Louise Gordon Upchurch (Johnson)

Yes.  I never had Jean Whitaker (now Jean McGraw), but she married and moved to Lawrenceville, NJ where she continued to teach until last year when she retired.  She and her husband belong to the congregation where I serve as an Assoc. Pastor.  She is indeed wonderful, fun and full of wisdom and knowledge.  Her email is: ocracokefan@comcast.net.  I know she would love to hear from you.  Best, Louise

Walter ("Skip") F. Daniel Jr

Louise - how can I ever thank you for taking the time to track down Jean Whitaker McGraw's email address for me. I have been thinking about contacting her for a very long time. Why?

Ms. Whitaker has been one of the very best teachers (yes, and that even includes those at the university level) I ever had, and I wanted to write her and tell her this, because people like her need to know such things so as to help put their lives in existential and spiritual perspective.

Ms. Whitaker was bright, and turned me on to philosophy. She was funny too. One day someone (no names here) fell asleep. She had this water pistol she had confiscated from someone. She did this funny shuffling of her feet all the way next to his head with the water pistol handy. Then she squirted him. (It woke him up. Very funny indeed.)

One class she announced that she was sick of people answering with the usual "here" or "present" answers; she said that she wanted something more creative for a change. When she got to me, I answered, "Jean baby - I exist. So how can you question my presence." Everybody laughed, but I know I embarassed her because I knew her first name. 

Finally, there was this guy who sat behind me who was a true philosopher type, who I used to talk with a lot. He was completely bored in school and in that class. But Ms. Whitaker had the good sense to let him go to the library instead of sit through her class. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

Yours,

Skip Daniel

Demetris Carol "Tress" Darden (Eveleth)

Ms. Whittaker was a wonderful teacher. I still remember her classes and how she made learning a pleasant experience. She genuinely cared about her students. 

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

Hi guys ... thinking about traveling to Charlotte for the 2017 PGA Champtionship August 10 - 13 ... would love to get together with other Mustangs maybe Friday (Aug 11) or Saturday (Aug 12) night.... let me know if you're interested.

All the best,

Larry Ruddell

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

Had a great time visiting Charlotte for PGA Championship in early August (2017). Was happy to be able to see Jim Thomas and another buddy I knew from Cotswold Elementary (Leigh Cotter) ...

Larry Ruddell

(... picture faces the right way on my computer ... so if anyone can rotate this ... please do ;-))

Katharine Lucas (Monk)

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

Thanks Katherine for fixing!! ... much appreciated.

Larry

Catherine Elizabeth "Cathy" Taylor (Metz)

     Wreaths Across America honors soldiers at grave sites throughout our country by laying wreaths on their graves.  Bob Hand, one of our 1970 MPHS classmates, supports this event each year at his family owned cemetery, Crown Memorial Park in Pineville.  The ceremony starts at 11:30 AM on Saturday, December 16 with all branches of the military participating.

     This year is particularly touching to me.  My father, Hiero Louis Taylor, is the subject of the keynote speech for his service in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He was a Charlotte native, attending Dilworth, AG, and Old Central.  The public is invited to this event.  If you cannot attend a Wreaths Across America ceremony in your area, please stop for a moment of silence at noon on Saturday to remember our soldiers.

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

Hi Cathy ... thanks so much for thinking of the troops ... and very thankful for your Dad's service ... you should be very proud.

Thanks again!

Larry Ruddell

James Robert "Jim" Bursley

Thank you.  Will be laying wreaths at Jacksonville National Cemetery Jacksonville, FL in memory of several of my shipmates and all who served.  

Maria Pitsikoulis (Kleto)

Cathy,

Thank you for sharing Wreaths Across America with us Please give your Father a hug and tell him Thank You for his service and Congratulations for this honor. Many of us have lost loved ones who are remembered with pride because of their service to our nation.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Charles Walter "Charley" Akers

Carole king Butler - just reading your post after a long absence visiting the MP web site. Great Job - really rings true.  "If I thought I would have lived this long, I would have taken better care of myself". (one of my favorite sayings) Just kidding around but should be some form of truth for almost every one. Life seemed to move slowly when we were young... Now it cruzes by at a little faster clip! 

For some reason I always had things that I wanted to do or accomplish, goals to acheive, one bucket list after another. Sports, Photography, skiing, traveling. Each goal was to be met and checked off. Not on a written list, but a mental note of things to see and do. I guess it boils down to "I just didn't want to miss anything"!

I look back at my years at Myers Park and smile. These were some of the most fun years that I have experienced. I feel lucky to have been there;  at that time, with the students that were my classmates and friends, in Charlotte - a growing cityin the South!

