10th Reunion: The Big Red Barn
From Historian Pam Padgett (photo) and Archaeologist Wicca Davidson (invitation):
Dateline: 24 July 1982
Big Red Barn, Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill HS 10th Reunion
Photographer: Mr. Vandiviere
Roll Call
Click on invitation for larger view.
Three way in the back: Tom Burns, Becky Moss Burns, Gary Herion
Next Row Along Wall: Susan Muth Anderson, Wilson Hayman, Stewart Schwab, David Scott, Stacy Wynn, Kevin Taylor, Warren Womble, Ruth Bodenheimer, Agnes Mallard (1971), Frances Kate Thomas, Shan Courtney, Becky Brown Rogers, Harold Smith, Jerry Davis, Donnie Daniell Lancaster, Steve Sableski, David Kirkman, Carl Fincke, Penn Corbett, Mark Kozel, Jan Storey, David Tilson, unknown, Bruce Schwentker
Third Row Standing: Phil Webster, Bill Sowter, Tom Hicks, Norma Weatherly Schwab, Dickson Phillips, Susan Sockwell Bendlin, Joel Cheek, Tim Blackburn, Kenny Hewitt, Phoebe Pollitt, John Scott, Connie Oakley RIP, Chris Riggsbee, Jolly Perry, James Feaster, Aaron Oldham, Charlie Thibaut (front of Sableski), Clarence Atwater, Sara Riggsbee Mandalinch, Eddie Atwater, David Neville RIP, Bill Culton, Goose Waters
Starting With Lady Over Gustin's Right Shoulder: Cindy Greene Riggan, Lynn Mercer Hull, Debbie Williams Bryan, Chuck Hodson, Vickie Council Hilton, Mary Lou Brown White, Linda Baldwin Bynum, Nat Rodman, Maria Mele Rodman (Nat's ex), Beth McGowan Lineberger, Ruth Timmons, John Galt
Second Row Standing: Elliot Warnock, John Cherry, Jackie Pascarella Wood, Patsy Carroll Harrison, Susan Sanderford, Rob Anderson, John Cromartie, Steven Henry, Robin Wilson Johnston, Ann Lunde Webster, David Parker, Pam Kopek (1971), Gustin Kiffney, Kenny Parisher RIP, Robin Maddry,
Front Row Standing Starting behind Vadnay with Patsy and move right: Patsy Barbee, Sandra (SĂŁndĂ) Clark Abbo, David Lane, Linda Newton Lane, Sandy Kepley Crawford, Susan Wheeler Slaughter, Pam Padgett, Julie Pendergraph Moore, Ann Clark Howell, Burton Floyd, Nancy Peacock
Front Row Standing: Bob Rogers, Marcela Scurlock Jones, Terry Basnight Hamlet, Jesse Basnight Jr., Bill Moss
Front Row Squatting: Earl "Tex" Bynum, C. B. Everts, Vadnay Cotton, Jim Waddell RIP, Meg Holton
In Attendance But Not Pictured : Jeana Nickerson, Terry Harper RIP, Mary Harper (Terry's future wife)
HELP US CREATE AN ACCURATE RECORD
Let us know if you were there but your name is not listed.
Seth Daniel Gelblum
Welcome to another "WATN?" curtain call. Morris and Sylvia Gelblum moved Seth and the rest of the family from Philadelphia to Chapel Hill in 1968 after Morris accepted a position as Dean of the UNC Law School. Seth entered Guy. B. Phillips in eighth grade and earned enough credits to graduate a year early.
Seth and Orren Applestein married in 1980 and happily remain so to this day, living the dream in the Big Apple. They have three children; Madekine, Morgan (died at age 7 from Canavan's disease) and Aidan.
B.A.
Wesleyan University
Class of 1975
Juris Doctorate
Law Center
Georgetown University~1982
James Foster Fearrington
Native Son: 1 August 1953
CHHS Vanguard
"WATN?" sat down with Mickey as he was recovering from a knee replacement. Mickey did a tour in the Army straight out of high school that took him to Ft. Jackson, Ft. Benning and a tour in Germany. He has honed his kitchen skills at several restaurants in the area over the years; Colonel Chutney's,the Merriot.
