May Hillcrest High School Reunion Newsletter View this email in your browser During the 60s most of us all knew the models of all the cars each year. Here are ten cars of the decade. See if you can determine the years for each. Next month we will have the answers. Hope the cars bring back some memories of the 60s. There were so few models that every fall when the new cars came out it was a very big deal. The guys really read all the magazines to learn what the new models would look like. Today it is nothing! Next month we will tell you the years that match with the cars. There are ten years represented in photos! '60-'69! Speaking of cars, the road from Hillcrest to Shaw on Highway 441 was traveled by a number of folks every day. The buses stopped first at Shaw Middle School and then up to Shaw Heights Elementary School and then off to Wedgefield, Sumter Highway, Dalzell, Horatio, Stateburg and Hagood.  Most folks did not pay much attention after school to the road as many were just talking to their bus neighbors about the day. The road has changed a great deal, mostly with taller trees and some businesses. Here is aYouTube video of the trip from Hillcrest to the beginning of Oakland Plantation with a little narration. This next YouTube is the beginning of Oakland Plantation until the back gate... which is not there anymore.   San Souci Plantation... Site for the 2016 Reunion Dance For the third time we are having to change the venue of the big reunion dance. First we reserved the American Legion Building downtown Sumter. They came to us two months laterand told us they needed the building for the Sumter County Fair. So next we went to Shaw AFB and reserved the Officers Club, where we have done it several times before. This was great as many alumnae know Shaw and love to go back to a familiar place. The space was great for our size of group and they cater right there. The problem with Shaw these days is their security. After we made reservations, we talked about their demands and most folks agreed that they were asking too much. They wanted every one's social security numbers at least 7-10 days before the reunion to do background checks.  A few years ago this might have not been a problems. But so many folks have been hacked with their social security numbers that many have told us that this would not work.  Yikes We checked with alumnae around and found that there is a new place between Shaw and Stateburg called the Sans Souci Plantation that holds weddings, receptions and big dances at their site. The original plantation burned down several years ago, but the site we will be using has been rebuilt to a good place for our crowd. It is a little rustic, but then again so are most of our alumnae.  We will have another company to cater the event. Kris Shekitka  '66                                            Carolita Scott Strickland  '67                 From '66 Annual                                        From '66 Annual   We have used the photos of Kris and Carolita from their 1966 annuals. We are sure they have changed their looks a little. If you want to see how much they changed , come to the reunion! We did not get a response in time from our early 60's person, so at the end of this piece we have some memories from various Hillcrest alumnae!   1.  What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest?  Currently I am most grateful to be able to work as a member of a large Hospital based Pathology Group Practice in Maryland (since May2003).  It is a privilege to serve a diverse group of patients as a surgical pathologist and member of the physician staff at three community hospitals.   It is a blessing to have the privilege to work in such an interesting and challenging field.  I hope to continue my professional practice into my 80s (the founder of our pathology group still works full time and is 83!).  I hope that my eyes can hold out; I need them everyday as I “fly” my microscope. Reflecting on the past:  When I graduatedHillcrest I attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC (“Sparkle City” as we called it) and majored in Chemistry (to this day I do not know exactly why I chose Chemistry; it should have been biology); I also took Army ROTC, so upon graduation in Jan 1970 I entered Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC to begin a PhD program in Biochemistry.  However, I was not granted a deferment by the Army and entered active duty in June 1970 in the US Army Chemical Corps.  By the way, Barbara and I got married (right after she finished the U of Oregon) on April 4, 1970.  I served three years in the Army.  Barbara and I lived in Germany for two + years (our son Kelly was born there in 1971).  The work in the Army was a great experience and I treasure those days as I learned so much doing different jobs:  Supply Officer, Training Officer, Security Officer, and Physical Security Platoon Leader (I had a Military Police Platoon and 18 sentry dogs, a dog handler instructor and on site Vet tech).  The Army sent me to EOD school prior to going to Germany so I had the thrill and challenge of doing demolition work for a couple of years.  My unit, the 636 Ordnance Co (EOD) was responsible to disposing of outdated/unservicable artillery shells, missiles, rockets, etc and would work at Baumholder demolition range each month to earn our hazardous duty pay (an extra whopping $110 per month, at the time that was big bucks!).  Barbara and I lived in a small German village in an apartment complex alongside three other American military couples, all with young families like us.  It was a special time. One of my fondest memories as a young lieutenant in an ordnance company was serving as a pay officer.  I would pack a 45 pistol and drive my car to the Finance Office 20 miles north in Kaiserslautern to pick up the cash to pay the troops (we had over 100 assigned to our unit, so I must have picked up 20 to 30K in bills and drive back to the unit to pay the soldiers; very different today with paychecks being deposited directly into bank accounts.  One day the Army flew me by chopper to pay a private who was TDY to a training site near the East German border. While in Germany I learned about a scholarship program introduced by the military that would cover the cost of medical school.  I applied and luckily was able to be selected to the Medical University of SC in Charleston in the fall of 1973.  Barbara and I lived in Charleston for four years while I completed medical school.  After graduation in June 1977, we moved to Ft Lewis Washington where I did my residency in Pathology at Madigan Army Medical Center.  After 4 years residency training in pathology I was assigned to Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta Ga for four years (1981-1985) as a staff pathologist.  I transferred to the US Air Force in June 1985 and Barbara and I moved to MD where I spent 17 years in the US Air Force as a pathologists working at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology IAFIP) at Walter Reed Medical Center and had a couple of assignments at Andrews AFB as a hospital pathologist.  I retired from the Air Force in October 2001 after 31 years in the US Military (15 in the Army and 16 in the Air Force).  