Jim Ratzman

Yes

Carole and I married August 6, 1966. I graduated from Georgia State U. in 1968, went to work at Atlantic Steel. I changed jobs in 1972 to work for Rollins, Inc. and moved to Austin, TX in 1973. Changed jobs in 1976, went to work for Texas Credit Union Department, regulatory agency for state-chartered credit unions in Texas. Retired in 2003, and began consulting/contract work for credit unions. For seven years, I worked for a local CPA performing internal audits for state agencies, but he has retired.

In 1957, my family moved to Cascade Heights from Texas. The only people we knew were the other families that had moved to Texas with the company my dad worked for. I was excited about living in the big city of Atlanta, but uncertain about being in high school in the 8th grade. In Texas, we had junior-high schools for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade, and high school for the remainder. In that 8th grade year, I had Mr. Fink for homeroom. Two classmates befriended me, Eddie Bowen and Charles Rogers, and I immediately felt like I fit in since most of you guys had been together since the first grade! I don't remember much more about Charles, but Eddie and I maintained a friendship until his death. He was a special guy to this class of 1962.

A month or so into that first school year, a flu epidemic hit the school and many 8th grade football team members were ill. I had never played any type of organized football, but one morning in PE I had a "career-making" day, catching two touchdown passes! That afternoon, Coach Brenner "recruited" me for the team. But by the time I learned all the plays, the other team members were back and I got very little playing time, but I was on the team! In the winter, I played on the 8th grade basketball team.

Now 55 years since that first day at Southwest High School in 1957, I come again from Texas, but this time I bring a classmate! We only missed the 30th year reunion because I had a work conflict. You guys are a special group to Carole and me. It has been worth every trip from Texas at attend these reunions.

Howell Freeman and I and one other guy whose name I can't remember were "gambling" during the lunch hour. We were matching pennies outside near the old steps down to the old baseball field. Mr. Wills was at the hall window on the second floor watching us. He came down and demanded that we follow him to his office. All three of us received a week in detention hall. Mr. Wills accused me of being the "ringleader!"

In our Sophomore year, we had "0" period due to overcrowding (before Therrell opened). I had a zero period English class with Miss Millican. As many teachers did back then, we were seated in alphabetical order. Carole Petty sat in front of me and Bill Sellmer sat behind me. In today's vernacular, I guess I "hit" on her before, during and after class! Our first date was on November 6, 1959 for the Brown vs. Southwest football game, and the dance later at the gym. On August 6 we will celebrate 46 years of marriage!