He met his wife, Gabriella Fernandez (younger sister to Clara Alicia Fernandez '72) on a blind date. That led to raising four children; James Jr., Pedro, June and Carlo, and an amicable parting of the ways several years ago after 36 years of marraige.
Now, he is employed in the dining facility dining facility at the Meadows retirement community and volunteers regularly at the PTA Thrift Shop. He converted to and joined the Mormon Church and is now a Deacon.
For most of NY, the opening of Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark is big news this week. But for Loeb & Loeb’s theatre practice chair and the 2011 NY Entertainment Lawyer of the Year Seth Gelblum, it’s just another day in the office...
Rest of in depth interview with Seth
Backstage with Broadway lawyer, Seth
From Seth:
1975-1979 working for unproductive movie producers
1979-1985- Serial associate
1986-1998- Ass./Partner, Frankfurt Garbus, Klein & Selz
1998– partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP – chair of firm’s theater practice
Board Member/Chairman~ New Dramatists
Board member~ Canavan Foundation
Board member~ Lawyers for Children
This week's "Photo Caption" Contest
Cook/Staff
Dining Facilty
Carolina Meadows
Mickey is hoping for some open mike time with Liquid Pleasure to do a tribute to James Brown or Ike Turner.
Believe it or Not!!!
The Tale of Finding Lucy McMahan
"WATN?" Bounty Hunter Division
From the files of Bobba Fett
We made a cursory search for Lucy early on. Our last known sighting was a photo of Lucy in the 1970 Hill Life when she was a Sophomore at CHHS. McMahan is not a common spelling so we thought, "piece of cake". Wrong. A couple of months later the Paula Wright Long Meadow Photo got publicized and our interest turned back to Lucy. We established she was in school from first grade at Carrborro Elementary through at least 11th grade. Still nada, butkiss; like she was here one day and just vanished the next. Then we picked up another search engine, Ancestry.com. We got a hit on a Sarah McMahan birth certificate; father Lemuel McMahan. Lucy had a sister named Sarah. We found but were not able to contact a Lemuel in Virgina through another search engine. Lemuel had several relatives listed including a Sarah. Eventually, on November 27 Michael McMahan, Lucy's younger brother, picked up the phone and put us in contact with Lucy. Case closed, or is just the start of a new chapter?
Lucy Ann McMahan Mays
Lucy's family left on vacation in the summer of 1971. On the way out west they stopped to interview for jobs at a college in Tennessee. After Lucy had started her senior year at CHHS they got the news that they had landed the jobs. In less than a week the McMahans pulled up stakes and were gone. Poof!!! Lucy went on to college at Purdue and the University of Texas. She had married Mike Mays while at Purdue. Instead of pursuing a career as a veterinarian (another veterinarian !!!) she focused on raising their four children in Virginia. Was she done, ready to to relax? Not quite.
BS Animal Science
Purdue University
Class of 1976
Masters Animal Nutrition
University of Texas at Austin
This May Lucy starts school at Ross Veterinary School located at Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, in the West Indies to continue the dream; starting by getting her Doctorate of Veterinary Sciences. You go girl!!! Send us a picture.
Postcript: Turns out Lucy has strayed in contact with fellow classmate Brenda Morrison Dellinger who was found back in September. We're just sayin'.
Parthenia Jeana Nickerson
Jeana helped organize the 10th reunion. She now lives in Raleigh. Jeana has a son, James.
Thomas P. Loddengaard
Tom was living in Afghanistan before his family made the move to Chapel Hill where Tom enrolled at CHHS. Tom makes his living in the entertainment industry and as a behind the scenes creator of museum displays.
Exhibit Fabricator
Science Museum of
Minnesota
BA Theater & Art
Grinnell College
Class of 1976
Tom brings us up to date:
After dabbling in political science and sociology I ended up majoring in theater and art at Grinnell College. After graduating I moved to Minneapolis to do an internship at the Guthrie Theater. A couple of years later I became touring company technical director at the same comedy theater where Al Franken got his start. He moved on before I started working there, but I did work with Peter McNichol (Numbers, Ghostbusters II) and Linda Wallem (writer for That 70s Show and Nurse Jackie).
I moved on to video and film production as a freelance scenic carpenter building sets and props for commercials and corporate training films. Work ranged from building office sets to a sixteen foot long loaf of bread. I did work one hellish day on a feature film (Sign of the Times) operating fog machines and rain effects while 11 inches of the real stuff fell on the other side of the studio wall.