Our son Kelly is currently a Commander in the Navy, so maybe one of our grandkids would enter the Marines and our family would have served in the four branches of service!  After I retired in October 2001 I entered civilian practice of pathology and hopefully can continue in this most interesting line of work for years to come, God willing. 2.  What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years?  I have always been an avid golfer and cat “herder” (Barbara and I have owned cats for years and cleaning litter boxes is one of my specialties!); I also  enjoy learning the art and skills of being a grandpa for my four grandkids (Mya 12, Piper 7, Bohdi 5, and Caroline 5); they keep me “young at heart” for sure. In keeping with my medical detective work, I love mysteries and especially British TV mysteries (Foyle’s War, Inspector Gently, Vera, Morse, Lewis, Endeavor, Inspector Lynley, Shetland, Poirot etc.) and have quite a collection of mystery DVDs/Blu-rays (I enjoy an hour or so of mystery viewing prior to bedtime each evening- sometimes I even take a nap before going to bed!).  An avid anglophile, I love all things British and spent two months in England during the first Desert Storm War (stationed at Bicester outside of Oxford) and took Barbara to England in 2010 for our 40th anniversary; we stayed in Bath and London and saw Stonehenge and Blenheim Palace, etc.  I hated to leave. When I turned 60 I discovered that I had a real passion for downhill skiing and just love it.  Barbara and I go to Utah each February for a week to 10 days and I ski with my brother-in-law as much as I can during that visit; I would like to spend more time on the slopes; it is so serene, relaxing and numinous skiing on Utah powder.  Skiing, in fact has supplanted golf as my greatest passion when it comes to sports.  I still keep up with the goings on in the major sports (football, baseball, etc.), but I would have to say that I could retire to Utah and ski in the Wasatch Mountains and golf in the Valley.  One of the special moments on the slopes recently was early one morning as I was cruising down a run at Alta, I passed a porcupine walking across the middle of the run!  It was amazing to see such a beautiful creature on the snow covered ground free to roam. 3.  Besides Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest?  Since graduation, I have lived in Spartanburg SC, Winston-Salem NC, Portland Oregon, Tacoma Washington, Augusta GA, Indian Head MD, West Germany, Charleston SC, and Brookeville MD (since 1985 Brookeville MD has been our home). 4.  Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest? Running wind sprints at football practice (especially when we were challenged to run against one of the coaches Great Danes!), playing on that winning football team my senior year as a pulling guard and punter (and getting a punt blocked during the game with East Clarendon when the two defensive ends knocked me for a loop).  Also, receiving corporal punishment from Coach Pringles when I came in too early one day from PE (I had a choice of either running laps over receiving a couple of paddles on the rear; I chose the latter and it stills smarts whenever I think of the moment!) and most importantly, I still remember the day Barbara was introduced as a new member of our class; I entered a trancelike state when I saw her and I just knew it was love at first sight (at least for me!).  It took me months to get up the courage to finally ask her out for a date (I did not have my driver’s license and would not get it until I turned 16 in late Dec 1964).  Luckily, John McTamney was kind enough to let me double date with him and Adrienne on 30 October 1964 (my first date with Barbara was to theHillcrest - Lower Richland football game); the rest is, well you know the story.  I have rambled on enough. OOPS... Kris forgot his family and added it here!  I forgot to include that Barbara and I have two children:  Kelly (44) (he is a Navy Commander, F-35 aviator and is stationed at Eglin AFB, FL and lives in Niceville, FL with his wife Merin and their three kids, Mya, Piper and Bohdi) and our daughter Lesley (37) who lives with her husband Dan and daughter Caroline (5) in Philadelphia (Lesley is a PhD in Art History and she and her husband will be moving to Lynchburg VA this summer; Lesley will be taking a position as Asst Prof of Art History at Randolph College this fall). 1.  What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest?When I left Wingate College in North Carolina I moved to Birmingham, AL. to find employment.  Even though working in insurance was never in my "life plan" I was hired by a large insurance company and remained in the industry for 43 years.  I retired in 2012 as a Regional Sales Manager for MetLife Insurance.  I only lived in Birmingham for a couple of years and then moved to San Antonio with my job.  My career also took me to Charlotte, Reno, Denver and then finally Tucson where I retired.  Because my husband was self-employed, relocating was easier for us than some people.  I am thankful that I was able to see different parts of the country and will have to say that I loved every city where I lived.  There are beautiful things everywhere!! Retirement has really brought me a lot of happiness!!!  I do like to stay busy so after the first year I started volunteering at the hospital one day a week which is very satisfying to me.  I also love working in the yard, cooking, reading and I try to make it to the gym several times a week.  Anyone that is my "friend" on Facebook knows that I am a dog lover and my 2 Yellow Labs also keep me going in many directions!!  When I think of Hillcrest and my high school days I do have a lot of great memories.  I remember the basketball and football games and how much fun that was being with friends and cheering on the Wildcats!  There were so many things that I took for granted and I wish I could go back and relive some of those moments.  My home room was with Mrs. James and I also had her for English - what a great teacher she was!!  Mr. Elmore was probably one of my favorite teachers ever!  He was such a nice guy and so funny and even though I disliked geometry I looked forward to his class!!!!   I do remember that I was sent home one day along with my sister, Diane, for wearing granny dresses!!   Thanks Mr. Merritt!  I laugh when I think about that and compare it to what is allowed in school these days!!  One thing I am so thankful for is that I have been able to reconnect with some of my friends through Facebook and being able to see them and their families is so much fun!!  I only hope that I get to really reconnect with them at the HILLCREST REUNION!! Memories from Hillcrest Alumnae Linda Sherrill says...  Wow, the boys of 62 who taught me the game of football.  I love Carolina football today and give all of the credit to the guys who really got us dirty.  JR. SR girls football, I was quarterback both years. I think that's what I learned the most that benefitted me the rest of my life. GO WILDCATS !!!!!  Great pictures. Lynne Potter Eldridge says...The 1962 Senior Girls Powered Puff game against the 1963 Junior Girls.  The Senior boys were the cheerleaders.  I also have some other stuff.  If you send me your really address I will send some of it to you.  Have you gotten any replies from the class of '62? David Shelton sent this OK, Bob here is a photo of "Dorothy and Dave" when we were on the Shaw AFB Golf Course. Taking a break from the heat, in the shade. ( saving this photo until next month...great shot of Dave and Dot (Essie) on the golf course) I think that day I was attempting to be a good golf instructor, but as a teacher I was a failure. She deserved better. Certainly I was no Tommy Jacobs or Mike Cianci on the Golf Course! Cianci and I must have played a million rounds on that course. Dave

