J. D. Webster

The touching Poem that Susan White Lester wrote and then read during the memorial to our classmates on reunion night is now posted on the "In Memory" page here for those that wanted a copy.

J.D.

Sharon Dickinson (Marlowe)

Yes, Strive for 45 sounds jus grrrrrrrrreat for me!!!!!

John Cochran

In response to Bob's post, I agree wholeheartedly w/ all he said, but to include me in the preparation and weeks and weeks of work that was done by our Reunion Committee is a bit off base- I showed up Friday and Saturday and just thoroughly enjoyed the after effects of all their work- The skit was so much fun, but all the prep work and planning was done by a dedicated group of classmates that worked long and hard to bring the weekend about, and my involvement was strictly limited to the Saturday night skit- I appreciate Bob included my name, but I hardly deserve to receive credit for any part of what they did.

So, to sum it up, Bob, thanks for your words including me, but the real heroes of this weekend were those that served the committee so professionally and w/ the dedication they showed to tie it all in together- Thanks again, committee for your tireless efforts.

Bob Zitsch

Johnny- you are correct that so many others worked very hard to make our reunion happen, some of who I didn't  mention. The point is we are  most appreciative of those efforts. 

You on the other hand, though not so much involved with the planning and preparation, were much of the entertainment. I recall that you did quite a bit of that 40 years ago JC! Some things don't change. - and thanks to you for that. :-)

John Cochran

Thanks Bob, my maturity level then wasn't very high.....come to think of it, not a lot higher now.

Jimmy Record

Best time I have had in years. I am blessed to have such great Classmates. I too echo the desire to have a 45 year reunion. Made me realize how time slips away and how you lose touch with people you should never lose touch with. I would have we could get some of those people who have never come to one to come see how Good of a time we all had. There are many local ones who we know where they are but there are many more who simply are missing and we need everyone to chip in and help us try to find some of them.

Thank You again classmates. You made my weekend unforgettable. I have Reunion Withdrawl because I did not have enough time just to catch up with everyone and I went to every event too !!!

John Cochran

Well, we're coming up on 2 weeks since the great reunion, and I just wanted to check in w/ the class, see how folks were doing, and generally, just stay in touch- That was one thing I regretfully did not do for years and years, and for that, I apologize, but I am going to stick to my promise that I would see how you awesome folks were doing from time to time- So, consider this my first follow up, and I just want you to know the reunion 2 weekends ago was enlightening for me in a way 10, 20, and 30 weren't.....I've really started seeing more and more, the value of keeping up w/ one another- Hope you all have a great rest of the week, and until we see one another again, may God Bless you and your families always.....John.

Donna B Bass (Scroggins)

I have attended all the reunions, but this one was outstanding.  Everyone was involved in all the activities. We relaxed and had great fun.  I so loved my high school years! There were so many great times, but the pursuit of football champs was amazing. Again, thank you committee, fabulous job!!

Until we meet again, 

Donna B

Ruth Garcia (Osborne-Hess)

J. D. Webster

The time machine needs more power! Can we have more power!

Drew James

Debbie Bradshaw (Baker)

Good Morning Everyone !  

I hope this Saturday morning is a great begining to a wonderful weekend !

It has been so incredible to be back in touch with so many of you. 

I have found that finding old friends is like finding a buried  treasure ! And it is truly worth its weight in gold. 

The reunion provided us all with a much needed spark in our lives ! Or at least it did for me !

Speaking of an 'old spark'.....!   Coach Childress sends his best wishes to everyone and his apologies for not making the Reunion.  I had taken him his basket of goodies (mugs, a little football, Rick Kepler's keepsake Program and Newspaper Articles, etc) the Monday after the Reunion. He was so excited and beaming with joyful memories. He has vowed to be there for our next one, in Five Years. 

Coach Childress is like the "Energizer Bunny" !  I told him and his beautiful wife Jane that he just needed his batteries re-charged and he is good to go! 

