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Martha Sue Harvilla
Lee English Teacher
October 22, 1934 - March 6, 2021
Martha Sue Harvilla, 86, died in Huntsville, AL on Saturday, March 6, 2021. She was born on October 22, 1934 to Willis and Atha Christian in Berry, Ala. She graduated from Livingston State Teachers College in Alabama. She was a Senior High School English teacher for 32 years. She taught in Jacksonville, FL., Pittsburgh, PA., Downey, CA., and Huntsville, AL. The last 26 years of her teaching career was spent teaching at Lee High School in Huntsville. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher's Sorority, Huntsville Garden Guild, and number of other organizations. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Huntsville. She is survived by her niece, Pat; a great-nephew; a great-great-nephew; several great-nieces; and great-great-nieces. She was predeceased by her husband, John Harvilla; son, John Harvilla Jr.; parents; brothers, Wilfred and Paul; and a nephew, Chris.
Basketball - Then and Now
Tommy Towery
LHS '64
1964 Team
1965 Team
1966 Team
As we enter March Madness 2021 (and who could have expected how mad it really would be) I thought it would be fun to look back at our own basketball days at Lee. My first thought was comparing the uniforms of the teams back then with those of today. Unlike the cheerleading girls' uniforms which went from covering a lot of skin to more skimpy, the men's basketball uniforms were just the opposite. Compared to the shorts teams wear today, our guys wore short shorts. If you look at the amount of skin observable back then to the same shown today it is obvious. The only other major change I can notice is that we did not have a three-point rule back then. If you wanted to score three points in one play you had to get fouled while making a basket and then do it the old fashioned way by also scoring a free-throw.
Though basketball was not my favorite sport back then, I did enjoy going to the games and cheering on the team. I especially liked going to the away games with my friends. It was fun to set with my crowd and cheer on my team as the cheerleaders led us in our efforts. I don't know if I considered Huntsville High School as big a rival as I did Butler, but I wanted our team to beat both of them whenever we played. Below is a photo of the crowd at one of the Lee games which was featured in the original Lee's Traveller". Of course we did not know what social distancing was back then. I can easily spot David France and Camille sitting in the middle of the photo right behind Mr. Hamilton. David is the one with the hat.
The Lee Crowd at a 1964 Basketball Game
Below is a photo of the 2021 Lee High School Basketball team when they won the Alabama State Championship title. Though they are not standing you can see that their shorts are much longer than the ones worn back in our times.
And, below is the Lee Generals' girls team, which did not exist when we were in school. I find myself looking back at the girls I went to school with and try to figure out which of them would have played on a girl's team had we had one. This is a photo of the 2018 team because I could not find a photo of the 2021 team.
2018 Lee Girl's Team
Memphis, TN - Beware the Ides of March. I always remember this day because it was the birthday of my best high school friend, Bob Walker, LHS '64. (Miss you Bob.) I did not leave a place for a name when I asked the question about what "Don't" things you remember, but here are the responses.
My mom yelling at me and my brother, fighting in the backseat, while driving 60 mph down the highway: "Don't make me come back there!"
Don't even think about it.
Don't complain; don't cry; don't laugh; don't bother; don't chew ice; don't shout; don't put that there; don't play in the street; don't make friends with them.
Don't make me have to tell you again!
Don't look at me like that! Don't even think about that. Don't forget to say you prayer's. Don't act like a idiot.
My favorite was DON’T you even think about it young lady!
Don't be late. Also added to the don't statement "or you will ___________!"
Don't you dare slam that door, young lady!
Don't cry or I'll give you something to cry about.
Don't argue with me.
Don't even think about wearing that - outside of this house.
From Our Mailbox
Subject: Basketball
Nell Rose Brooks Brackett
LHS '71
Tommy, I really enjoy your weekly emails. Just an FYI, Lee is Alabama State Basketball Champions!! Go Generals! I believe the last time Lee was State Basketball Champs was the 1968 class . I think.?
Tim Lull
LHS ‘67
Subject: Don't Sayings
Marlene Mateuda
In response to your question:
Don’t do until tomorrow what you can do today
Don’t tell tales or don’t tell tales outta school
Don’t be an Indian giver
Don’t you believe me?
Don’t let the stars get in your eyes
Don’t beat around the bush
Don’t you realize it is the truth
Subject: Don'ts
Carolyn Burgess Featheringill
LHS ‘65
This is straight from my mother who was also a teacher, “Don’t chew gum in public!” ‘So glad you and Sue made it through the Memphis winter storm without having to use that new generator!
Subject: Don't
A few years ago I was in Nashville for some R&R with friends. The daughter of one of my former athletes was performing at one of the local bars where the up and coming songwriters try out their songs.
After her set, her father and I joined her at a table in the back and talked about her writing and where she got her ideas. I started laughing at a memory from the past and suggested that she write a song called, “Don’t you look at me that way.” I was laughing so hard I was almost crying thinking about my parents saying that to me in anticipation of what I was thinking. Optimistically, I asserted that I would split the money I was sure this song would make. After all, EVERYONE has been told that by their parents and teachers.
Apparently not! I still haven’t made a penny from that (unwritten) song. Even though it is repeatedly heard in my house when the grandkids are visiting!
I’m still sure it would make for a good song!
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