First Job After Graduation - Summer of 1964

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

Last week’s issue dealt with graduation day and our feelings on that special day. As I have written more than once, I moved to Memphis the day after graduation. It was a hard move for me emotionally. But with high school behind me and college three months ahead of me, I needed to find a job to help pay my way. 

My biggest problem was the fact that I was untrained in anything that would help me go to work. I had worked less than a week my whole time in high school. For the first week following my move, I looked for jobs at grocery stores and department stores and had no luck in any of them. I was just plain unqualified, even as a grocery sacker.

Finally after multiple denials for jobs, I quietly sat down one night and asked myself, “What are you good at?” Since I was an Eagle Scout and had often attended both Scout and church summer camps I decided I was good at camping. The next morning I got up, put on some nice clothes, and headed for the local Y.M.C.A. Without an appointment I still was able to talk to the gentleman who was in charge of the camps. I asked him if there were any positions open at the Y’s day camp and was told no. 

But that was not the end of the story. I was unaware that he thought I looked a lot like a person from his past and wanted to help me. He said there was a need for a counselor at the regular summer camp. The camp was run in two-week sessions and there were three sessions each summer. As a counselor my pay would not be that much, but I would have room and board for a large chunk of the summer. The camp was on a lake and most of the activities were things I was used to doing. Two days later I was on my way to be a counselor for a cabin of eight young boys.

That summer was a great experience. The camp was on a lake so there were a lot of aquatic activities. I had earned my Canoeing Merit Badge in the Scouts, so I became the canoe instruction. I was also appointed a life guard, for the same reason – I had my Lifesaving Merit Badge. I became friends with the other counselors, one of which would be responsible for me joining his fraternity at Memphis State. We had three good meals a day along with multiple activities associated with summer camps.

At the end of the last camp session, I was asked to become a counselor at another two-week camp in Arkansas, created to allow underprivileged boys to attend. Located on a river there I once again became the canoe instructor and thoroughly enjoyed the extra camp time.

The down part of that summer was both camps were all-boys camps. There were no girls to be seen there. After two years of skating and partying, and dancing with girls every weekend, it was a great difference in my life. I did have a few of my former classmates write me letters and post cards, but I did not see anyone special and did not have a date the whole summer. One positive aspect of the job was the fact that even though it did not pay much, there was nowhere to spend the money at the camp, except for Cokes and snacks from the camp store.

Ending the story, my job challenge paid off. When I returned to Memphis after the second camp ended I was asked to continue my association with the Y.M.C.A. and run the after school sessions for boys. I stayed associated with the Y.M.C.A. organization for the rest of my college days. I can trace most of the major events in my life to that association.

I would love to hear what some of my fellow classmates did for their first job after high school graduation or some summer camp memories. Use the form below to answer, or email me.

The Wayback Machine

"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh"

Allan Sherman,  1963

Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)" is a novelty song recorded by Allan Sherman released in 1963. The melody is taken from the ballet Dance of the Hours from the opera La Gioconda by Amilcare Ponchielli, while the lyrics were written by Sherman and Lou Busch.

Allan based the lyrics on letters of complaint which he received from his son Robert Sherman who was attending Camp Champlain, a summer camp in Westport, New York. The song scored No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 list for three weeks beginning on August 24, 1963. It was kept from No. 1 by both "Fingertips" by "Little" Stevie Wonder and "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels.

The song's mention of "Leonard Skinner", a boy at the camp who "got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner", was an inspiration for the name of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, although the band's name was also inspired by a physical education instructor of the same name.

The song won a Grammy Award in 1964 for Best Comedy Performance at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards. The song remains a favorite at summer camps; despite Sherman largely being forgotten on oldies radio, the song has passed down through the oral tradition through parents and camp counselors, an example of a song maintaining popularity through means other than mass media.

I had a problem coming up with a topic this week, so I once again drug you into my personal life. Today I am ashamed to say I did not work while at Lee. I tried two jobs that did not work out. For one night I worked at a Dairy Queen, but there were not enough customers to warrant paying me a salary. It closed soon after that one night. I also worked at the University Drive-In concession stand, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and popping popcorn. That didn't work out either, since the movies ran late and we had to stay and clean the kitchen before I could go home. After not getting home until after midnight the first couple of days and having no time to do homework, I had to give it up.

Lincoln Village, Lincoln School Reunion

Andrea Roberson, Class of '66, wants to share this information with you.

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Dianne Hughey McClure, LHS ‘64, "It means a lot to me that you have kept my graduation gift to you for this long. I still have the state of Alabama charm you gave me. I remember graduation night well - a fun night with good friends. Thanks to you Bob and Carolyn it was a very special night. I also remember the goodbyes  That day and night made memories not to be forgotten. Thank you for keeping all of them alive with the weekly news you share with us."

Joel Weinbaum,  LHS ‘64, "All that music, though enjoyable in romance, was sentimental seduction with the coming of the Vietnam era, including the rules for deferment from the Draft."

Lynn Bozeman vanpelt, LHS ‘66, '"I feel very happy that I am one of Darla’s besties mentioned in last week’s comments. Our group of five ‘66 graduates are more like family than friends.  As far as the night of graduation goes, our group was invited to the home of Candy Folk for a late dinner, which included a glass of champagne provided by her parents.  This did not sit well with my parents, but I’m not sure about the other parents.