One of my more consistent employers has been the Twin Cities PBS affiliate, most notably on the science series Newton's Apple
and I have worked on a number of holiday concert recordings that they have produced. I continue to work on a weekly public affairs program Friday nights.
My main job is now working for the
as an exhibit fabricator. Most of our output is for other museums, and I have built exhibits for Discovery Place in Charlotte and the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Touring exhibits I have contributed to include Water Planet, Race – Are We So Different?, and Goosebumps! The Science of Fear.
Peter Morris Hardy
"Where Are They Now?" takes another trip into the land where imagination, talent and creative juices collide to make art and entertainment. If you are in Atlanta, check out Essentil a Theatre where Peter Hardy reigns as a driving force in the role of Producing Artistic Director.
This sojourn begins back in 1966 when Peter's parents made their summer job away from teaching at UNC putting on the symphonic drama Unto These Hills; William Hardy as Director than as Producer and Martha Nell Hardy acting the part of Mrs. Perkins, the crowd-pleasing, peppery mountain woman. They put on more than 2,000 performances over their thirty year run.
It's in their DNA. Peter's sister, Melissa Hardy, and Peter have also both made their mark in the world of performing arts and literature.
Administrative Staff
UNC Business Office
Susan J. Marshall Koronic
Sue's family moved to Chapel Hill during 9th grade. Now she makes her home in Durham. She has a daughter, Christin. Sue has made her career working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She lost her husband unexpectedly to cancer several years ago. Sue was part of the group that met to get this reunion off the ground. She has since gone MIA. Someone give Sue a call or email her.
"WATN?" should have an update on Sue, soon.
John Benjamin Cromartie
Native Son: 13 May 1954
CHHS Vanguard
John Cromartie has been doing some contract work for "WATN?" Studios taking pictures at a couple of steering committee meeting and around town in the old neighborhoods and schools some of which should appear here soon. Don't be surprised when the phone rings and Cromartie is on the on the end encouraging classmates to to get registered. John and Agnes have three grown children and are happily living in Virginia near DC.
Writer/Director/ActorChief Bottle Washer
BA Dramatic Arts
School of Arts & Sciences
UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1977
Masters
Penn State University
Essential Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hardy has had his first short story published, in the British fantasy anthology Postscripts: The Company He Keeps. Hardy has sold two additional stories, and is the prize-winning author of over twenty produced plays, including Sally and Glen at the Palace, presented as part of the 2010 Essential Theatre Play Festival, and for which he was named the Critic’s Pick for Best Atlanta Playwright by Creative Loafing.
Bother, Nell, Bill, Melissa and Peter
Geographer
Economic Research Service
A.B. History
UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1976
Ph.D. Geography
UNC at Chapel Hill~1989
Lieutenant in Goose Family
"I'll take World Geography for a thousand Alec."
John Cromartie,geographer with the Resource and Rural Economics Division, conducts research on rural migration, population distribution, and the effects of demographic change on rural well-being....
John and his wife, Agnes Cannon Mallard
Peter, Melissa and many other drama and music students put on the wildly successful musical A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum in Chapel Hill in 1972. The show's amazing success led to permanently establishing an auditorium for music and drama performances at the high school.
John G, here is a bio for me:
After graduating from CHHS in 1972, I went to UNC for a long time, switching majors from English to History to Religion to Drama, finally finishing in 1977. During most of that time I worked at the Varsity Theatre, and later wrote a play inspired by my experiences there; Sally and Glen at the Palace, which won an award from the New Southern Theatre Festival in Nashville, and has been produced in Tallahassee and Atlanta. I went to Penn State for my Master's in Theatre, and eventually went to New York City for a few years, doing some directing, before re-locating to Atlanta where I've been ever since. For many years I directed the outdoor drama Unto These Hills in Cherokee, NC in the summers, and during the rest of the year in Atlanta I've been freelancing as an actor, writer and director. In March of 2012 an historical play I was commissioned to write will be produced by Coker College in SC. No marriages or children, just the usual embarrassing personal baggage.
Robert Nelson Anderson III
Rob has a pretty full plate but still found time to get this party started by helping to round up some lost sheep and serving as a member of the Reunion Steering Committee over the summer. Rob commutes to work from Carrboro where he and wife Barbara have set up their home. They have two sons, James and Martin, and an adopted nephew Aaron.