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April Hillcrest HS Newsletter

Hillcrest H S  Newsletter Good News Folks we are moving along with the September 2016 Reunion and plans are being put in place. We have had to make some changes so let me lay it out now. The Reunion is really celebrating the Class of 66 which is having  its 50th Reunion. Of course to make this reunion even greater, we are inviting the classes of '60 through '69 to our party. We have had great contact with the 60-66 folks, but are having some difficulties with the 67-69 folks. But we will find them!! So Now What Some of the '66 folks are coming in on Sept 24th as they are trying to fill up all the seats at Lilfred's Restaurant in Rembert for dinner, drinks and great music. Really, only the class of 66 is invited to this! On the 25th there will be registration and partying all afternoon at the Comfort Suites. This will be a blast and a great walk down memory lane. Drinking, eating, laughing, hugging and many stories a little weather worn by being told so many times! That evening, beginning at 7 pm we will go to Shaw AFB to the Carolina Skies Club that used to be the old Officers Club. Now it is shared by officers and enlisted folks.  We had to move from the reserved American Legion Building because they needed it for the County Fair. This  party will last until about 11:30. We realize that most everyone will be over 65 so we will not be able to stay up too late.  I am sure many will still be around the pool talking much of the night! ( I am still looking for another place we can party. The Shaw AFB wants to have Social Security numbers from each person at least 7-10 days before the reunion to do background checks. Many folks do not want to share SS numbers, although the folks at the base have given me an email address that is secure to send to.) The next morning, some are playing golf in Stateburg at the Beech Creek Plantation. Several tours are being set up for others around town and perhaps Shaw AFB ( changed a ton in 50+ years). In the afternoon, several classes are having gatherings at homes of classmates, Swan Lake picnic areas or other locations. These are all being planned now. That evening, dinner is on your own and there are now tons of places to eat in Sumter. When you register, the Sumter Convention Center will be sending you some local brochures. That evening, for those left, we will be having a big street dance between the two Reunion hotels! The next morning at 8:30 folks who are going to the Bahama Cruise, will board the bus for Charleston. We are going early so we can do a little sight seeing around Charleston before boarding. The cruise does not leave Charleston until 4 pm. We will stop twice in the Bahamas of overnight stays and return to Charleston on Sunday October 2. Then our bus will pick us up and return to Columbia near noon.   Those who are not going on the cruise, can go home, head to the coast for some more fun or spend some time in Dalzell, Horatio, Stateburg or wherever! You will be getting another letter this week about registering for the Reunion festivities!  News and Happenings This past week I went to the new Hillcrest Middle School and saw some major changes they have done to our old High School. The parking lot that was in front of the gym, is now the cafeteria below. The old cafeteria was made into chorus rooms. I remember that the chorus folks had to go out next to the buses. I always thought they sent the chorus out there so no one could hear them! Another thing that has really changed the look of the school is the new entrance. Before there was a front door that only the administration used and some visitors. Now they have built a very large office area that also includes the guidance counselors and assistant principals. As you can see in this photo the entrance to the school is very large and inviting. I did a little walking around the school and went down to the gym. Amazing the school when we were there was a single A school that was 1st grade through 12th grade. Now it is a middle school that is as large as a 4A school. Yet the gymnasium is still the same size that many of us played basketball in, did our PE and many of us had our Proms in there. It is the same size that the National Basketball Association's leader in three point shooting, All American Ray Allen of Hillcrest played in. The gym is the same size!! We will publish more photos of the school in future Newsletter editions. If you have not seen the football stadium, next issue will be stunning! Next month I am going to take a video and put it on YouTube of the trip from Hillcrest to Shaw. Now this has changed so much. I will record it from my car and narrate some of the changes. The growth of the trees is amazing. I guess in 50+years we can expect some changes.  OBITS I got a message from Mike Nakoff that his wife  Juanalda Crumbliss died in October 2015. She was in the Class of '60 Billy Doby of the Class of '65 died just a couple of months ago in Sumter. I also learned that John Ryan of the Class of '66 died in 2014 while living in South Dakota. Cruise Several folks have signed up for the Cruise. I will ask them  before next May edition if I can publish their names. Several classmates have been to the Bahamas in the past and love it. Many have never gone on a cruise ( the editor has not).Several have told me that they have cruised before and were sick the whole time. Folks... with today's medicines, no one will get sick. PLEASE put down your deposits now and reserve a place while the prices are still good. Go to our website at Hillcrest60sReunion.com and sign up. If you have any questions, contact our Cruise Coordinator, John McTamney of the class of '66 at   mac0927@gmail.com   He is waiting for your email. He has all the answers. He has been on several cruises and loves them. The Carnival line has informed us that we are going to Nassau and Half Moon Bay in the Bahamas. The Half Moon Bay has been added. Please Google Half Moon Bay in the Bahamas and see that it is a great place to spend with a super beach. Interviews This month we are only doing two interviews. One is from the early part of the 60s and one is from the Class of 66, the Class celebrating its 50th. The first is with Margaret Shivers Ridlehoover. Class of '65. Margaret now lives in Columbia and has become my partner going to hospitals and funerals of classmates. So if you are going to die within 60 miles of Columbia, Margaret and I will be there! Since my days at Hillcrest..... After finishing Lander College I taught school for about 4 years ... After becoming a mom that became my career of choice! I did spent much time volunteering in schools, substituting, & teaching Sunday School for years & being involved in children's activities. While at Lander I met my dear husband, Larry Ridlehoover, and we have been blessed to live in some great areas of the Carolinas. We have followed his path in many phases of real estate development from Beech Mountain, Hilton Head, Seabrook Island, DeBordieu Colony, to our last 15 years in Lake Carolina in NE Columbia. These days we enjoy retreating to our get away near Waynesville, NC, as often as we can... The peace of the mountains calls us! Anytime we can spend with our son & daughter & their families is always good of course! Our 5 precious Grand Children are a constant source of joy.... Life has almost come full circle since moving back to this area... My fond memories of Hillcrest have been renewed~ We were all so fortunate to be in that small, unique environment. Mr. Merritt and our teachers were devoted to us. Our parents had high expectations of us. I feel the combination of military families and the "local" families was a neat experience. I continue to cherish the lifelong friendships created there. I thank my God for my every remembrance of you!!!   The next interview is with Don Roberts of the Class of 66, the Class that is celebrating its 50th this year.  Don moved to Shaw his sophomore year from Japan!   What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest?   I am retired from United Airlines. After graduation from HHS I went to Wofford College for two years before transferring to the University of South Carolina. Chris Shekitka and I roomed together our freshman year. I was premed all the way through college but got cold feet about medicine at about the same time I was feeling heat about being drafted. My solution… Join Air Force ROTC and become a pilot. It worked out great for me. I flew fighters for 21 years with the Air Force and then the Alabama Air National Guard. I became an airline pilot in 1978 and retired in 2013 after 35 years. My last 13 years I flew international flights on the B-777. I had a grand time. I have been to many, many great places and done wonderful things. I have no regrets about my career. People ask if I mess work/flying. I still travel a good bit, most recently to a beer festival in Brugges, Belgium.    What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest?   I am retired from United Airlines. After graduation from HHS I went to Wofford College for two years before transferring to the University of South Carolina. Kris Shekitka and I roomed together our freshman year. I was premed all the way through college but got cold feet about medicine at about the same time I was feeling heat about being drafted. My solution… Join Air Force ROTC and become a pilot. It worked out great for me. I flew fighters for 21 years with the Air Force so I do Work? Have you noticed that there are people trying to kill innocent people in Paris and Brussels, two of my favorite layover cities?     What am I doing now? After the loss of my wife Mary Lyne after 45 years of marriage, I am learning to live as a bachelor. It is not easy but it is getting easier.  I try to keep busy (see the next question). Taking care of the house and property, a dog and cat, etc is much more time work than I could have imagined. It keeps me connected so I don’t mind it all. I am trying hard not to kill her beloved houseplants. I am glad to see signs of spring.  What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years?    I have been playing golf for the last 35-40 years try to play once or twice a week. I can’t run due to knee issues but I stay active by walking about 6 miles a day. My big hobby is flying. Brother Tom (class of 65) and I built two experimental aircraft. They have about 20,000 rivets each and you drive them one at a time. It took us eleven years to complete both of them. Essentially he has one in Columbia and I have one in Peachtree City. I try to fly 2-3 times, usually flying formation with my flying buddies. I cannot tell you how much fun we have. Have you ever been upside down in an airplane?  Beside Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest.    Let’s see. One year in Lubbock, Texas learning to fly. Six months at Shaw AFB learning to fly the RF-4C (we had a single unit three bedroom house on base). Fours years in England at RAF Alconbury, about 70 miles north of London. Nine years in Montgomery, AL with Alabama ANG/UAL. And lastly, we have lived here in Peachtree City for over 30 years. Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest?   I hated two a day football practices. I hated running wind sprints. I loved playing football and basketball. I loved hugging cheerleaders. I loved our weekends going to Big Jim’s and the drive-in. Bob Noe, John MacTamney, George Woodsby. We had fun.  I should tell you about the time MacTamney hit a cow on 441 in his dad’s Cadillac on a foggy night. Bob and I were passengers. It was surreal.  Looking back it was about girls and sports for me.   Connections Facebook page        https://www.facebook.com/Hillcrest60sReunion/ Blog  ( old Newsletters)  http://hillcrest60sreunion.blogspot.com/ Reunion Website   http://Hillcrest60sReunion.com ### April 2016 Hillcrest Newsletter bob.noe@Hillcrest60sReunions.com   t g

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Hillcrest High School Newsletter...March   *|RSSITEMS:|* Class Reunion in September 24+ 2016 The class of 1966 is having their 50th Reunion this year and we are inviting all the classes of the decade of the 60's to our big deal. Finding folks from the years 60-66 has not been too hard as Nick Powell, '62 started building an Excel database with all the students' addresses, emails and phone numbers. We have mailed out about 300 postcards and only about 45 have returned. I am now looking for those 45 folks. Plus we did not have addresses for about 70 folks in that database. We are still looking for them using all kinds of technology, people and obituaries!, I emailed about 200 emails to folks we have and we are building this database every month. So monthly you will get a Newsletter, a request to pay for the reunion and/or cruise and a possible request from me looking for some folks. Quite a number of alumni are helping and if you have some detective skills and have some time to help, please email me. The Cruise to the Bahamas is going great.John McTamney is the Cruise Coordinator and has most of  the answers to your questions.  He did ask me to let you know that some folks, male and females have asked for someone to share their cabin with them. Let John know if you would like to cruise but are by yourself. We have another Hillcrest grad to share cabins with you. Here is the Carnival site for the cruise. Now John has some deals for you that are cheap if you reserve your cabin earlier enough. We recommend this!!Click on the underlined phrases to get to the web page.   Read More   Folks... If you are planning to go on the cruise, we really wish youwould make reservations now and not latter. Yes you will have to put down a deposit of $200 or $400 now, but if you cancel two months out, you get all your money back.  