Cobb Oxford

Graduated from Clemson in 1981. First job was with Seneca Journal. After a year in Seneca, I moved to Anderson. Spent eight years at the Independent Publishing Company (sports writer), two and a half years at the Anderson Area Medical Center (community relations), three years at Grace Episcopal Church (office manager), and 11 years at Anderson University (sports information director, assistant athletic director). In November 2008, my wife and I opened Burgundy Blues Jazz Club in downtown Anderson. We had a blast, but the club closed in November, 2011. With my writing and radio days behind me, I now managed two buildings in downtown Anderson and a horse farm just north of town. Future plans for the farm include a day and a residential program for special needs adults. We own nine horses at Oxford Farm. Oxford Farm is the home of Mane Solutions, a therapeutic riding program.

-- Mrs. Beaty (I've never seen a purple cow, I hope to never see one, but I can tell you anyhow, I would rather see than be one). Everybody was afraid of her, but I always enjoyed her class
-- The dreaded term paper
-- Mr. Stevenson with a chalk mark on his upper lip (It was a big deal to a computer in the back of the room)
-- Chemistry class in the "Mormon Corner." I sate in the back desk on the first row was surrounded by Dova Dixon and several Garners. I don't remember how many. We had a great time. I still don't know what happened in that class. I think I managed a C
-- Ken Rushlow. He was tough, but he taught me a lot. He also had a great sense of humor. Shhhhh, buzzards!
-- The 7-6 upset of Pickens in 1975 that ended their 40-something game regular-season winning streak
-- Everyone making fun of the way Charlie Harris talked. His world history class was one of my favorites
-- Having to listen to "Philadelphia Freedom" about 9,000 times in the cafeteria
-- Mrs. Cunningham. I saw Bennie recently and told him his mother was one of my favorites. I was panicking the spring of my senior year because the letter from Clemson had not arrived. She told me to be patient. It finally came. I probably couldn't get into Clemson today. LOL.
-- Mr. Coleman announcing one day on the PA system -- "Attention please, attention please. There is a car in the parking lot with three flat tires and the fourth one is going down."
-- Typing class. Do they even teach typing anymore? I guess not since manual typewriters and carbon paper have gone the way of black-and-white TVs. I remember at the time thinking it was a waste of time. Little did I know I was going to make my living typing -- on deadlines
-- Playing golf at the Oconee Country Club with Brad Norton (he beat me every time) and then hanging out at the pool with Teena Ellenburg. Last time I rode out to Oconee, I noticed the pool was gone. I don't think I've played golf there since I graduated from SHS
-- Lisa Tillotson joining the golf team. I am sure she was the first female golfer at SHS and maybe in the Upstate
-- Having to wear black tights in the Senior Play. After getting dragged to auditions for the senior play, I thought I was going to have just a bit part. A small bit part. But I made a mistake reading the script during auditions and made most of the room laugh, so my role changed
-- I remember two moments from the play: Late in the play, I had to yell "Fire" and an arrow was supposed to shoot across the stage. The first night I yelled "Fire" several times before an arrow slid across the stage. Melanie's purple feet. I remember her playing a grape stomper or something like that
-- The cast party after the play. I warned my mother there was going to be beer. There was plenty of it. I think there was more beer in the pool than there was water

Tim Mays