Rob along with around 30 others signed up for American English taught by Mrs. Hines in the summer of 1970 so they could walk out with a diploma a year ahead of schedule in May of 1971. He has used that extra time wisely. Among other accomplishments he can speak three languages; Portuguese, French and Spanish in addition to Southern.
John has an epiphany in the third person: After graduation from UNC, John was playing foosball at Town Hall, going to movies with Peter Hardy, hanging out with Nat and Mary Hall Rodman, and happily driving a Chapel Hill town bus (one of many alumni to work for the Chapel Hill Transit Authority). But he kept having conversations about maps with his favorite geography professor on the F bus heading to Colony Woods and ended up spending the entire 1980s in grad school. Now he's a population geographer with USDA in DC. Here's his atlas of rural and small-town America. He and Agnes (class of '71) got together that first semester at CHHS in 1969 and (finally!) married in 1980. Two kids, Will and Emma, and a dissertation later they moved to DC in 1990, added Josie in 1991 and fell into Northern Virginia suburbia, lives ruled by soccer, PTA, theater arts, and lots of trips to Nags Head and home to Chapel Hill. Now that kids are closer to being on their own, John and Ag can imagine moving into town, walking to work and theater and movies and museums and restaurants and all that DC offers.
Take care,
John
Josie, Agnes, Emma, John, Will
Ass. Prof. of Portuguese
WSSU
AB Linguistics UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1975
Master of Arts
University of Texas at Austin
Ph.D.
Romance Languages
UNC at Chapel Hill
Here's Rob granting an interview to MacEntyre Videos at the Rigmor House. .
Wilson Hayman
‎"Where Are They Now?" visited the office of Poyner Spruill where Wilson is a partner, recently. You can't swing a dead cat in a gathering of the Class of 1972 without hitting a doctor, teacher or artist and there's at least a baker's dozen of lawyers ready to take on the resulting litigation.
Wilson and Jennie have one son, Wilson Whitford, attending UNC.
Once again, "WATN?" has unearthed evidence of CHHS classmates with ties to the Goose Family Syndicate. The beginnings of these relationships may stretch back as far as the Estes Hill Elementary School days and today reach all the way around the globe. In John's case a pact was probably reached during their days of scouting in Troop 835. Here is John at a European Hydro Electric Station around the same time The European arm of the Goose Family Syndicate was known to be making a play "Enron" style to coopt the European power grid. Coincidence? Unlikely.
Partner
Health Law
AB History
Princeton University
Class of 1976
Juris Doctorate
UNC Law School
Chael Hill~1979
Thomas William Hicks Jr.
Native Son: 4 August 1954
CHHS Vanguard
Tom Hicks's mother taught a lot of us in second grade at Estes Hills Elementary School. Just when many thought he would remain a bachelor for life, Tom found his true love and at age 50 he and Leslie got married. Tom is a long time employee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC. Tom gives Ruth Bodenheimer a run for her money as to who is the more avid Carolina zealot.
Here is John caught on surveillance tape on a suspected run ferrying Goose out of the country. Goose Waters: patriot, double agent, crime boss, CIA mole, government witness protection program, misunderstood delusional paranoid recluse? Stay tuned.
Senior Technical Analyst Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
Business Administration
Kenan-Flagler Business School
UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1978
Tom & Leslie- worth the wait
James Dickson Phillips III
Dickson is back in Carrboro with his wife Lisa. They still have their three children at home; Johnathon, Abigail and Margaret. After graduating a year early Dickson used the bonus year to attend the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT, including a semester in Yugoslavia.
Associate
Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson
A.B. History
Davidson College
Class of 1975
J.D., with honors~1979
UNC at Chapel Hill
Oxford University
Diploma in Law, 1988
From Dickson: Some of my particular interests and enthusiasms include fatherhood, and when fatherhood permits; hiking, skiing, mountaineering, running, fishing, cooking, music, biography, and natural history. More on Dickson
Lynn Mercer Hull
Lynn's family moved to Chapel Hill from Ohio just before her junior year. She had enough credits to join the graduating Class of 1972 along with at least 25 others that started the year as juniors. She and her husband Roy have two children and one grandchild. They have owned and operated Tri-Printers in Chapel Hill for over 31 years.