Seriously, Coach is doing well.  It is taking him a little bit of time to get his strength back, but I think that after his 'Mini Stroke' (and the adjustment to his medications to prevent any more) it is just taking a little time to get him back to his old self.  After talking to him yesterday he is almost there!  He said it was his 'Best' day  so far.  He and Jane had gotten out and gone to lunch and walked at the mall and he was feeling good.

He also said he had talked to several old friends yesterday and that it had left him feeling blessed. 

That got me to thinking that so many of you had asked about him and had sent him well wishes through me that I really needed to get his contact information on here for all of you.  J.D. had gone by his home and visited with him and Rick Eichelberger had gone by to see him at the hospital and Coach was still glowing when I saw him later, telling me all about their visits. 

So, since he has a published number and address, and Jane has said that the cards, visits and calls are really helping, I am including his phone number and address for you all to have, if you would like to send him well wishes. 

Jimmy Record

Very Nice Job on re-wording American Pie!

J. D. Webster

Had lunch with Ruth Garcia in Baltimore last Saturday! Was working my airline trip and had a long layover there. Used this site to see who lived in the area and low and behold saw that Ruth was there. I called and she was free. We met, had a big lunch with three types of fish each and a crab cake, followed by a walk around the harbor landing, coffee and desert. Talked about high school of course and the "next" reunion, then returned to our normal lives. In all, a very nice visit. Thanks Ruth - and thanks to this web site for enabling! Great way to brighten up an otherwise mundane day.

John Cochran

Hope all from the '74 class are having an awesome and truly Blessed week- There hasn't been a day since the Reunion I haven't thought about how great that weekend was- The only aspect of the whole experience that I regret is knowing we walked through Grissom for probably the final time- But, for that negative, there were a thousand positives.

Jim Erben

What a great weekend!!!  David Campbell and his son Alex and yours truly honed our scuba skills at Blue Water in Pelham Al.... We enjoyed scuba at multiple depths and David hammered "Perfect Bouyancy" through two tanks.   After the dive we devoured the best hot wings in Bham at Ragtime Cafe' .. If anyone is interested, my daughter Katelyn and I will be doing a tank or two this Saturday for remedial skills pracitce... Your welcome to join, just look for the two tone F150 White and tan.....Mississippi Tags

Ruth Garcia (Osborne-Hess)

I didn't get to visit with JD very much at the Reunion.  He was so BUSY!  So I was thrilled that he let me know he was flying into BWI for a long lay-over and YES I was available to hang out with him for a few hours.  One of the 'magical' things about our Reunion is that it connected and reconnected folks who really didn't know each other in highschool, yet seems like somehow we did.  Case in point: me and JD. Enjoying each others company and conversation one afternoon in the Baltimore area, one would think we grew up together.  None of us think of ourselves as OLD, but ya know, we ain't getting any younger, and there is a certain comfort knowing that we are growing old together. Gracefully.  Strong.  Reflecting on our classmates, thankfulness and appreciation filled conversation and time together. Great to see you JD!

Judy Wolfsberger

After the awesome reunion I was going through a file and found a request from an acquaintance who was writing a book on what brings people joy. The request was from last year and, of course, I told her I would be a happy to share something, yet I could not think of anything “profound” to write. So the request sat in my file.

Many of you experienced joy with a marriage, birth of child, growing wiser with a spouse, and watching your children grow up and experience life, etc. Not to say that my life is not joyful, I am thankful and happy with my life, my numerous nieces and nephews have brought me much joy, and I continue to be grateful for endless blessings from above, just could not think of anything “profound”. But when I returned home from the reunion and thought about the weekend, shared details with family and friends, and found this request, I realized I experienced “profound” joy at the reunion.

