Arrie "Buddy" Eliff, Jr.

LHS '66

June 25, 1947 - November 8, 2026

This is Betty Ann Eliff Phillips' (LHS '65) brother who graduated in LHS '66. 

Funeral service for Arrie "Buddy" Eliff, Jr. , 79, will be Friday, November 13, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Chris Nabors officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Somerville Historical Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, November 13, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.

Mr. Eliff passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born June 25, 1947, in Madison County, to Arrie Lee Eliff, Sr. and Mabel Morris Eliff .

Mr. Eliff was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the United States Army, 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightening). He was a Bronze Star recipient and won other military awards for his service. He was employed as a District Manager for several Grocery Store Chains, lastly the Save a Lot, prior to his retirement.

He enjoyed woodworking, craftsmanship, motorcycles, classic cars, gardening and his golf cart. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was well loved and will be missed.

Preceding him in death were his parents, siblings - Betty Phillips and Kay Grounds and a half brother- Arrie James Eliff.

Survivors include, his Wife - Joan Bland Eliff, a Son - Alan Eliff, one Daughter - Susan Eliff, his Brother - Ricky Eliff, a Sister - Debbie Beddingfield, his Grandchildren - Alex Eliff (Jenn) and Leah Eliff, and Great Grandchildren - Emma Eliff and Aiden Eliff.

Pallbearers will be Alex Eliff, Tim Anders, Steve Barnard, Jose Gonzalez, Tyler Turrentine, and Bentley Borden.

Peck Funeral Home

Graduating High School in 1964

And the Difference in 2026

Willard Finkbinder

LHS

As we celebrate our enduring Lee High School community, it is incredible to look back at the foundation upon which our General pride was built. While thousands of students have walked our hallways since, none share quite the same distinction as the historic Class of 1964—the very first graduating class in Lee High School’s history.

For those who were there, the early 1960s were a time of rapid, exciting transformation. Initially operating as a junior high, the Huntsville City Board of Education systematically phased out lower grades and added upper classes year by year. By the fall of 1963, Lee had officially grown into a full-fledged high school. When the spring of 1964 rolled around, our inaugural seniors made history as the first to receive their diplomas on campus.

But what did it actually take to earn a Lee High diploma back in 1964?

Our first graduates faced a unique academic landscape, caught precisely in the middle of a major state education transition. Right as the Class of 1964 was preparing to cross the stage, the Alabama Department of Education was officially shifting its state-wide baseline requirement from 16 up to 18 credits. Because our inaugural seniors had spent the majority of their high school careers under the older system, their journey required navigating a rigorous, fast-evolving curriculum.

To graduate, Huntsville City Schools required a heavy load of traditional coursework heavily influenced by the Space Race era. The core expectations included:

• English: A full 4-year requirement (one unit for every grade level).

• Social Studies: 2 to 3 years of intensive history, typically featuring Civics, World History, and mandatory Alabama and U.S. History.

• Mathematics & Science: Foundations in general math, algebra, and physical sciences like biology or chemistry—vital skills for a city expanding alongside Redstone Arsenal.

• Physical Education: Standard fitness and health requirements during underclassmen years.

As one of only four high schools operating in Huntsville at the time—alongside Huntsville High, Butler, and Councill—Lee High School’s academic program was designed to meet the moment. The faculty strictly prepared the Class of 1964 for immediate technical roles supporting the local aerospace boom or for academic excellence at rapidly developing local campuses like UAH.

To the trailblazing Class of 1964, we owe a debt of gratitude for setting a high standard of academic excellence and establishing the traditions we still cherish today. You will always be the first to say: Once a General, always a General!

What Does It Take to Graduate High School in 2026?

To earn a high school diploma in Huntsville, Alabama in 2026, students must meet the standard requirement of 24 total credits, pass multiple non-credit milestones, and—for the first time in state history—achieve a College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI) to officially graduate.

The Huntsville City Schools Course Catalog breaks these modern graduation parameters down into specific categories:

1. Credit Requirements (24 Total Units)

Huntsville City Schools provides two main avenues for completing these credits: Option A (Traditional/College Prep) and Option B (Workforce Pathways).

The 24 credits are distributed across core subjects and electives, varying by pathway:

• English: 4 credits in both Option A and Option B (Grades 9–12).

• Mathematics: 4 credits (including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II w/ Trig) for Option A; 2 credits (Algebra I and Geometry) for Option B.

• Science: 4 credits (including Biology and a physical science) for Option A; 2 credits (Biology and a physical science) for Option B.

• Social Studies: 4 credits (World History, US History I & II, and Government/Economics) for both pathways.

• CTE, Arts, or Foreign Language: 3 credits (any combination) for Option A; 3 credits in a concentrated CTE sequence for Option B.

• Other Requirements: 1 credit in Career Preparedness, 1 credit in Physical Education (LIFE PE or JROTC), and 0.5 credit in Health Education.

• Electives: 2.5 credits for Option A and 6.5 credits for Option B.

2. The New 2026 Mandate: College & Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI)

The Class of 2026 must fulfill Alabama's CCRI requirement by earning at least one approved indicator, such as:

• An ACT college-ready benchmark score, an AP exam score of 3 or higher, or an IB score of 4 or higher.

• Passing a dual enrollment college course, earning a Silver/Gold ACT WorkKeys score, or completing a state-approved Computer Science course.

• Earning an industry-recognized credential, completing CTE Completer Status (3 courses in a pathway with a 70+ average), finishing an in-school youth apprenticeship, or showing military enlistment/acceptance.

3. Additional Non-Credit Requirements

Students must also complete several state-mandated milestones:

• Assessments: Passing scores on the Alabama Civics Test and the state’s automated Financial Literacy Exam.

• Submissions & Coursework: Submitting the FAFSA (or a signed parent/guardian waiver) and completing at least one online or digital learning course.

I thought it might be interesting to see how today's education compares to the one we got when we attended Lee. Things look a lot more technical today than the did back then. Of course, today students must walk through a metal detector to get into school. In our days our classmates had shotguns and rifles sitting on gun racks in the back of pickup trucks' windows in the school parking lot.

The Wayback Machine

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Delores McBride Kilgore, LHS '66, "Love it!"

Wayne Cooper, LHS ‘66, "Congrats to BG John Scales (Stalingrad)."