Charley Akers - 11/26/2018

https://charleyakersphoto.com

Carol King (Butler)

Agree with you, time flies.  Couldn't create a bucket list, too many animals.  Next life will not spend 2 retirements and start over.  Have known few people after 36 years old, but have known wonderful animals and I know the difference I've made and in the end, it will only be between you and the Universe.

Hope to have my online school moved to a new platform in the next two weeks.  The first school and course took 3 years to build.  Heavy with videos and photos and of course, the new platform has a different size requirement so I'm having to compress every single video.  I've learned I can be a rocket scientist, playwright, environmentalist and feral cat caretaker at the same time!  Good to hear from you!

Carol

Pendley Crosby "Pen" Garrett

Mr. Elmore was an incredible teacher and inspiration. He was tough but never unkind. I learned more about theatre: backstage, onstage, and history than I did in four years of college. I would run into him and Mrs. Elmore at Park Road Shopping Center and he always remembered me. I will treasure his memory. 

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

M.P. Civitan Little League All Star Team Picture, circa 1964 ... foreshadowing things to come; with Fellers, Weathers, Ruddell, Kumerow from M.P. 1970 State Baseball Championship team ... all in the picture.

Charles Walter "Charley" Akers

Carol - I reread your post to day. I"ve always felt that I didn't want to miss anything - so - here is my favorite  line from Jimmy Buffett" - "I ATE THE LAST MANGO IN PARIS" -  "and that's all I have to say about that" Forest Gump!

Lawrence Steele "Larry" Ruddell

Have to give a shout out to Curt Wilder and a big life lesson I got from a Myers Park football game!

Hi guys ... currently in Underwood, North Dakota (of all places!); serving as Interim Pastor at Faith Evangelical church for a few months. Already have snow and highs in the teens this weekend ;-) ... but loving it ... great change of pace after everything else going on this year.

Here's a snippet from a recent sermon about our Harding MP football game and my life lesson I haven't forgtten!

Samuel Manley "Chip" Butler III

What an awesome story!  I always loved MP football stories and games!

Michael Phillip "Mike" Agresta

Excellent story Larry.  There were lots of lifes lessons to be learned from playing football at MPHS. 

James Laseter (Laseter)

Thanks for posting Larry. I learned much from my football days, particularly about Coach Purcell's leadership. I miss all of you guys.

Jim Laseter

Hardin Minor

Inviting everyone to help me get the word out about Charlotte Earth Day 2022 which will be held on Sat. April 23 from 10a-3p at First Ward Park (301E.7th St). For complete details visit charlotteearthday.com  and if you are so inclined I would appreciate your financial support to help make this unique event a success for our community. We have initiated a Go Fund Me Campaign! You can make a contribution here:

 https://gofund.me/be1ebe1f

A donation in any amount would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks so much. See y'all at the MPHS Reunion. Cheers! Hardin Minor

Charlotte 'Chotty' Hutson Wrenn

Hardin! The link doesn't work so would you re-post it? I cut and pasted it into GoFundMe but it didn't work either. Thanks for carrying this mantle! Cheers! Chotty

Samuel Rankin

Boyd Albritton passed away peacefully this last Saturday.A service to celebrate his life will be at Myers park Methodist church in Charlotte. 2pm Monday the 15th

Samuel Rankin

I messed up Boyd's service is at Myers Park Presbyterian on providence road 

James Laseter (Laseter)

Kelly "KG" Allen Gwin III, 71, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2024. Born April 8,1952 in New York, NY to the late Kelly and Betty Gwin, Kelly grew up in Charlotte, NC and attended Myers Park High School and East Carolina University. Creative and artistically gifted, Kelly founded Gwin Southwest Jewelry, collecting and selling American-Indian jewelry to museums, retailers, and fashion houses across the United States. A lover of art, music, travel, and food, nothing made Kelly happier than to enjoy a great restaurant with family and friends, and he especially cherished time spent with loved ones on Nantucket island. He will be remembered for his carefree spirit, generosity, humor, and zest for life.
Mr. Gwin is survived by his loving children, Ryan (Jackie) Gwin, and Jenna Gwin; granddaughters, Rory and Callie Gwin; and his friend and former wife, Cindy Gwin. He is also survived by sister Leslie (Tag) Hunt; and nieces Christian Hunt, Gwin Hunt, and Logan (Mark) Hunt.
The family would like to thank Chanta Kromah and Radiyah Rust, as well as the staff at Levine & Dickson Hospice House, for the wonderful care, comfort, and companionship provided to Kelly later in his life.
A service to celebrate the life of Kelly Gwin will be held at 11am on Friday, February 2 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte NC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Ataxia Foundation (www.ataxia.org/donate) in Kelly's name.