Ruth stated in her post that we may not have been close friends in high school, but somehow we knew each other. To see everyone so “joyful” and reconnecting at the reunion still makes me smile. We all showed respect and understanding, listened, attempted to catch up on 40 years in a short period of time, etc. with such grace and my mind continues to comprehend what happened that weekend.  Not sure if this acquaintance is still collecting stories, but I think I have a “profound” story about what brings me joy! Hoping all who reads this will experience joy, both simple and profound, today and every day.

This evening the Grissom Girls are meeting for an impromptu dinner tonight and I plan to suggest some joyful reunions in the Nashville area. We will keep you all informed and hope you will be able to join us at one time or another. Take care and enjoy the day!

Bob Zitsch

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Judy. I feel that most all of us were surprised that this reunion was so enjoyable. I was not only very nice to reconnect but to also connect with those classmates who I didn't know well at GHS.

Jim Erben

So true Bobby. Honestly, it was fun to let the kids out to play!!  The bonds and relationships of the past, stood the ultimate test of time.  We prayed together, shared together, cared together, loved together and continue to keep the light shining 40 years later.... that is strong my friends....Keep the light burning... May God Bless each and everyone of you.....

PS: Bob.... im serious about a road trip to Missouri to chase turkeys....!!!!

Vance Moore

58 is old, but when you get a whole room filled to the brim with nothing but 58 year olds...especially 58 year olds who have shared the past together, some-how-or-another a metamorphosis occurs and they are not 58 anymore ...nor are they even "old" any longer.  There is a magic.  I think we all stepped into the "time machine" box and got empowered with youthful vigor and enthusiasm.  May the magic continue in your lives!  God bless!

Frank Manning

I had thought to write this before now, but did not feel comfortable doing so until I read the preceeding posts. Many of you have written how special this reunion was and the type of "communion" we shared throughout the weekend. The Order of the Day seemed to be about re-establishing old friendships, making new ones, and living in the moment as though there was no past, no future, just that specific moment in time. As our time together unfolded, there existed a joyful union of spirit that transcended old relationships. There were so many people I wanted speak or catch up with, explore and share histories, or just say how much I regretted not getting to know while in school. The time simply flew by. It is beyond my limited literary abilities to describe the "spiritual" nature of what was shared, but I was not the only one to notice it, (apparently). Thank you all for being there. No matter that we didn't speak, really notice one another, or did notice, but not get the opportunity to converse. 

My wife, Anita, made the comment that, as an "outsider" to the class participating in the reunion, she felt "included" throughtout the weekend. She was so impressed with how we, as a class, seemed to meld into a unified community. I really wasn't surprised. It just seemed so natural. Like it was meant to be that way. 

John Cochran

Frank, well said, my friend..... So many people I would have loved to sat down with and talked with for an hour or more, and there just wasn't time- The moving from person to person to steal a few minutes time was great, don't get me wrong, but to have had the time to sit and actually reconnect up close and personal would have been wonderful- That's why I think the 5 year reunions will be so meaningful, and now that we're getting to the age where there are fewer and fewer time constraints and demands, I actually think regularly scheduled "meet and greets", in various areas would be really great- If 10 can come fine, if 20 can come, fine, if THREE can come....Fine !!!! Just regular get togethers designed to keep us connected and continue the powerful interactions this reunion provided- I'm going to make it a point, through Facebook, through this site, through emails, whatever it takes, to stay connected and up to date.

And my wife felt the same way, she was in the Grissom class of '77, but yet, hasn't gone to any of their reunions- But she just feels at home and comfortable at our reunions, never more so than this past one- She was made to feel included in conversation and stories she has heard time and time again, but everyone made her feel like one of our class, not an outsider.

Thanks for a very insightful post- Here's hoping each member of the class has a Blessed and productive week- Take care, everyone.

Jimmy Record

Yes Well Said!

All the reason why we need to all do it again in 5 years and we all  need to encourage those who didn't or couldn't come to try and make it next time. The consensus was we all enjoyed being back together again though time flew by.

James Pointer