Sycamore Ridge Ranch 35TH Reunion Summer 2007 Other Get-togethers Fallen Heroes

Donelson High School 1966

Welcome to the official DHS Class of 1966 home page. I will try to keep this page updated with all the information I get concerning the Donelson High School class of 1966 and other interesting information from DHS. You can also check out these other sites that have DHS information.  DHS1 , Resolution, Class of '69 and DIMS' . All entries are in reverse order. The newest entry being the first going to the oldest entry.

This page was last updated 03/30/2008 05:42 PM

 Please take the time to read and sign the guest book below.

 

 

Sign DHS Guestbook FREE GUESTBOOKS View DHS Guestbook

It would be great if you could send me pictures with a brief explanation . This page gets very boring without new information. Please include the names of everyone in the picture if you can. Some of you can't attend the functions that we have every year and this helps us keep up with you and what you are doing.

Classmate "Uncle Pete" Norman is in the news again. Pete is restoring a Vietnam era TH55 helicopter like the one he flew while serving one of his tours in Vietnam. His plans are to restore it back to its original Vietnam configuration. It should be flying later this year.

Sorry it has taken so long to get this picture posted, but better late than never! We did have a classmate in her first attendance this year, Carolyn Wilson Medlin in attendance with her husband Gary. Also, representing the class of '64 was Sam Tune.

Congratulations to Judy and Bill, AGAIN!!!!
"Georgia Ann Clark"
January 16, 2008
6 pounds, 13 ounces
Houston, Texas
Proud Parents:
 Carrie & Trey Clark
Grandchild #8 
Happy Grandparents' Announcement from:
Grandmommy & Papa Bill 
Judy Johnston Merrell
William W. Merrell
123 Hilldale Drive
Mount Juliet, TN 37122
J:  615-330-5853

 

Mark and Tommy return from the sea!

The pictures are pouring in. This one from our resident Hells Angel.

George,

 This is a photo of me taken in southern South Dakota in early August.  Myself and seven other riders went to the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis South Dakota.   There were five riders from Franklin, two from Michigan and one from Indiana.  We met in Sioux City Iowa and spent the next week riding in the Black Hills and eastern Wyoming.

 Rodger Klein

Well, I guess it worked. I just got an e-mail from David Weakley. It read:

Some of you have already had this experience, but for Dianne & I this was totally new. On August 14th, our first grandchild was born. Abigail Grace Hamilton arrived weighing 8 lb. 1 oz and 20 inches long. I am already doing my best to spoil her rotten.



 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations David and Dianne and thanks for sharing!

Brittany (daughter of Gary and Alison Collier) and Phillip Goolsby married by the Justice of the Peace in Watertown, NY, upon Phillip's return from Iraq on July 20, 2006.  They then had their "fancy" wedding with family and friends in attendance at our farm on August 26, 2006.  This was the first wedding held at "Sycamore Ridge Ranch."  It was a very beautiful and fun wedding…..great food and great music……..as you can see by the photos!  You will notice this sweet little girl in some of the photos, it is Lola, Gary and Alison's granddaughter.  They now have 3 grandchildren and one due the end of January 08…The matron of honor is Tara, Gary and Alison's oldest daughter, her husband Jeffrey, Lola and Abe.  They just added a third child to their family on August 6th of 2007 named Maggie Alison McGuire.

Brittany

Brittany and Phillip

Brittany

Brittany and Phillip

Brittany and Lola

Phillip

Brittany and Phillip

Brittany and Phillip

Allison and Gary

Judy, George, Brittany and Phillip

Allison, Lola and Gary

Judy, George, Gary and Allison

Abe, Tara,Jeffrey and Lola

What a view!

 
Talk about coincidence! This story will warm the cockles of your heart!

Several months ago, I got a very interesting e-mail from a gentleman I did not know. It went like this:

Hi,


My name is Stan Wysocki. I live in Maple Shade New Jersey. While metal detecting at Newton Lake Park in Collingswood NJ, I found a 1966 class ring from Donelson High School, with the initials E H B.

I had never heard of a Donelson High, so I went to the internet and found a notice of a class reunion for Donelson
High School, class of 1966, Tennessee. On a side of the ring is the words," The Dons". I hope I have the right school.

If so, any help you can give me in locating the owner of this ring would greatly be appreciated as I would love to return
it to them.

I think it would be a nice reunion surprise.

