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 recall Mrs. 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 the class 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
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