200427 April 27, 2020
Betty Ann Eliff Phillips
LHS '65
April 22, 1946 - April 17, 2020
Betty Ann Eliff Phillips left this life to her heavenly abode on April 17,2020 at her home in New Market, Alabama. She was the oldest of five children to the late Arrie Lee Eliff and Mable Morris Eliff of Madison County, Alabama.
She spent 35 plus years in computer support, employed in missile and defense for United Technology, USBI, and Summa prior to retirement.
She is left behind to cherish her memories her husband of 51 years, Carl Phillips; her daughter, Carla Phillips and her husband Dustin Phillips; One grandson, Lucas Phillips; 2 brother-in-laws, Earl and Tina Phillips, Gene and Nel Phillips; two brothers and spouses, one sister and her husband, and many church family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, one sister, one nephew, and her number one four-footed son, Rosco.
The family wanted to give a special heartfelt thanks to all the family and friends who have supported Mr. Phillips for the past 6 years of tireless days of caring for Mrs. Betty Phillips while she was suffering with dementia. To the hospice organization , you were priceless.
Memphis, TN - Even though I have been retired for many years, it seems to me I have more time on my hands since I have been ordered to stay at home
Zoom Launch a Success
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
Last Monday afternoon all the Lee's Traveller readers were invited to participate in the first Zoom meeting of our readers. Fourteen of you (shown in the screen capture above) decided to participate and we had classmates join in from six states and Tom Gilbert got up very early in the morning and joined in from the Philippines. I want to thank the brave group who have decided not to let themselves fall behind in using technology even our grandchildren use daily. We refuse to be old dogs who cannot be taught new tricks. The participants used iPhones, iPads, Desktop PCs, and Desktop Macintosh computers and tablets to make the connections. For many of us it was our first time ever connecting with so many people using the Zoom program. I was so excited I forgot to record the session to share with you. If you did not join us we missed you. We were lucky and the Zoom folks allowed us to go over the 40 minute limit this time - which we did (by a lot). Remember it is FREE to use the version of Zoom we use.
Zoom is a free cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others - either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats - and it lets you record those sessions to view later.
Zoom allows one-to-one chat sessions that can grow into group calls, training sessions and webinars for internal and external audiences, and global video meetings. The free version allows unlimited one-on-one meetings but limits group sessions to 40 minutes and 100 participants.
You can use it with or without downloading an app, but downloading the free app makes it better. Here is a short video on how it works and how to connect for the first time.
I have had several requests from classmates who missed the last meeting to please host another one. So, we will try it again. This time we will try it in the early evening rather than the afternoon and see if that accommodates people better. Again, the meetings can only last 40 minutes so try to start on time. It will be scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (that's in the evening). The room will open up about 10 minutes early so we can get set up and the discussion will be mainly free flow, with a little session control by me, if needed.
So, below is the link we will be using and you can click on it to connect to the session. I will be sending out a reminder earlier on Tuesday with the same link if you can't find this one. This is not going to be a regularly scheduled session for now but we will see what the group wants to do in the future.
Tommy Towery is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting, Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking on this link then.
Last Week's Name the Song's Artists
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
Identify the artists in my "Unchained Melody Medley."
Roy Orbison
Tom Jones
Ricky Nelson
Righteous Brothers
Escoe German Beatty, LHS '65 got three of the artists right.
Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS '66, got three of the six correct and writes, "T.Tommy, even though your music trivia this week was designed to embarrass & humiliate me (lol), you have chosen the wrong film because i actually know this one. (I know, who'd have thunk it?)
I am not familiar with the movie "Unchained" but the movie that I remember is "Ghost" starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swaze and Whoopie Goldberg. Whoopie won her only Oscar for her outstanding portral of Oda Mae Brown - see, I told you that I know this song/movie.
Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers (Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley) were popular in our youth and had another popularity surge when this movie was released in the early 90's. It’s a great song and a pretty darn good movie also. Keep 'em coming. I like a challenge.
John Drummond, LHS '65, noted "Unchained Melody" was a favorite slow-dance (a.k.a. "hug and sway") song of our generation. The first rendition is by Willie Nelson, whose career is in jeopardy if his sinus condition ever clears up. For those of us who are starting to feel the effects of aging, look to Willie for inspiration; at 86, he was still performing at sold-out concerts until the coronavirus pandemic recently arrived on our shores. I think the last version is by The Righteous Brothers, perhaps the most popular and well-known of all, appearing on screen during the famous pottery scene in "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. On second thought, that version may have been performed by Bill Medley, the taller and deeper-voiced Righteous Brother. Of the 4 or 5 artists in between, I have not a clue; will be most impressed by any General who gets them all correct. Stay safe and stay sane."
(Editor's Note: The last version was actually done solo by Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers who died in 2003. According to Medley, they adopted the name "The Righteous Brothers" for the duo because black Marines from the El Toro Marine base started calling them "righteous brothers". At the end of a performance, a black U.S. Marine in the audience would shout, "That was righteous, brothers!", and would greet them with "Hey righteous brothers, how you doin'?" on meeting them.)