The lengths some will go to
get nature to color coordinate
Sally Ann Hill Maslansky
Sally had to vacate "Hill's Half Acre" to move with her family after 9th grade. She made it to California and tried to break in to acting. While there she reconnected briefly with another aspiring actress from the '72 Class, Jeanetta Arnette. Since then Sally has focused on bringing her training, expertise and life experiences to bear on helping others through counselling in ... drum roll please ... Carrboro, NC. Sally's blog
B.A. Psychology
Class of 1976
Undiscovered Actress
Masters Social Work
Antioch University
Carol Elizabeth Palmatier Dubs
CHHS Vanguard
Esau (still fired) filed this free lance piece with "WATN?" on Carol after an interesting lunch at the Double O Grill in Wappingers Falls, NY. Carol's dad, took a sabataical from UNC and Carol was fortunate to spend her junior year in England and then returned to CHHS for her senior year and graduation. Carol was married to Bill Dubs, widowed and raised a son, Christopher. Carol now owns her own accounting business as a C.P.A.
Ownwer
Tri-Printers
AB Art Education
UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1976
Mark Albert Suskin
Native Son: 16 July 1954
"Where Are They Now?" gets to interview a rocket scientist. Mark took graduating early to a new level, like 1970. Mark abruptly cut the interview short, when pressed on the whereabouts of or last contact with Goose Waters.
C.P.A.
B.S. Ecology/Urban Studies
University of Wisconsin
at Madison
Class of 1976
Deputy DirectorOffice of CyberinfrastructureU.S. National Science Foundation
B.A. Classics
UNC at Chapel Hill
Class of 1974
Ph.D. Atomic Physics Theory
John Hopkins
Mark A. Suskin is currently Deputy Director of NSF’s Office of Cyberinfrastructure. Prior to that, he was Executive Officer in NSF’s Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE). Dr. Suskin has held several positions in the NSF.
He received a Ph.D. in theoretical atomic physics from the Johns Hopkins University in 1987 and has worked as a researcher and manager of the Atomic Transition Probability Data Center at the National Institute of Standards and Technology; as a subcontractor to major aerospace corporations in the optimization of low- and high-thrust trajectories for exploratory interplanetary spacecraft as part of NASA’s Space Exploration Initiative (rocket scientist).
What Mark had to say prior to ending the interview:
Dear Michael,
It’s great to hear from you, and let me thank you and the Reunion Committee for all your work on our behalf.
I’m attaching a short bio and picture. The bio’s a bit formal, but the high points are that I now work at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, VA (www.nsf.gov), and have since 1996 (in various capacities, including as Head of the NSF Europe Office in Paris from 2004–2007—what a gig!). Before that I worked for Congress in the Office of Technology Assessment on Capitol Hill and had several other interesting jobs. I have a PhD in physics from Johns Hopkins (1987) and a BA in Classics from UNC-Chapel Hill (1974).
Just for the record, I left Chapel Hill in 1967 to go to Lincoln, Nebraska when my mother remarried, after my father, then chairman of the Classics department at UNC, died in August of 1965. So I know people coming to the reunion from Estes Hills Elementary School and from one year at Guy B. Phillips.
I’m happily married to Gudula with one ten-year-old son, Philip. I’m really looking forward to seeing so many friends and acquaintances from long ago. I loved growing up in Chapel Hill and can’t wait to take the stroll down memory lane!
Thanks again for all the time in effort you’ve put into making the reunion a reality.
With warm regards,
Mark
You can't make this s*** up!!!
Rebel Bradford Umphlett
"WATN?" has been following Rebel for a while-born in Germany, Chapel Hill, Clemson, SC; Toccoa, GA; Delaware, Lincoln Nebraska and now back to Durham.
Rebel was born in Frankfort, Germany while his father was serving in the military. His mother, Margaret "Gite" Umphlett was a guidance counselor and Math teacher at Guy B. Phillips JHS. Clyde Umphlett accepteed a position at Clemson University and the family moved there in the summer of 1970 where Rebel finished high school and went on to college at Clemson.
Rebel has two children from his first marriage, Rebel Jr. and Natalie and two step children, Chris and Katy. Rebel gave away Nat in marriage last May. Rebel and Myrna moved back to Durham a few years ago. After work, he and Myrna enjoy gardening and landscaping at home.
