Lee's Traveller
The Official Weekly Newsletter for the
Lee High Classes of
1964-1965-1966
October 23, 2023
Tommy Towery - Editor
A Dance To Remember (Do You?)
Collins Wynn
LHS ‘64
Looking back at the Limbo photo a couple of weeks ago reminded me. I do not know the reason for this event nor the sponsor but surmise it had to have something to do with LHS. These are the photos I have. I suspect it was held at the Hotel Russel Erskine. Enjoy. I have the original prints.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
(Editor's Note: I recognize Sherry Adcock as the girl in the left of this photo. I do not know who she is dancing with.)
Picture 5
(Editor's Note: The aluminum Christmas Tree narrows down the reason for this dance, but there is still the question of which group sponsored it.)
Picture 6
Picture 7
(Editor's Note: The first thing that jumps out at me in this photo is the white socks worn with the suits. The next thing is the object in the bottom right of the photo, a close up is shown in Picture 8.
Picture 8
The Wayback Machine
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
I asked the Wayback Machine for a song to accompany the pictures Collins sent in this week and it came up with the tune below. Although I remember the song well, I had difficulty finding out much about it until I finally discovered why. It was distributed as a B-Side for another popular song released in 1957/
Larry Williams (May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Williams is best known for writing and recording some rock and roll classics from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including "Bony Moronie", "Short Fat Fannie", "Slow Down", and "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (1958). Williams' life mixed tremendous success with violence and drug addiction. He was a longtime friend of Little Richard, with whom his life intertwined personally and professionally from their meeting in 1955 to Williams' death in 1980.
After he was arrested for possession of narcotics and guns in 1959, he was dropped from Specialty Records. He recorded for Chess Records but no hits were produced. Williams then served a three-year jail term, setting back his career considerably. On January 7, 1980, Williams was found dead by his mother at his home in Los Angeles, California from a gunshot wound to the head. He was 44 years old. His death was deemed suicide, though there was speculation that he was murdered because of his involvement in drugs and allegedly prostitution.
The song "High School Dance" was on the B-Side of the 45rpm record "Short Fat Fannie", which peaked at number five on the U.S. Pop chart, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million records, Williams' first million seller.
As of this date, I am planning to drive down to Huntsville to attend the Lunch Bunch on Thursday. There are some issues going on with may prevent me attending, but I am going to try to be there.
You will notice I numbered all the photos sent in by Collins. If you wish to comment on any of them please list the number of the photo you reference. I know the names of many of the classmates in the pictures, but like Collins, know little else about the dance's time, place, or sponsor. We would love to have someone complete that mystery.
Last Week's Questions, Answers,
And Comments
Joel Weinbaum, LHS ‘64, "The upswing of Huntsville during our Lee years, and I arrived for the Fall start of 1962, produced a neutral to a positive environment for us all. I am sure the repatriation of Werner Von Braun and his engineers, along with their families. may be the most responsible for that. They, like the rest of us, gained ground with a fresh start. And I got into only one fight during those two years, during gym over a basketball. When the Doctor x-rayed my hand said he wouldn't have wanted to be on the other side of that…fist. But you were there from the early 50’s. And we had some really cute girls at Lee. And there was full employment for the parents. "
Stan, LHS '73, "The artist singing Exodus featured last week was not Pat Boone but was really Andy Williams. I think Pat Boone helped write it."
LEE LUNCH BUNCH
FOR THE CLASSES OF ’64, ’65, ‘66
CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL
Thursday, October 26, 2023
11:00 AM
Please save the date for our group’s fall lunch gathering. We will once again meet at Carrabba’s Italian Grill located on the upper parking level of Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville. We have a reserved area that will accommodate our group. I received many compliments this past spring about us meeting there since there is no charge for the space, the food is good, and they are so very nice to us. Carolyn Burgess Featheringill ’65, arranged for our class of ’65 to meet there at least the last couple of reunion weekends, and everyone seemed to enjoy those times as well. Perhaps I will be able to find us a new place to try for next spring.
October is a great time for fall road trips, so if you do get out on the road, make Huntsville one of your stops to join your group for lunch.
Please do let me know at least by the morning of the day before if you plan to come so I can tell the restaurant a fairly accurate count.
Thanks and hope to see you soon!
Patsy Hughes Oldroyd ‘65
keithandpatsy@att.net or Facebook
H (256) 232-7583
C (256) 431-3396