Thank you,

Stan

 

Wow!!! I knew of only two members of our class with the initials eb, Elaine Berry and Eddie Bayers. I went to Eddie's web site and found that his father was E. H. Bayers. riddle solved. So I wrote back:

 

Stan,

Yes, you do have the right school. We are the Donelson Dons. I am the unofficial class organizer and I will be hosting our 40th reunion at my house this summer. Its really nice of you to return this ring. It belonged to Eddie H. Bayers. I don’t think I will tell him yet that someone found his ring. You're right, it would make a great surprise at the reunion. You can either send the ring to me and I will present it to him at the reunion along with your story, or you can send it directly to him. Eddie is a VERY accomplished musician as well as his wife Lane. There are links to their web sites from the DHS site. You can see pictures of Eddie and his wife Lane on the DHS web page which I also host.

Let me know what you want to do. And thanks again. I know Eddie will be very pleased. He probably was performing at a concert there. (Little did I know at this time that Eddie was living under the boardwalk!)

 

George

 

Well, needless to say, I was very excited about all of this. I waited and waited and finally I got this reply from Stan:

 

Hello George,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. We had a ton of snow and I threw my back out shoveling, and I haven't felt like messing around with the computer.( Don't get old George ). I was really glad to get your E-mail. I felt like I hit the lottery.

I think your idea to present the ring at your reunion is a great idea. Receiving the ring from a friend and classmate, at his 40th reunion, will maximize the surprise. I can't think of a more appropriate way of having it returned. I'm sure Mr. Bayer never expected to see it again. I will try to send the ring to you within the next couple of weeks.

Let me give you a little background on myself and the ring. I am 63 years old and my career was serving the City of Camden, NJ as a firefighter with the Camden Fire Department, retiring as a Captain, after 26 years on the job. (For anyone not familiar with New Jersey, Camden is connected to Philadelphia across the Delaware  River, by the Ben Franklin Bridge).

I found the ring a few inches in the ground, at the base of a tree, facing and approximately ten feet from the bank of Newton Lake, while metal detecting, in Collingswood, NJ. I actually found it a few years ago and my assumption was that Donelson High must be somewhere in the NJ, Philly area. I asked everyone I could think of if they ever heard of the school without any results till recently, when my daughter bought me a computer, which I'm still trying to learn how to use. (very frustrating).
I decided to try the Internet when I came upon your reunion notice. Could it be? I thought. That's why I stated earlier, about hitting the lottery. What a coincidence.

Please inform Mr. Bayer that I do not seek a reward of any kind. Past memories and objects that return us to those memories of our youth are priceless. I have felt that it was my duty to see if I could locate and return this ring . George, you have made my day, that is reward enough. I thank you. Wishing you and your classmates a wonderful reunion with lot's of fond memories.

Stan

 

All I can say is WOW! What a stand-up guy. What are the chances? Anyone else feeling chill bumps? My reply:

 

Stan

 

What a great story. I have told several people about what has happened and they are just amazed. You are a very generous man to do this. You know they say such acts of generosity come back to you 10 fold! I will make sure Eddie gets a copy of your e-mail and knows “the rest of the story”.

Thank you again so much. I know this will mean a lot to Eddie.

 George

 

Stan sent me the ring and now I had to figure out what I was going to do. I didn't know if Eddie was going to be at the reunion or not. I tried to entice him by writing him an e-mail and telling him I had a "big surprise" waiting for him at the reunion. Just so happens that Fan Fair, I know the name has changed, was going to be the week of the reunion and he and Lane would not be able to attend. What a let down! So then I called Lane to tell her the story and get her thoughts. Lane was very excited and really wanted us to meet and do something nice for Eddie. We decided that she and Eddie would meet Judy and myself at the Cracker Barrel on Stewarts Ferry Rd. for the surprise. Eddie just thought we were meeting for breakfast and reminiscing. After the waitress had taken our orders and we were just chatting, I mentioned to Eddie that I had something for him. I took out the ring and Eddie's jaw dropped to the floor. I then gave him a copy of Stan's letters to read.  We were all on the verge of tears as we read Stan's letters. What a great surprise. Eddie went on to tell us the circumstance around why he was there. You will have to take Eddie out to breakfast to get that story. It was very interesting. Eddie really was a "starving artist".

Now was I right! What a story. I have included links to Eddie's web sit and also Lane's. Lane has a new hit single out now that's called THAT'S WHERE LOVE COMES IN.  You can hear it on her site. Eddie's Site   Lane's Site
By the way, Lane and Eddie both are great animal lovers. Lane has been very involved with Walden's Puddle here in Nashville. Listen to a recording of Lane's rescued starling  talking. Yes, the same starling that you see flocks of every day. They are a mynah bird. (Mynah is Hindi for starling)

 


To all our friends who've listened to me go on and on about our new "granddaughter to be"......SHE'S FINALLY HERE!!!

