Rick Shrout

For those of you who are out of town, or do not subscribe to The Huntsville Times or read AL.com, Grissom is now home of the Cyber Tigers! (They call them CyberSloths, but I think Cyber Tigers is better.)

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/03/grissom_high_cybersloths_take.html

They also appeared on a segment of CBS Sunday Morning.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2015/04/huntsville_schools_cyber_secur.html#incart_river

You may also be interested in this little video about the lack of windows at our Grissom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HURcoFcVHTM

Mark Horton

I like Cyber Tigers better as well.  I would have preferred sleuth to sloth. The latter can sometimes evoke negative connotations.  But what a bunch of super kids.

J. D. Webster

Best Wishes everyone on your evening get together tonight.

I'm willing to try and skype the event again if Mellow Mushroom has wi-fi and somebody has skype on their phone or tablet.

Cheers.

J.D.

PS - I will also be in Huntsville first week of June. Dad's birthday week (85 years).

J. D. Webster

On the creative - possibly bad - ideas side of things. I had this thought. What if for our weekend get together for the class 60th Birthday celebration in 2016 that we did something different.

Rather than the usual dinner, or social venue, that we did something off the wall like have a costume ball. Imagine the fun trying to recognize ourselves again, but with costumes.

The cruise ship thing just seems so out of reach for many of us.  And sitting around and chatting like old folks with drinks in hand jus seems so...um normal...and given that most of us are "abby normal" to some degree...

Just sayin'

:-)

J.D.

John Cochran

Mellow Mushroom, tonight, 6:00..... Cecil Ashburn, off of Bailey Cove.

JD, we'll try to connect w/ you.

Ruth Garcia (Osborne-Hess)

Look at this goodlooking group! They are fun too! These gatherings get better and better! I think everyone had a great time! Thanks John for rounding us up! Will look forward to our next gathering!

J. D. Webster

Great Photo guys and gals!

My apologies, schedule change saw me unavailable to skype tonight!

:-)

JD

John Cochran

It was another great evening, and Ruth is 100% correct......they do seem to get better ever time we meet- I will be posting information regarding the next get together soon- Kay Shrout had a good suggestion that we might try to put into effect this summer.....Why don't each of you that is far away, that already know when you're going to be coming to the Huntsvile area, send me a message, email, text, or call- Then, when we get enough responses, we can try to coordinate a date that will include as many of the travel folks as possible- There have already been 3 or 4 that have stated they'll be coming in at various times this summer, so if you would, contact me (info below) and we'll put all available dates up for consideration, and then see what can be scheduled to best accomodate everyone- Hope to hear from you soon, have a Blessed week.........John.

My contact information, if you don't have it:

Cell......(256)303 7598, Home.....(256)773 7598.

Email......jrctide@charter.net

David "Catfish" Campbell

This have been on my brain cell for awhile now – actually hit home when we did the walk about Grissom at the 40^th class reunion – though due to a parity error in the one brain cell - that’s about as far as I got with things…

That said - one topic of discussion at the Mellow Mushroom outing last night was (and for those that didn’t attend the outing – you missed out – Record picked up the tab - well he was suppose too)  – anyway – the topic of discussion was:

What is going to happening to all the things that previous graduating classes have done at Grissom given that Grissom is moving? (e.g., the GHS marquee, though more important – the Class of 74’s sidewalk!)

Yes – I’m sure a phone call or 2 to the city planning commission or whoever is in charge of the Grissom relocation effort – the answer to that question might be obtained. 

The desired answer would be – plans are to relocate everything to the new location!  

Though most likely the answer is going to be: “nothing is going to be done” – the Class of 74 sidewalk is going to be left behind – to be mistreated/or destroyed by the new tenants of the Grissom that was our home away from home for so many years…

That said - an issue such as this need to be addressed utilizing logic obtained from the many years at Grissom handling issues just like this – Does anyone have a backhoe and a truck large enough to handle carrying a big chunk of concrete in the shape of a (let’s say a sidewalk) that could be borrowed for a few hours (let’s say mid-night to 2 AM) one evening?  If so – let me know… thx

J. D. Webster

Save the Sidewalk

Catfish has a great point and we need to act before they come chop it out of the ground with their own back hoe and turn into concrete fill somewhere.

I think we need an action committee and a plan.

Steps - off the top of my head.

A letter to the high school stating our concerns and wish to take possession of said sidewalk to be placed in a monument on the new Grissom grounds.

A letter to the city office / officer? who represents the new ownership of the school. Requesting the possession of said sidewalk.

A plan that will not cost the city any money.

We the class pay for the digging up of the sidewalk, replacement soil and grass.

We prepare and preserve the pieces.

We the class pay for the storage and move of the preserved pieces.

We create some kind of simple monument design to place and preserve the pieces somewhere on the new school grounds.

Our historical basis? We were the first four year class of the school. We deserve some recognition eh?

Ideas? Thoughts?

J.D. (rallying behind Catfish!)

Carol Roberts (Freeman)

Sounds great everyone!  I'm in, I will be happy to do whatever I can to help.  Sorry I missed the fun & getting to share an evening with all of you.  Thanks for posting the picture!  

Rick Shrout

Actually, Class of 73 has the honor of being the first 4 year class (attended grades 9 - 12) at GHS.  Of course we had a better football team.  ;-) 

But seriously, the sidewalk should be saved and moved to the new location for tradition.  Tie the new with the original.  Save the sidewalk!

David "Catfish" Campbell

The following was sent this morning - will keep folks updated on the response... Sorry about the format - cut/paste issue...

To:   Jeffrey S. Wilson, Ed.D.