So if you cancel by July 26th, you get all your deposit back. If you reserve now, you get a better price and the location you would like. Here is the web site that Carnival made for Hillcrest High School on the trip that leaves from Charleston on the 27th of September, 2016. Now we are also renting a nice travel bus to take us from Sumter to Charleston and the cruise ship on the 27th. We have made arrangements for the bus to pick us Oct 2 and return us to our cars in Sumter. If we get enough riders, the cost is much less that driving to Charleston and paying $85 to park your car. Besides... Going down with classmates, listening to beach music and telling more stories with life long friends!  Please let me know if you want to ride on the bus! Please let the editor know if there is some other things you would like to see in the newsletter.Next issue will be full of past reunion photos, Sumter Item photos, some old Hillcrest photos from private collections. *|END:RSSITEMS|* This month is great that I have no updates on obits. I know some folks have passed on in our class. It might be the reason I cannot find them. I would appreciate any updates on former classmates. I will say that Charlie Stubbs of Hillcrest Class of 66 fell off his bed this week and broke his hip. Given the wrong drugs he aspirated into his lungs and was put into a coma for three days. Hooray, today he is off the ventilator and has had surgery!   Facebook ...here is our page with lots of photos https://www.facebook.com/Hillcrest60sReunion/ Blog  Each month we will add a new Newsletter to our Hillcrest Blog. Here is the address of the Hillcrest60sReunion Blog  http://hillcrest60sreunion.blogspot.com/ Reunion Web Site   http://Hillcrest60sReunion.com Introducing Francis Brown, Class of 62 Francis has been either a leader or co leader for every reunion we have had in Sumter for the nearly 50 years. Everyone attending, no matter what class over the years probably has met Francis. He has been a wonderful leader and always has his wife Barbara '63 by his side planning or working to make our reunions memorable!   What are you doing now or what have you been doing since you left Hillcrest? I received an Air Force commission from Clemson University in 1967 and served  22 years as an AF cargo pilot.  Retired in 1989 to take job teaching AFJROTC at Sumter High School.  Taught for 2 years and resigned...was not what God put me on earth to do.  Went to work for South Carolina Forestry Commission in 1992 and flew fire patrol in light airplanes til I retired in 2007. Was a wonderful, exciting, fulfilling  job. I now do whatever my wife of 49 years, Barbara (63), tells me to do. What have been your interests or hobbies in the last several years? I enjoy piddling in the swamp with friends shooting guns, listening to lies, enjoying cold beverages, and cooking.  I am involved with the Post 15 American Legion Baseball program in Sumter and the Sons of the American Revolution.  I am blessed to have two wonderful girls, Tori who lives in Columbia, SC(She has two daughters, Katie and Ellie) and Mandi who lives in Sumter (She has two sons, Jackson and Will).  Barbara and I stay busy enjoying our grands.  Besides Hillcrest, where have you lived for the past several years? I have lived in Lubbock, TX; Warner Robins, GA; Danang RVN; Dover, DE; Fairview Heights, IL; and Sumter ( I finagled an assignment to Shaw in 1982 and remained there for 7 years til I retired).  IWhat are some of your favorite memories of your years at Hillcrest? have many memories of my 6 years at Hillcrest, some I best not share.  In looking back, I don't think anyone could ask for a better high school experience.  We got the best years our community and country had, or will provide.  I began my tenure at Hillcrest in the 7th grade.  I got tangled up with Bubbba Lenoir and Jimmy Jackson right away.  This probably wasn't a good way to start but  somehow I survived.  Our 8th grade homeroom was in the Agriculture classroom out on the breezeway by the Gym.  Our teacher was Mrs Moore, a big buxom blond who was a military wife that also taught us Sex Education.  Picture that in 1957 at Hillcrest. I can't remember what happened but Bubba, Jimmy, me, and Mrs Moore ended up on the sidewalk outside the classroom with all of our classmates watching through the windows as she wore our butts out. That was the first and last spanking I got in school.  As I look back, there are many Hillcrest people who helped shape my life....coaches:Tiller, Pate, Brabam, Pringles...teachers:  Dinkins, Sanders, McDonald, Estornell, Stevenson, Kenney, Childress...and a special lady, Lelia Lenoir, who was like a second Mother to me.  I never took a class from Mr Childress who taught Agriculture.  He ran the busses and supervised my bus driving.  I was wearing my baseball uniform my junior year when he caught me smoking in the gym bathroom.  I figured that I would be expelled and kicked off the baseball team.  He said that he would have to think about my punishment and told me to go on out to the baseball field for the game that was about to start.  I did so and was in left field when he strolled from the gym to the bench where he sat down and started talking to Coach Pate.  I figured my career was over.  Surprisingly, I never heard anything else about about it but never smoked another cigarette at Hillcrest. Mr Childress is a retired Principal who lives in Laurens, SC.  Several of us: Bubba, Tommy Laney, Rowland Alston, Johnnie Mikell, Sammy Lenoir, Tommy Ross, and Robert Gaddy visit with him periodically.  I asked him about my smoking experience.  He didn't remember it.  I'm sure he headed many other kids in the right direction and never thought anything about it.  Another Childress experience.  My bus driver, Johnny Carl Brown, had a wreck below Wedgefield when running his route to school one morning.  I was waiting on the bus in front of my house between Wedgefield and Hillcrest.  Mr Childress came down the road, stopped, said there had been a wreck (No one was injured), and told me to jump in his car.  We went and investigated the mishap.  What would happen today if a 14 year old student jumped in a teacher's car without parental permission and took off.  We grew up in a different time.  I am thankful that I was blessed with the opportunity to experience it. March Edition edited by Bob Noe  bnoe3174@gmail.com Introducing Patti Wright Stubbs Class of '66    An introduction to Patti is probably not too necessary since she has been involved in every reunion we have had at Hillcrest for the 60-66 folks. Living in Sumter for several years as an elementary teacher, she was always our link to everything in Sumter. Since most of us were considered country kids since our school was in Dalzell, having Patti living in the city of Sumter has been great for us.  As you will see in her interview, she has taken on one of the hardest jobs in America for most of her career...teaching!   What are you doing now or what have you been doing since you left Hillcrest? Since leaving Hillcrest, I worked at Shaw AFB & Fort Jackson Personnel Offices for 9 years.  Then I went back to school & graduated from Univ. of South Carolina.  