Rebel spent most of his career managing laboratories that manufactured swine and poultry vaccines. Now Rebel works for NCBIO teaching at Wake Technical Community College passing on his knowledge and expertise to the next generation.
Professor
Wake Community College
Director of Aseptic and lab operations
BS Microbiology
Clemson University
Class of 1977
Masters of Science~Botony
Clemson University
Rebel is a regular contributor to the editorial page of the News and Disturber.
Natalie Umphlett and the lucky groom last May
Hi Mike,
Sorry for the delay in replying - getting busy with tax season. After CHHS I went to the University of Wisconsin for four years - graduated with degree in Ecology/Urban Studies (regretfully, I didn't use it much).
I will call Anne Erhart (Gulick back in the day) today and thanks for the great detective follow up - my sister (also named Anne) lives in Philly so I might also be able to visit her - Anne and I were friends at Guy B. although for high school she went away to a Quaker school because her folks were Quakers and they wanted that kind of education for her. I'll keep you posted...
C
Andrea Louise Behrman
This "Where Are They Now?" episode took place during a relaxing interview over a couple of Margaritas by the swamp near her home in Melrose, FL to talk about the twists and turns of a good life. Andrea enjoys the beauty of lake-dwelling in the “real” Florida complete with osprey, pileated woodpeckers, otters, and an occasional alligator. Andrea L. Behrman is known within the physical therapy community as an influential and persuasive leader, clinician, teacher, and researcher in the science of walking recovery after neurologic injury.
Editorial Board
Professor PT
University of Florida
BS Biology
Furman University
Class of 1976
MS Physical Therapy
Duke University
Voted "Most likely to Rock"
Ph.D.
University Florida
Patron of the Arts
Time for another "WATN?" Twin Spin. Although since divorced, Inez McCauley and Nelson Cotton were one of many marriages from the Class of 1972. Inez has remarried while Nelson remains single. They a son, André.
Inez Marie McCauley Farrington
CHHS Vanguard
Inez manages the deli at Food Lion.
Deli MangerFood Lion
Nelson Junior Cotton
CHHS Vanguard
Nelson put in a career as a bus driver for the Chapel Hill Transit Authority. Since hanging up his transfer punch he enjoys gardening and his role as an activist in the community.
From Mike Esau: "Rebel was the best man at Peggy and my wedding. Later, he asked Burton Floyd and I to be ushers at his first wedding. Burton and I got lost on the way to the church that Sunday. When we got to the church the doors were locked and we had to wait outside until the ceremony had concluded. We still appeared in all the photos and got to attend the reception. Burton even got lucky later on."
Burton's take: "Jeff Umphlett had us follow him and then lost us on purpose. As far as the other, I have no idea what Esau is talking about. He's was unbalanced then and not much has changed."
The carefully carried out plans establishing the underpinnings for the Goose Family Syndicate now stretch back at least to 1955 and and literally the infancy of two of the key players; Goose Waters and purported arms dealer, Rebel "Fly" Umphlett. Check out this passenger manifest discovered at a raid conducted by Interpol at one of Goose's suspected European safe houses. It's the passenger manifest from the USN George Goethals departing on May 14, 1955 from Breaerhaven, Germany and arriving at the Port of New York on May 24. "WATN?" owner Dagny Taggart has filed pursuant the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that the US Customs and Immigration Service (ICE) as well as the Department of Justice, CIA, FBI and Foreign Service hand over all documents pertaining to Rebel's and Goose's citizenship status and their possible roles in US foreign and domestic intrigue. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Taggart's request, citing the "Constitutional Rights to Privacy" of both Goose and Rebel.
Taggart: "This is a matter of National Security and possibly the integrity of the US Government hangs in the balance. We'll pursue this to the Supreme Court in the interests of all free citizens. My God, Mr. Umphlett has been involved in the manufacture and distribution of animal vaccines his entire life!"
Rebel Umphlett (line 3) and James "Goose" Waters (line 7), coincidental shipmates, German sleeper agents, or something more sinister?
RetiredChapel Hill Transit
Community Activist
Gardening
"WATN?" will update this chapter when more information becomes available.
Kyle Stephen Wooten
Yet another CHHS Class of '72 alumni makes his mark in the healing arts helping others. Kyle has lived in Mills River, NC for a while, now. He is a speech pathologist with his office in Forest City. He has three grown children, Jennifer~Melissa and Brad.