      Director of Operations

      Huntsville City Schools

      714 Bob Wallace Avenue

      Huntsville, AL 35801

      Office: 256-428-8310

      Direct: 256-428-8346

      Email: jeffrey.wilson@hsv-k12.org

From: David Campbell

      Class of 1974 - Grissom High School

      111 Catherine Dr SE

      Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763

      Cell: (256) 425-8894

      Email: david.campbell@amrdec.army.mil

Subject:  Grissom High School Alumni - Artifacts residing @ current Grissom High School Campus

Date:  30 April 2015

Dear Mr. Wilson,

My name is David Campbell; I am a Grissom High School Class of 1974 Alumni. I am in search of information pertaining the fate to the Alumni Artifacts that currently reside at the Grissom High School Campus on Baily Cove.

Can you help in this search?  If not, would you know who I can get in touch with that would have the information I am seeking?

An example of such would be the GHS marquee that proudly stands out front of the school. Though more importantly (from a Class of 1974 perspective) is the fate of the Class of 1974 sidewalk. 

The Class of 1974 sidewalk was contructed to commemorate a snap-shot in time that has and is still cherish by many. The Class of 1974 sidewalk along with all the other Alumni artifacts are key items in the history of Grissom and need to be preserved.

That said, We the Class of 1974 are in search of information to find out what are the current plans for the Class of 1974 sidewalk and other Alumni artifacts. 

Are there plans to relocate the Class of 1974 sidewalk (and other Alumni artifacts) to the new Grissom Campus?  Or are the plans be just to leave all the Alumni artifacts where they currently reside and not relocate them to the new Grissom campus - thereby not preserving the history of Grissom High School?

Thanks in advance for your help,

David Campbell

Class of 1974

CC/ Class of 1974 - Message Forum

Janice Gregg

I am in.  Save the sidewalk!

David "Catfish" Campbell

Dang - spell checker - Oh well - it is what it is - since it's already been sent...

Donna B Bass (Scroggins)

Ricky,

I thought we went to Grissom from 9-12, I remember i took pre-algebra at ghs and that was Freshman year.

I went to prom my fresman year with Bill Austin, he was a junior and I was a freshman.

It was us!!! we also had the best football team!

Hope to see some of you in June !!!!

Donna B

Sharon Dickinson (Marlowe)

Leigh Ann Ellsworth (Lockamy)

This is Leigh Ann Ellsworth. Anyone remember me?  1974

Jimmy Record

The Rallying Cry: SAVE THE SIDEWALK !!!

RIck is right, 73 was the first class to go all years. We were second and yes 74 did have a better Football team!!

J. D. Webster

Save the Sidewalk!

Hey if we weren't the first four year class, I bet we were the first four year class to have a working cafeteria the entire time (no McDonald's for us).  But I do remember that one or more pods were still under construction and we had a lot of temp. classes in the rooms out in the parking lots.

:-)

And I remember Leigh Ann - (one of many secret crushes I went through).

Cheers,

JD

David "Catfish" Campbell

Save the Class of 1974 Sidewalk Campaign - Update

As of this morning 05/02 – I have not heard back from the email that was sent or the phone call that is made.  Plans are to give Mr. Wilson until Tuesday/Wednesday next week before I ping him again.

Though, in order to surface our concerns since this is a time critical issue – I will be sending similar emails to the Superintendent of Huntsville City Schools – Dr. Casey Wardynski and Grissom’s Principal – June Kalange. 

Their POC information noted below:

Dr. Casey Wardynski - Superintendent Huntsville City Schools - casey.wardynski@hsv-k12.org – 256-428-6800

June Kalange – Principal – Grissom High School – lucretia.kalange@hsv-k12.org 256-428-8001

In addition – I plan to draft a letter to Channel 48 WAFF News to raise our concern to “Save the Class of 1974 Sidewalk” one more level.

Our main focus with the “Save the Class of 1974 Sidewalk” Campaign is the fate of our sidewalk – though hopefully it will raise attention to the fate of all Alumni Artifacts in order to preserve the Grissom High School heritage.

Gerry Slobe

John Cochran

Leigh Ann, not only from Grissom, but also the youth group at Calvary Bible Church- Hope you are well, and that you can join us for some of our class get togethers, there is a group from Huntsville and from Nashville that are getting together regularly...... God Bless.

On another note, Kaye and I drove by GHS last night and went to the sidewalk, getting some pictures- It is weathered, and cracking in places, but could be salvageable- Removal would have to be w/ the utmost care- I want to see that preserved, as I know everyone does- It was good looking at the names that are still legible, and reminiscing- Saving it needs to be a priority, but like I said, it needs to be done carefully.

Karl Harbin

What does Ricky Sneed do in North Carolina now? I also remember Leigh Ann from school.  Still sorry I had to miss the last reunion, but enjoy seeing the comments on this Grissom site and seeing names from the past.  The story on 60 Minutes about the Grissom students made me proud to be a graduate.  

David "Catfish" Campbell

Save the Class of 1974 Sidewalk Campaign - Update (05/05)

Below is the response from Ms. June Kalange - Principle of Grissom High School

Dear Mr. Campbell,

It is always a pleasure to hear from a Grissom alumnus.  We do cherish our history and traditions and are looking at taking some of the memorials and other artifacts on the campus.  We have not made any definite plans at this time, but have some time to make these decisions.  Grissom High School  will be housed on the current campus for the next two years, and if the new school is completed on time, we anticipate moving into the new school building in the fall of 2017.

Thank you for expressing your interest in the Class of 1974  sidewalk and other artifacts on the campus.  I will keep you in the loop as we look at what we plan to  move to the new campus.  I have been at Grissom since 1989, and both of my children are Grissom alumni.  Your concerns are important to me.

Regards,

June Kalange