I taught elementary school in Sumter for 29 years.  What have been your interests or hobbies in the last several years? I married Charlie Stubbs in 2004.  With one "I do" I became a wife, a mother, & a grandmother.  We have both retired & enjoy going to our beach house & spending time with family & friends.  Shagging is still a fun part of our life. Besides Hillcrest, where have you lived for the past several years?In November, we moved to Lexington, SC just 10 minutes from our son & grandsons.  We did live in Sumter and Irmo, SC for a time.  What are some of your favorite memories of your years at Hillcrest? My favorites memories of Hillcrest are: 1) My 1st day (Kay Hooper's  birthday) 6th grade recess - Marian, Lucy, Chappie, Freddie,Rowland, Kathy, Paul, etc. were taking turns seeing how long they could kiss under the coats.  What an introduction to Hillcrest.  2) Meeting all the new 9th graders.  Loved those new Shaw AFB  kids.  3) Being a cheerleader - What fun cheering for our Wildcats!  I'm still jumping up & down & screaming but for my Carolina Gamecocks.  4)  Seeing classmates over the last 30 years at class reunions.  Great memories!  Patti   Introducing Phil Capron Class of '67 Phil was on my basketball team when I was a senior and he was a junior. I am sure he was very active while at Hillcrest. Since graduating he has been very helpful in finding folks from his class of '67 and some others. As you can see from the answers to our questions, he has taken some of the knowledge he learned at Hillcrest and become a very successful businessman. EDUCATION: BBA  Finance , University of Texas MBA Real Estate and Urban Land  Economics, University of Wisconsin What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest? Left Hillcrest with my good friend Steve Kotter for the University of Texas and we roomed together for our first 2 years.  When we arrived, we found that Lee Calaway had also decided to attend here.  Unusual for 3 of us from such a small high school would end up together so far away.  Finally got serious about school in my sophomore year. Met my wife Jane here in  Austin and we have now been married 46 years with a son in Austin and a daughter in Los Angeles.  Took my first job with a public company in large scale residential and commercial development Chicago, then moved to Dallas 3 years later with a similar private firm.  Became a Partner there after 4 years and moved to Austin to head up real estate development in Austin, San Antonio and Houston.  Developed about 2 M square feet of office,industrial and apartments. The market largely crashed in Texas in 1986, so I left and formed my own company doing property management and leasing for the many commercial foreclosures taken back by large insurance companies, who had been my financial partners on a number of my past developments.  Grew the company to 200 people and sold the management arm to a Public Company in 1999 and stayed for 4 years to run the Southern Division of the Los Angeles based company.  Left after that 4 years to form a new, but much smaller firm concentrating only on purchasing office buildings and apartments to fix them up to their previous Class A condition, re lease them and sell in 3 to 5 years.  I am now mostly retired having sold everything in the 5 Southwestern cities  that I owned properties in, retaining just a few in Austin only.  Doing volunteer work with groups like Habitat for Humanity and the City of Austin on affordable housing initiatives. What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years? Primarily travel overseas and around the US, art collecting and drinking fine wine.  I have attempted to play golf without much success except to boost the egos of those I am playing with.  Best trip was last year on a photo safari to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa for 3 weeks. Beside Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest? Austin, Texas:  Madison, Wisconsin: Chicago, Illinois: and Dallas, Texas.  Austin is by far and away still my favorite city! Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest? Mrs. James  English class.  She prepared me for college more than any other teacher.  Good friends that played poker together many nights every week including Steve Kotter, Jan Shekita, Chris Walling and many others.

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This first Hillcrest Newsletter is about you. Here we are taking photos of the other classmates. Every month we will learn about others and find more about the reunion View this email in your browser

Hillcrest Newsletter February 2016 This is the first of our monthly newsletters leading up to the Reunion Week beginning September 24 and ending possibly October 2. Since it is the 50th Reunion of the Class of '66, the reunion committee has planned to go all out this year. Really the first official night is Sept 25, however some of the '66 class want more time to hang out and many are going to Lilfred's Restaurant in Rembert. (An aside on this...I worked my way through Hillcrest working here. A few of my girlfriends ditched me because of this.) Contact KathyA Officially, the Reunion starts on the afternoon of the 25th at the Comfort Inn in Sumter with registration and hanging out until the big dance starting at 6:30. We are starting the dance early since most of us are older and cannot stay up too late! The afternoon will include drinking wine and beer, many snacks and much gossiping, storytelling,hugging, some kissing and lots of laughing.  On Monday there will be a golf outing, tours of Dalzell, Sumter and Hillcrest. Lots of hanging out at hotel. Monday... dinner on your own at several new restaurants now in Sumter. ( arrange during the day with classmates) Some of the classes are having  dinner at a home of someone from Sumter. We will be talking about this in later Newsletters. Tuesday, for folks going on the cruise, we have charted a bus to take us to Charleston for the cruise. We will leave at 8:30 which will give us some time to check out Charleston before we depart the city on our cruise at 4:00. Upon returning a bus will take us back to our cars. More info in later Newsletters First Interview I chose someone from the class of '62 who worked really hard on his 50th reunion and built a dynamite excel database for the classes of  60-66. We have used this database for mailing and emailing as well as calling on the phone for the last few years. This year we have added  67-69 and are having a tough time finding folks. Nick Powell of '62 was a leader in his class and great athlete. He has come to some of the reunions from CO and contributes annually with updates. He has a fun and extensive interview and I hope you love it. Education: Bachelor’s in Business Admin with minors in Math and Nuclear Physics, Univ of California, Berkeley Master’s in Computer Science Engineering, Univ of Colorado,Colorado Springs Most of an MBA, Univ of Colorado, Colorado Springs Attended law school at Univ of Calif Hastings College of Law, San Francisco Executive Business Program, Harvard University, Cambridge Since Hillcrest, I have lived in Williamsburg (VA), Berkeley (CA), Colorado Springs (CO), Geneva, Switzerland (for 25 years), Copenhagen, Denmark, Highlands Ranch (CO, southwest of Denver) and Toronto, Canada. I spent over 30 years in the computer field: Four years with the Air Force (HQ NORAD, Colorado Springs  - Captain) and 25 years in the corporate world.  