Newell F. Hobbs

Early Member of LHS '64

March 9, 1944 - March 4, 2022

(Skip Cook, LHS '64, wrote: "Terry Preston was one of the first people I remember meeting during my entry into the special world that would become LHS.  We shared a study hall in 8th grade in what was the stage dressing room across from the principal's office and behind the stage area.  A name that popped into my head during old memory time was Newell Hobbs.  Don't know if he graduated with us or not.  Googled his name and discovered that he passed away last year.) This photo is from the 1960 The General yearbook from Lee Junior High.

 Newell F. Hobbs, 77, of Fayetteville, Tennessee, passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022, at Southern Tennessee Regional Hospital.

He was born on March 9, 1944, in Madison County, Alabama, to the late Clarence Harold and Mary Turner Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs served in the National Guard, was the former sales manager for Allison Wholesale and the former owner of H&H Convenience Store in Huntsville. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, attending car shows and working on his old truck.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two brothers, Cebert Hobbs and Larry Hobbs.

Mr. Hobbs is survived by his wife, Peggy Hobbs; daughter, Tammy (Scott) Simmons; granddaughter, Hannah Simmons; grandson, Joshua (Bailey) Hobbs; sister, Donna Jean Honey of Huntsville, Alabama; and brother, Wayne (Shirley) Hobbs of New Hope, Alabama.

Our White Sports Coats

Craig Bannecke

LHS ‘65

I just happen to think back on another great Marty Robbins favorite that should bring back wonderful memories for all of us. It is his classic "A White Sports Coat  (And A Pink Carnation)."   I remember WBHP, WAAY, or one of our local stations playing that wonderful song every Spring as graduation time grew near. For me, the song just seemed to encapsulate all of the great High School events that would take place our Senior year. As it turns out events that WE would and have long remembered. The Proms, the Pageants, the Graduation Parties, and the other events leading up to graduation. And also thank you Tommy for adding that small informative part about the Sweetheart Pageant.  That was nice. Thanks again and thanks for all you do to keep us connected.

The photos above are some that were previously published and are of some of your Lee High School classmates going to proms at Lee. (L-R) Dennis Hollingsworth, LHS '65, and Marty Fincher; Collins Wynn, LHS '64, and Judy Adair; and Tommy Towery, LHS '64, and Ginger Cagle, all dressed up in their White Sports Coats minus the Pink Carnations.

The Wayback Machine

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

I asked The Wayback Machine to play the song Craig Bannecke mentioned and here is that song.

"A White Sport Coat" is a 1957 country and western song with words and music both written by Marty Robbins. It was recorded on January 25, 1957, and released on the Columbia Records label, over a month later, on March 4.

The song reached No. 1 on the US country chart, becoming Marty Robbins' third No. 1 record. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 1 on the Australian music charts. Billboard ranked it as the No. 17 song of 1957.

Robbins recalled writing "A White Sport Coat" in approximately twenty minutes and is said to have had the inspiration for the song while driving from a motel to a venue in Ohio, where he was due to perform that evening. During the course of the journey, he passed a local high school, where its students were dressed and ready for their prom.

(Editor's Comments: Even though this song was released in 1957 it made an undying impact on our prom fashions over five years later. Though the pink carnation idea seemed to have been overlooked, the white sports coat fashion was not.)

I would like to remind you that when you use the comments forms you are only required to leave a comment. It does not make you leave a name or even a class year or email address. If you want to remain anonymous you are free to do so. I retain the right to approve or disapprove any comments that go against our guidelines. But, feel free to make comments. If you want to reveal a school secret but do not want to name who said it or who it is about then just don't put your name on the comment.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, and Comments

Craig Bannecke, LHS ‘65, "I was a big fan of Marty Robbins back in the day. In particular loved the Gunfighter Ballad album. I owned it and played Big Iron and El Paso, over and over again. My family would get so tired of hearing it being played and would come close the bedroom door.  Nice to read a little background history of the song Big Iron and the album."

Joyce Whitlock Reiling, LHS ‘66, "Thank you for the info about Lynn Seeley.  She was a good friend during high school and we were in the Band Color Guard together.  We had reconnected some through Facebook the last few years."