Speech-Patholigist
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language
BA
NC State
Class of 1976
MS Speech Pathology
Western Carolina
Virginia Corbette Bush Hackney
Native Daughter: 26 April 1954
After having been born in Chapel Hill and attending school all the way through 10th grade Corby was another student whose family moved, this time to Wilson, and finished up high school at Fike HS. Married, raised two kids and single again, Corby still lives in Wilson.
Helen Patterson Parker Prouty
"WATN?" was able to kill two birds with one stone while visiting Wilson, NC. Pat still lives in Wilson where her family moved during 11th grade. She has a son, Jim.
Fashion Merchandising/Marketing
Stratford Women's College
Atlanta, GA
Corby stepped up and made a huge contribution to this reunion effort. She has shared her experience of having already put one of these on for Fike, drew up a detailed budget and is MC for the Saturday festivities. She, along with Steven Silverleaf (Selim) have been hard at work preparing works of art to be awarded to classmates in the Dubious Awards portion of the program.
Corby, Drew , Claire
Robs from the Rich
Gives to the Poor
BA Education
Meredith College
Class of 1976
Mike,
I finally got a chance to look at the bios today for the first time. I didn't know I was in there! Good try, Mike. There is some incorrect info, but that's what I get for not doing it myself, as you had encouraged me. First of all, my name is not Patricia. I was Helen Patterson Parker, nicknamed Pat. It was correct in saying that I moved from Chapel Hill after the 9th grade, but we moved to Topsail Beach. We didn't move to Wilson until half way through the 11th grade. I have two sons and my husband has a son and twin daughters. They are all grown and we have 7 grandchildren. Can't wait to see everyon this weekend!
Yours,
Pat
Pat,
Don't blame me. Blame "Where Are They Now Studios?" and John Galt. They canned my ass back in July of 2011 for "editorial differences". Sue them like the Martha Benoit (Martha A. Cooley~ our classmate) and Martha S. Cooley (the acclaimed author) did. you'll probably get some compensation out of it. I hear we have a case of Cooley's latest book, The Archivist, sitting around that we had to purchase to settle the suit out of court.
Later,
Esau
Ms. Parker,
"Where Are They Now?" Studios has become aware of our error and corrected it. As far as Mr. Esau is concerned; it is for this very sort of unprofessional behavior, baseless and wild assertions,and lack of decorum that "WATN?" and Mr. Esau parted ways a while ago. Brilliant?, yes, but a liability none the less. Thank-you for the info. We will edit your bio as soon as possible.
Yours,
Dagny Taggart
President/Owner "Where Are They Now?" Studios LLC
A Mystery to be Solved: Pat is listed in the program of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" in 1972, as playing the flute in the orchestra that performed there even though she had already left for Wilson three years prior.
Believe it or Not!!!
The Story of Finding Leslie Paull
Looking for Leslie Paull was quite the challenge. We found one hit that was ancient and no classmates with any clue. I at least remembered her making a couple of hour long appearances at the 20th reunion in between shifts from her nursing job in Durham. We both commented how random it was that we even had found out there was a reunion to come to. I remembered enjoying our hour long conversation, albeit, with someone I had never had a single class with or spoken to, to my recollection, back in the day. I eventually recalled she married a guy named Faulk. None panned out. Then a week later I tried an alternate spelling, Falk. There was a shrink in Chapel Hill. I called him and he said they had gotten divorced over a decade ago. He agreed to give me her number, mentioned her name was Wicca Davidson now and then he asked if I knew her very well. I said no and he hinted she was a piece of work and "good luck". I called Wicca on April 27, 2011. She thought it was cool, we talked for a while and she volunteered to help out.
Many people are excited and want to help out and some do pitch in for a month or so. Many people have pitched in for this once in a life time effort; money when money is tight, time when time was scarce, enthusiasm, ideas and so much more. Many are excited and say they are coming right up until they are not. There are only two other people that have made the long haul besides me and Wicca. I hope I have time to say something about Paula and Julia. Right here, right now, I want to brag on Wicca. Mind you, this is someone who's high school experience, by her own admission, was horrible.