Last position was European Director of I.T. for Digital Equipment Corp in Euro HQ, Geneva.  I retired when I turned 55.  In between Air Force and the corporate world I owned a real estate investment company and helped bring Century 21 into Colorado.  Presently, I spend a lot of time with investments. My interests are travelling (85 countries, so far), photography, art collecting, skiing, hiking and following the world stock markets. In 1993 I married Barbara, a Canadian, who I met at Digital inGeneva.  Second marriage for both.  I have a step-son and step-daughter, and two funny grandchildren who don’t know or care about the meaning of “step”. We divide our time between our home in Highlands Ranch (about 5-6 months of the year), our condo in Toronto (about 2-4 months), visiting my 95-year-old mother in Riverside (CA) and the rest of the time we are travelling.  Last year we took a 3 week safari inZambia, Botswana and South Africa, then a 3-week cruise/trek inAlaska. Memories of Hillcrest?  That would take longer than you have time to read.  The classmates have become life-time friends.  I don’t see or talk to them as often as I would like, but I am always thinking about them.  Football had a major impact on my personal development during those school years.  Being Senior Class President was a great honor and I wish I had done more with the job (hindsight is always critical of one’s self, and rightly so). I fondly recall the times spent in Myrtle Beach, at the State Parks, the Shaw pool, the “cabin”, at Stuart Delaplaine’s mansion, theSumter drive-in theater, Cole’s drive-in restaurant on Friday nights, and all the school’s athletic events. I am grateful that some of the teachers went out of their way to ensure I got my act together for grades and getting into university…especially Mrs. Estornelle(physics, chemistry, biology), Dick Lee (math), and Miss Mellette (Senior year English).  I always laugh when I recallMrs. Kenny’s French classes because she had such a southern accent in her French, much to the dismay of Woody and Tee Watkins.  I had a hard time overcoming that infused accent when I moved to Genevaand had to actually communicate with people. I am still amazed that we could get our driver’s licenses at 13 years 10 months, and that our own 16-17-year-old classmates were the school bus drivers.  I thoroughly enjoyed driving my ’57 Ford and ’56 Austin Healy to and from Hillcrest, and the occasional race with Tommy Lee Ross and others.  My parents were always suspicious when we were at a local diner and the local cop (Officer Reeves) would stop by to say “hello” to me. I was very pleased to see how well so many of my classmates did in life after Hillcrest.  The Reunions have been a wonderful time to get re-acquainted and catch up.  I am thankful we haven’t lost many classmates from ’62, especially given how many went into the military and served in Vietnam plus other war zones. Second Interview Now I chose someone from the Class of 66 for the next interview. Everyone knew her as Dorothy Way or Dot. Along the way she changed her name and no one could find her. After looking for nearly 50 years we found her in the mountains of NC. Her name change is in the interview! What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest? Retired now, just in time to go to work again! Tom and I are remodeling an historic cabin in Clyde, NC, near Waynesville and Maggie Valley. It was built in the early 1930's with reclaimed wood from an 1800's barn; its timber frame interior constructed from massive, hand-hewn beams. So rustic, so unique that we were smitten at first sight. But it and it's grounds have  needed huge amounts of work. We have brought it to life again, and furnished it as a little lodge, soon ready to open this Spring for vacation rentals. This will keep us busy, and provide retirement income. By the way, her name is "The Timbers." I have worked many jobs since Hillcrest, but writing and art were the common threads that wove them all together. Commercial art; Graphic arts; Murals, high end faux finishes, and fine arts; poetry, journalistic and fiction writing; publications and communications. Entrepreneurial businesses have been a favorite part of my work-life as well, such as the several years I ran my own Etsy shop, for which I made jewelry, prints of my artwork, custom painting and small sculptures. What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years? I have an enduring fascination with ancient civilizations, their cultures, their worship, their structures, and I love to see new archeological evidence come to light, especially when it  challenges our written history! I still read and research, with a special interest in the metaphysical. There were several years when I worked and traveled as a missionary, teaching, preaching, working with native churches and carrying medical supplies into Nigeria, Ghana, and the Ukraine. This also involved helping to train and take teams onto the mission field, under the auspices of the International Ministries of Dayspring. When the weather cools down every Fall, I start longing for beautiful yarns to knit or crochet. Quilting and needlework also still satisfy my creative urges. Besides Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest? I left Hillcrest for Columbia College, where I roomed with our awesome Lizabeth (Hall) Riddle, but by the end of my first summer after HHS graduation, I was on my way to Turkey. In time, I married an American serviceman stationed there, and we returned stateside to Homestead, FL, for 8 years. Later we transferred to the Charlotte area, and lived in Davidson, Cornelius and Mooresville.  I also lived on the FL Space Coast for 5 years, until with my second husband, Tom, we moved first to Greenville, SC, then to Travelers Rest. In 2007 we returned to NC, and settled in the Columbus/Tryon area. Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest? High energy football games on frosty nights, homecoming dances, the music, camaraderie with wonderful friends, and Mrs. James' English classes. Bob Noe in a toga, and getting to play the silly old flirty Miss Finkledink character in the class play. Senior Prom with Dave Shelton and all our amazing friends around us. BONUS QUESTION: Where the heck did that name come from? You knew me as Dot or Dorothy. Everyone also knew my mother as Dot or Dorothy, guaranteeing a lifetime of confusion. My husband Tom gave me a name of my own 20 years ago. "I will call you Essie," he said. "It is short for Essence, because you are the essence of my soul." I received this name as a gift from his heart, and have been known as Essie ever since. Third Interview For our third of someone who was in theclass of '69 I chose twins... They actually were half sisters of someone from the class of 66, Gary Murphy. When I was a senior this girls were class leaders and beauty buds too. When I started looking for more classmates from the late 60's both Diane and Donna,living in Atlanta and known as the Bankstwins were the first to help find others. Thanks to the Air Force, they did not graduate, but had many classmates as friends. First.. Diane Leonard What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest? I retired in January of 2015.  