Kenneth Cox

Theresa, my "Loving Wife", dragged me (kicking & screaming) to a new house in Wentzville, MO (about 40 miles west of St Louis). I'm now surrounded by in-laws as my wife spends all "my" money furnishing and landscaping our new home ... HELP!!! In spite of that, we are enjoying our retirement lifestyle. Unfortunately, due to my disabilities, golf is no longer a viable activity.

As has been said ... "There is none so fine as the class of '69".

I was born and spent most of my early years growing up in Barberton, Ohio. In November 1967, my dad secured a job with Combustion Engineering and moved his family from Barberton to Chattanooga (Signal Mountain), Tennessee. As a nerdy 10th-grade mid-term transfer, I was happily able to befriend many of my classmates over the course of my CHS years. For this, I am very grateful to all of you who made that opportunity possible. Among the many were friends like Vaughn Riley, Dave Horton (my big brother in Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at UTC), Wally Keasler, Byron Mitts, Mardi Conway, Rad Ellis, Steve Newman (my little brother in Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at UTC), Billy Craig, Dave Dahlstrom, Ed Shropshire, Susan Owens and Bob Moss (a great golfer/trumpet player/Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity brother at UTC!).

One of the more significant remembrances I have about CHS was being able to swear during football/basketball pep rallies. When cheerleaders asked "Is Brainard High going to win this game?", the entire student body (with the help of the band's big bass drums) would erupt with an ear-shattering "HELL NO!!" ... then yell/spell the ultimate victor "C I T Y _ H I G H" ... Truly inspiring!!

Aside from successfully graduating, my moments of greatest pride include being selected a member of the Jr. Lions Club and being selected the 1st CHS student representative to participate as a member of the Tennessee State HS Choir in Nashville. Unfortunately, this was not mentioned in our HS yearbook. Oh well ... maybe I'll be a little more popular in my next life.

Hopefully, all of you with shared experiences from our CHS years are happy, healthy and doing well.

Take Care Y'all.

PS: Am so happy I lived to the "ripe old age" of 68 to celebrate and enjoy the company of my 50th CHS reunion last October, coordinated by Monty Jolly, Ed Shropshire, Bob Moss, Bob McNutt, et. al. So much fun was shared and enjoyed in the stories of our teenage years. This reunion represented a number of bucket-list items from my life. Most significant was the enhancement of relationships developed while in HS and college. Unfortunately, due to my hyper self-conscious frustration of being rejected for a date, I did not attend the senior prom. Attending the reunion with my fellow "senior classmates" removed that feeling of self-doubt and I have now happily filled that emotional void.

PPS: I wish to convey my deep appreciation for all of you who have taken the time to express your positive words in this venue regarding your perceptions of me during our HS years. Am not sure I am worthy of your compliments, but I do know I have many friends.

Again, thank you all for being such a significant part of my life.