Along with me and Goose the woman put up seed money and donations so the organizers could hire the top tier entertainment that many wanted but only a few thought we could afford and so they could start making plans for the "Big Show" and party before the first registration was paid for.
Beyond getting everyone together with a shared past for some good times, her main thrust has been inclusiveness and a chance to heal old wounds. No matter our individual experiences, we all shared in some pretty heady times in a way no other CHHS Class can lay claim to.
Keep in mind that this woman has a FULL LIFE; a daughter in college, two daughters from another mother, a retired "wants some attention" husband that she loves and a thriving time consuming career as a very successful real estate agent. She is active in her Synagogue and the list goes on and on and I am thinking she must have averaged another 20 hours a week for over a year on this "pie in the sky" project out of a wellspring of love and dreaming of what could be.
She designed and produced the invitations and refrigerator magnets that became instant collectors items. People have all kind on "Psycho Babble" reasons to blow this thing off but they sure as hell want their damn invitation and magnet.
My family, friends, co-workers and others at first thought my desire to "find everyone" was a flash in the pan, a passing fancy like so many other things in my life to date. They eventually came to be impressed, or thought I had lost my mind, and in some cases were a little miffed, incredulous and suspicious of my motives. Wicca has "got it" from the beginning and been there as a coconspirator, someone to provide support for us all while acting as a buffer between me and the other organizers when I go overboard; about once a day.
She was there on the outreach- finding more than 30 classmates on her own-including precious Martha Cansler. Many were people we might never have found because she has some interesting search techniques.
She and I conceived and ran the T-shirt contest.
Phil was letting our greatest asset lay fallow- the reunion web site. He just did not have the time. Wicca took on that project. She is the web master and whatever enjoyment we derive from it is solely her doing. Besides managing the web site in general she personally saw to the home page, the memorial page, the Rigor and Liquid Pleasure pages.
Phil and Google failed to get us a way to pay online. Wicca broke through that wall and made a way for us to register online through PayPal.
She has done as much as anyone to keep the buzz going on Facebook.
She designed and ordered the mugs.
At the LOC's request, when no one else had the time, she got together the information packets we will be receiving.
After months of of making all the right calls, she managed to induce the Chapel Hill News to print a story about our reunion.
No one could stop me from finding all our classmates; but many people could have taken those names, emails, phone numbers we gathered and created something special for those that can commit to facing whatever it is they need to face and making the scene. Simply put- with Wicca on board we went from something special to something auspicious and grand.
This list is only a fraction of what Wicca brought to the table in this effort. I do not have the words to do her justice.
Wicca and I have been communicating, commiserating, complaining, whining, and celebrating by email, phone and texting for over a year; usually several times daily. I got to use her home as a R&R stop on my two trips to Chapel Hill for reunion meetings and she had me over for Thanksgiving Dinner when I could not make it back to Indiana to my family. We did a drive by "ambush" on Martha Wall that went pretty well considering we showed up on her door step unannounced.
I am so greatfull for her for so many things but mostly I am glad I got to make a true friend that I will always love and cherish. Everyone should be so lucky.
You Can't Make This Shit Up!!!
Later,
Esau
A Pleasant Surprise: After starting classes at Fike HS who should Corby run into but Pat Parker who had left for Wilson after 9th grade at Guy B. Phillips. They remain friends to this day.
Wicca Davidson who was Leslie Paull
After high school -lived at Tick Creek Commune in Chatham County. Moved to New Mexico - lived in another commune
Moved back to NC. Went to nursing school and worked at geriatric/Alzheimer's/hospice nursing from 82-94.
Went to UNC - Art major. Finished Art Education degree at NC Central at the age of 35.
Survivor of ovarian and uterine cancer since 1986...
Real Estate Agent 1995 until who knows- but not your average sort of real estate agent.
Married in 1982-1996 to Don.
Married David in 1997 in Duke Gardens - still happily married, thank you very much.
Sold vintage clothes and jewelry, cooked in restaurants for many years, worked at Somethyme Restaurant and the 9th Street Bakery.
Does some sort of art....
For the last year, been working on Reunion. Odds Bodkins, Esau support system, but anything she can do - he does over... Did do invitations, mugs, website when possible, facebook & various + sundry stuff.
One daughter - Becca - goes to ECU. Looked alot alike in the early years, but not so much anymore. Now Becca is beautiful...
Commencement Roll Call