Prior to that, I worked for Trust Company Bank (now SunTrust) for 18 years. From there, I worked for "lawyers" (plaintiff) for many years, then a fly-by-night Dot.com start-up until they bit the dust.  Following that, I went back to legal again, which I really loved - then started working for an investment capital company, and finally for a non-profit that handled small business loans for the SBA.  Just recently, I rented a booth at an antique mall What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years? Prior to 1998, I had a menagerie of animals.  They made me so happy.  Goats, geese, turkeys, hens and roosters, pigs, ducks, dogs, etc., and I was a collector of anything retro, old,  and/or quirky.  I'm certain that the word "hoarder" might come to mind, but I was so NOT that.  Just ask Donna. In 1998, I married David Leonard.  Not only is he the love of my life, he's an accomplished engineer/producer, singer/songwriter, guitar player, piano player, and has his own recording studio.   Our world is filled with music, and we are blessed to be surrounded by wonderful, creative, and loving friends from all walks of life. Neither of us had children from other relationships; nor did we want children of our own. So, we've spent the past 17 years loving, nurturing, and  raising our non-human babies - from Iguanas, to Rats, to Parrots, and to Dogs.  We now have 3 parrots, two rescued dogs, and a pond full of gold fish. Hobbies include re-purposing of cool things, family research (ancestry.com), finding answers to WHY, WHEN, and WHERE of everything I love, from music, to antiques, to styles, to fads, to origins of things, and to the unknown.  The Internet is my best friend!  Beside Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest.   In 1967 Daddy was transferred from Shaw AFB, Sumter, S.C., to Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippines.  We moved there in the middle of our Sophomore year and stayed there through our Junior year.  He was then stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi, where we spent our Senior year.  Daddy retired from the Air Force right after we graduated from high school, and he and Colleen settled in Carnesville, Georgia on his parents'  family land.  Donna and I, then, went straight to Atlanta, moved in to The Churches Home for Business Girls , got jobs and began our lives as adults. Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest?  Memories of Hillcrest:   (1)  The Teen Club and making out in the television room  to "Crying in the Chapel."  Even then, it seemed sac religious.  (2) Our parents chaperoning at the Teen Club one Saturday night; then, later telling us that we didn't dance like everyone else.   That was when we got in lines and faced our partners to do The Dog, The Swim, The Pony, etc.  Looking back, I can see their point, and  (3)  there was the infamous Sumter's Tomb.  Need I say more?  HA!.  One of our brother, Gary's, memories I'm sure would be seeing all three of his sisters there on the same night.  He was a Senior, Cheryl was a Sophomore, and  Donna and I were Freshmen. Now for Donna Dodd What are you doing now and what has been your primary work since you left Hillcrest? I currently work for Cherokee County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, located in Canton, Georgia.  Retirement is on my horizon, likely in August, 2017, when I turn 67.  My CAREER jobs have been with Delta Airlines (10 years) and Sprint Communications (10 years).  I also worked for a group of mental health professionals for 4 years, and in the dental industry for 7. What have been your interests or hobbies the last several years? My two sons, Dan (34) and Taylor (32) continue to be at the top of my interest chart, as is my husband,  Tommy of 17 years.  Interestingly, Diane and her professional musician husband, David introduced me to their musician friend, Tommy in the late 90s, and we've been together since.   Music  dominates  our lives, and without a doubt, I am my husband's biggest fan!    As one of the founding officers of the Georgia Steel Guitar Association, I have remained an active board member since its inception in 2004.    Also within the steel guitar community, I serve as a moderator of theInternational Steel Guitar Forum.     Other interests include digging in the dirt, and training my 3 year old miniature Poodle to do tricks. Beside Sumter County, where else have you lived since Hillcrest.  From Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC, our Air Force father was sent to Clarke Air Force Base in the Philippine islands, where we lived for two years.  Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, was our next – and last – move as an Air Force family.  After graduation, Diane and I moved to Atlanta,  and lived as roommates for a while.  I later moved to California, where I married and had two wonderful sons!  We moved back to Georgia in 1985, where I remain a true Georgia Peach. Now what are some of your favorite memories of your time at Hillcrest? Beatles music is the soundtrack to all my Hillcrest memories! BIG MEMORY:  Brother, Gary Murphy, invited half the Senior Class to our house for a party while our parents were away.  Memory: had a great time!  Memory: somebody at the party bumped into our mother’s porcelain  water fountain on the end table.  Memory:  glued it back together.  Memory:  Parents return and somehow knew Gary had a party.  Memory:  restriction from everything for the rest of our days!  ;-) Other favorite memories include Teen Club with  friends.  Lunch room shenanigans.   Fun  and getting into trouble with  sister, Diane and best friend, Jill Corbett.  English class.  Football games! That's almost all folks. I am still trying to master this Mailing service and get more graphic involved. In the mean time, reading all the interviews is fun. I have one interview for next issue which will have more fun info. Oh yes, this issue is written by Bob Noe '66 Obits I will post these as I learn about them each issue so please send me some if you learn about them. Coach Richard Bradham  2015 John Ryan '66   2013 Mary Lynne Roberts, wife of Don '66  2016 Henry Jackson     2015 There are more, so please send them to me Bob Noe We began this 60's Reunion Year with a mailing of our 50th Class Reunion postcard to about 300 Hillcrest Alumni from our '60 - '66 mailing list. Since our Reunion is for all the classes of the '60's, we searched high and low to find addresses for the classes of '67,'68 and '69. Still updating for everyone! This newsletter has some great info on alumni of Hillcrest. Each monthly issue will have interviews with three folks. One from the  early 60's, one from the class of 66 since it is their 50th and one from the later 60's will be found in each Newsletter. All of them will be answering the same questions every month. This is yourHillcrest Community. I have had a great time reading all of these. They will be on a blog so you can go back and see all of them!