Charles Gattis

Carol Himmelberger (Dixon)

left out from the "news" of 1963 was the fact that it was the year our school finally was integrated. And i don't see the name Connie Lee Tanner listed among our classmates. Did he leave during the school year? Just curious if i am the only one who remembers this.

Charles Gattis

Carol, 

I don't know.  He is not in the annual.  I do remember that he was in my home room.  I'm glad you mentioned that because it is important.  Mrs. Amos is still a good friend of mine.  She was actually a member of the last church I served before retiring.  I'll try to find out.  We do have classmates who didn't graduate and also clasmates who went to school with us but moved somewhere else their senior year.  We can certainly include him.  Finding him might not be so easy.  I have several classmates, some I knew pretty well, that I can't find at all.  

Charles

Charlotte Rush

Charles, you and the 'committee' and all involved in this are doing a fantastic job. I am so impressed that we had so many intelligent and creative folks in our class but not surprised.

Thanks for all you are doing,

Charlotte "Biddie" Rush

Charles Gattis

Biddie,

It is actually a great joy for me.  The profiles about our class have absolutely blown my mind.  Our friends from long ago have gone so far, done so much and touched so many lives.  Being able to read those things has been so gratifyting to me.  By the way, have you heard anything from Alan.  He really is trying to put the Wayfarers back together again.  We emailed about it this week.  And I am trying to make arrangements for them to sing at the worship service on that Sunday.  If he can't, then it's you, me and Alan doing a trio--new version of Peter, Paul and Mary--Alan, Charles and Biddie.  How does that sound?

Charles

Mike Langley

Carol- I too remember Connie Lee Tanner.  You may remember that I was president of the student council our senior year and I remember that principal Allen Hyatt and I had some discussions about this before Connie Lee entered.  I must say I do not know if he graduated with us and maybe Charles knows how to find out for sure.  If he did it is most appropriate that he would be invited to our 50th reunion, IMO.  I always thought it was sad that the integration started with only one student.  It would have been much better with a group and I have no idea who made that decision.

Alan Hoskins

I didn't remember his name - I'm grateful that some of you do.  One of my significant regrets from high school was that I didn't do more to make him feel welcome.  I remember him walking alone on the open sidewalk that ran from classrooms to counseling office and guessing that he was pretty lonely.  I was glad he was there, and like Mike, I wondered why just one Black student.  He was courageous to be the first.

Karen Beyerle (Binkoski)

Maybe just one student as a trial for US.  Plus, Mr. Stevenson followed him around/ escorted him between classes at each change, and there was only one Mr. Stevenson. :)  Having spent extended time in most sections of America I can attest that as much as we all would hope for a difference, prejudice, whether against Native Americans, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, gays, Jews, Asians, etc., etc.,etc., is alive and well. I often wonder if it is part of the genetic fabric of humanity to fear..or hate..or distrust..those who are different from one. Thank God for people like Rev. Charles who teach us to be better than we would be, to reach for a higher standard.

I tell the story of being "the first girl from Alabama" to have a black roommate when I went to U. of Missouri. It was a test by the university as well. Upon meeting me that first day, Cheryl's younger brother rushed downstairs to fearfully tell their parents the roommate was a white girl from ALABAMA, images of the AL church bombing of the children the year before still fresh. Cheryl in the years since has given talks about our experience [we were just like any other dorm roommates] and, as a successful entrepreneur in Dallas, she mentors young businesswomen. We still love each other. There is hope for us humans!       

Alan Hoskins

Isn't it interesting how stereotypes go both ways, and how our generation responded differently from our parents?  Just before going off to Ga Tech, my father blurted out, "I bet you don't even care if your roommate is a Nxxxx".  It hadn't even occured to me I might have a black roommate, but he was correct.  I would have welcomed it.  My wife, Karen, was part of an exchange program between St. Teresa's College in MN and Spelman college in Atlanta in 1968.  She made lasting friendships from the experience.  She was the first, and as far as we know, the last, Caucasian cheerleader for Morehouse and Spelman colleges.  I recently found a photo of her in her dorm room in her cheerleading sweater with the big M on the front.

Lee (Hardy) Oswalt

From Carol Himmelberger Dixon's profile (without permission)

hi all, it's good to know I am not alone in remembering Connie Lee Tanner, tho I know we each have different memories of those times. I remember those of us who were "Yankees" went out of our way to greet him and try to make him feel just a little bit welcome, tho I know that by and large he was not. Those were difficult days for me and others who were thrust into a strange culture and onto the midst of the Civil rights turmoil. Yes, he was quiet, and as was said, he was probably scared to death. I hope Charles can locate him and invite him to the reunion.

Karen Beyerle (Binkoski)

On another topic:  I've sent reminders to those whose addresses I know, to fill in their profile!  It's working!

Let's get  Glen, Eirik, Nancy, Melinda, Lynda, Karen, Susan, Charlotte, Ginnie, June, Alan, Sallie, Olivia, Ingolf, Janice, Connie, Robert, Terrell, Norman,

etc., etc., etc., etc., if you can contact them,  on the stick!!   :)  :) 

Lee (Hardy) Oswalt

What do Alan Hoskins, Mike Langley, Glenda Sanders (Motes), Vic Ruffalovich, Linda Chandler (Page), Nancy Ball (Miller), Lee Oswalt, Elvira Heybey (Butterworth), Richard (Dick) Klock, Doug Lyle and Mike Mckinney have in common?

Over the Christmas holidays in 1945, after World War II and when it looked like a normal future was possible, they were conceived. Of course this assumes a normal 9 month term and it is possible other classmates belong in the group. It has always been fun for me to think of myself as a Christmas present.

Nancy Ball (Miller)

Now THIS is too funny!! I haven't pondered the timing of my conception at any great length, but I will say I have a mighty cute picture of my parents (dad in uniform, mom looking quite pert, wearing a hat) sipping cocktails at the Pump Room in Chicago, Christmas 1945. And I was born September 25! ;)

Karen Beyerle (Binkoski)

Yep, Nancy, lots of hotels near the Pump Room, Chicago. Your dad certainly had style!

(And what cuties both your parents were :)  Miss them both. )