Jeffrey Fussell , LHS '66 with the aid of an educated guess on the second artist, was able to correctly name all six artists who shared their talents in the song.
Willie Nelson
Not sure about #2, but the high note sounds like Elvis. (Correct)
Last Week's Movie of the Week Submitted John Drummond
We had many correct answers to the questions and I see no need to list each and every answer by every person so I will select the answers which seem to offer the most information or the greatest insight into the movie. I appreciate all those who played the game.
Scene: The movie opens with a drunk being arrested and sentenced to two years in a Florida chain gang. He does not question his physical incarceration, and initially has no thought of escape. But his spirit is not, imprisoned like those of his fellow inmates,. This free thinking is, from the outset, noticed by the institution, its functionaries (the guards), and especially its leaders. His struggle for supremacy peaks when he leads a work crew in a seemingly impossible but successful effort to complete a road-paving job in less than one day.
1. What is the title of the movie?
2. Who played the movie's title character?
3. What crime was committed that sent him to prison?
4. What is the most famous film quotation delivered in the film and who spoke it (name or role)?
5. What did the main character claim he could do which set off a betting frenzy?
Michael Griffith, LHS '66, "The title of the movie is "Cool Hand Luke." The opening scene shows an obviously inebriated man using a pipe cutter to cut off the parking meter heads along a city street. He was arrested and sentenced to serve time on a chain gang.
Luke was played by Paul Newman, and the primary co-star was George Kennedy. There were many quotes that were repeated by guys after seeing the movie, but the one that you are looking for is probably: "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
Luke set off a betting frenzy by making an outrageous claim that he could eat fifty hard-boiled eggs within a one hour timeframe. He finished the fiftieth one just before time ran out.
I saw this movie during my first year of college and loved it. A few years later I saw it again, projected on an outdoor wall in Vietnam. Still a great movie, but this time the running G.I. commentary from the platoon turned a G-rated movie into a R-rated one, at best.
Randy Goodpasture, LHS '66 watched it many times and scored 100%.
Dan Poole, LHS ‘68 scored 100 and named the person who made the quote- "What we have here is a failure to communicate”- by the Warden, who was called “Captain”, and played by Strother Martin.
Max Kull, LHS '67, adds, "Luke's convict buddies included many character actors who scored bigger parts and greater fame in the years following - George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon, Dennis Hopper, Ralph Waite, Harry Dean Stanton, and Wayne Rogers
Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS '66, writes, "I am enjoying the movie trivia. I only know a couple of answers to John's challenge this week
Charlie Freeman, LHS '66 scored 100.
Spencer Thompson, LHS '64, saw it at a theater in Denver, Colorado and also scored 100.
Name That Movie
Based upon the reaction last week, it seems that many of you associate better with movies than with music, so this week we'll try something different for our music trivia. This week's list of five songs all come from movies popular around the time we were at Lee (based upon the multiple class years some may have already graduated). See if you can identify the movies by these songs. Remember, this time you need to name the MOVIE and not just the SONG, even though they may be the same. Anything personal you wish to share about any of the movies is highly encouraged.
From Our Mailbox
Subject: Zoom Session
Jim King
LHS '67
Don't always check emails same day but would love next one.
Subject: Things
Linda Collinsworth Provost
LHS '66,
Hey, the zoom meeting was great fun. We need to do that more often. Thanks for setting it up. I’m guilty of skimming and I did that with your last Traveller when it came to the music trivia. I completely missed the compilation that you put together. That is a very impressive feat!
Subject: Last Week's Stories
Escoe German Beatty
LHS '65
Just a ’shout out’ to Curt Lewis.. Loved your story. I have never heard this one or just can’t remember.. but, it is classic…bet you that I could name THAT teacher in one guess! I also would like to thank Janet on her story about her (and Lee’s) dad. I know you are so very proud of him and his work on the mission. We all owe that generation for the very special lives that we have today. Again Tommy thank you for the gifts you share with us!
Subject: The Traveller
Charlie Freeman
LHS '66
Thanks Tommy for you continued entertaining and informative news!
Subject: The Zoom Session
Gary Hatcher
LHS '65
I just saw this email about the zoom meeting. So sorry I missed it. It is a great way to see people and talk. Our NOMADS board of directors uses it for meetings. I really like seeing who I am talking with instead of just hearing them. I know it went well with everybody. Hope you and Sue are getting by through this pandemic. Sharon and I are doing good, just doing little jobs around the house.
Save the Date!
September 25 & 26, 2020
LHS Reunion
The Westin at Bridge Street
Huntsville, AL
More Information to Come Later
Reunion Contacts
Ann Wilson Redford (redforda@uah.edu)
Niles Prestage (napjr@me.com)
Sarajane Steigerwald Tarter (starter@hiwaay.net
Linda Taylor (’64) lktaylor731@aol.com
Kathy Harris Jones (’66) khjones@ardmore.net
