive children and being able to live in paradise.
An addendum is now needed to the above as much has happened since the reunion in August 2011. My middle son Richard has remarried and provided us with 2 ready made grandchildren as his new spouse has 2 children from a previous marriage. Cade(age 16) and Allison(age 13). They all seem very happy as they recently moved into "their" new house in Gainesville, Florida. His new wife is named Amy and she is a nurse at the VA Hospital in Gainesville. In 2015 they had a child of their own, a son Nolan.
Linda and I continue to be involved in our community and church as Linda is now our church treasurer and I have taken a part time job as the Fiscal Officer for the ABC Board of Ocean Isle Beach. It only requires a few hours a month and does keep my brain functioning. In 2013 I ran for a seat on Town Council here at Ocean Isle and was elected to a 4 year term which expires in November of 2016. At the present time I plan to run for reelection as I have enjoyed having some input into the direction of our Town.
Our Gamecocks had a recovery football season in 2016 after a horrific 2015 season and we eagerly look forward to see what next season will bring. It gives the saying "wait until next year" a whole new meaning for us!!
Update:
I am continuing to serve the community as Chairman of the Beautification Committee for the Ocean Isle POA and as Finance Officer of the Ocean Isle ABC Board(a paid position). .
I turned 70 years of age on January 19th 2013 and we celebrated with a big party at Sharkeys here on the Island. All my family came in for the party and many of our friends came for the big celebration. It's hard to believe that many years have gone by. I continue to be blessed with good health and and I give thanks every day for that!! I feel great as I have been reading recently that 70 is the new 50 and I really believe that.
I recently learned that Kay White Slattery was the college roommate of a good friend of ours here at the beach. What a small world! Best wishes to all my former classmates for 2013. Tommy Ross, Ed Purser, Eddie Clark and others I hope to see you at the next SOS parade at OD!!
New update(July21,2013)
Linda and I traveled to Disney World in April with our youngest son, his wife and 4 year old grandson and a great time was had by all. We had all the family visit us here at the beach in June and July and we thoroughly enjoyed have them here and getting to show them how we are enjoying the relaxed lifestyle we have become accustomed to.
I recently filed to run for a seat on the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Ocean Isle Beach and no one is opposing me in the election so come November 5th, which is election day, I will be officially "elected" to the office. I look forward to serving the community in this capacity and hopefully help keep the Town moving ahead in a positive way.
We continue to love living here and feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do so!!
New Update(01/14/2014)
Sworn in as a Commissioner for the Town of Ocean Isle Beach on December 10, 2013 and have begun serving a 4 year term. I am looking forward to having a positive impact on our progressive town.
Update(02/21/2014)
Have now been through 3 Council meetings and have been faced with some tough decisions but am satisfied in knowing we are having a positive impact on our Town's future and the future of generations to come.
Update 01/18/2017
Getting ready to celebrate my 74 birthday on the 19th of January and still feeling good. We have had many tough decisions facing us recently as a Town but hopefully we have made the right decisions for all concerned and for the future of the Town.
Update(01/14/2018) Re-elected for additional term of 4 years to the Ocean Isle Beach Town Council in November 2017. Had successful surgery to remove 2 melanomas in 2017. All margins were are clear. I guess I'm paying for all those years in the sun as a sun worshiping teenager. Remember those days of trips to Myrtle Beach and Ocean Drive and the Pad!! Still in good health and I thanks God for that!! Linda still love living at the beach and fulfilling a life long dream!! We are truly blessed!! Happy 2018 to you all!!