 
Lauren Kate Jeanette arrived at 5:32 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, weighing in at 6 lbs. and 5 oz.   She is 18 1/2 inches long......and just as beautiful as her big brother, Andrew.    It was a long, long day, but the wait is finally over.  She and her Mom are doing great and needless to say, the rest of us are on "Cloud Nine".  Thanks to all of you for putting up with me "yakking on and on about her", and especially, thanks for all the support and prayers over the last nine months.  It's been touch and go with my Daddy for so long, and I guess God knew what he was doing when he blessed us with this special little angel at this time in our lives. 
 
Love to all,
Kathy (Nana) and Larry (Granddaddy) Weber

Last Saturday night, 11/27/05, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1965 Clinic Bowl Championship at the Scoreboard Bar and Grill at Opryland. A lot of people showed up and as usual, a great time was had by all. A special treat was John Lyon and his wife Connie  along with his mom and dad were there. As I don't have enough room here on this site to post all the pictures, I have posted them on another site. You can see all the pictures I took HERE. I made no effort to cull or discard any pictures. What you see is what I got!  If you have any questions about names, please contact Jamie as he knows more of these folks than I do.

And another from Pat Ozment Ryan of the 6th grade McGavock class of 1959.

Here is yet another class picture. This one was sent by Judy Johnston Merrell via Eddie Bayers. I do not have the names in this case. As usual, some are obvious (Judy) and some I have no clue.

Here are some guesses offered by Beverly Stephens Rausch (Nancy)

Row 1: Eugene Dunn, Mike Brown, Roger Klein, ????,Eddie Bayers, Fred Metcalf, ????, Terry Tidwell
Row 2: Connie Parham, Carolyn Wilson, Beverly Stephens, Jere Jennings, Carolyn Binkley, ????, Sherry Lassiter, Jerry ?
Row 3: Carolyn Young, ????, Francis Sweeney, ????, ????, Judy Richards, Jan Thompson, Judy Johnston
Back row second from the left: Loretta Mooningham and the teacher Mrs. Mc Combs. are all the ones I know on that row
 

OK Gang. See how many of these you can get. Sonny Sanders does not count! Who wouldn't recognize that face. I do happen to know who every one is in this picture. I will reveal that at a later date. I will give you one hint; 5th grade!

George,

 

 Janelle (Miller) Ford asked me (Teresa Bryson) to send you these pictures of her new Granddaughters (twins), born Monday March 14th. They weighed a little over four pounds and will be in the hospital a few more days. There names are Emma Elizabeth and Madeline Rose Ford. Parents Laurie & Jeff and big sister, Bella are very anxious to take them home. Janelle now has 6 grandchildren.

Congratulations!!


 

Ok guys, here is a real challenge! John Foltz just sent me this picture and wants to know who every one is. I have a good idea on quite a few, some look familiar and some I have absolutely no clue at all! Give it your best shot. I don't have the answers this time. I do have a larger print of this picture if you would like me to send it to you.

Here are some guesses from Carolyn Wilson Medlin

 

Row I 1.Joann Hayes 2.Nancy Pulley 6. Buddy Phillips

Row II 3. Carolyn Wilson 4. Shirley Miller 5 Nancy Fletcher 7. Sherry Pugh 8.Beverly Siegrist

Row III 1. Susan Hunter 2.John Moody, 3. Gary Collier, 5. Martha Modrell

Row IV Teach-Carolyn Randolph 2. Chuck Stegal 3.Judy Johnston 4.Larry Weber 8.Terry Tidwell 9. John Foltz Fifth Grade/Hickman Elementary

 Guess who! If you think you know who all these folks are, go to the guest book and list your guess. Some appear more than once. Thanks to Bonnie Scott Hester for sending me these pictures from the senior class trip.

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Webber just sent me this picture from his birthday party. Must have been first or second grade. What a hoot as Larry said. From left to right: Unknown, George Wallace, Terry Duby, Larry Webber and Doug McDonough.

ANNOUNCING!!!

A healthy, precious, new grand daughter!!

            Linley Montgomery 

            8 lbs, 4 oz

            20" Long

            Born Monday, February 21, 2005

            Produced by: Chase & Susan

Mommy & Baby are fine and are coming home Wednesday. Baby sister, Ellie, is thrilled!   

Heading for Houston in a couple of weeks ... cannot wait to get my hands on this sweet little girl!

               Love to all of you, Judy (Johnston Merrell)

 

"Uncle" Pete Norman in the news again!

Pete was also voted Retailer of the Year 2004 by the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.

   Nancy Fletcher Cassell has lived and worked in the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area for the past thirty years. Her studio is located in the Essex Studio complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her MFA in drawing from the University of Cincinnati in 1979 and received a B.S. in painting and art education from Middle Tennessee State University in 1970. She also studied as a full time student at The Art Academy of Cincinnati 1974-75.

   Cassell began her career as a graphic designer in Nashville, Tennessee and moved to the Cincinnati area when she married in 1973. She taught painting, drawing and design at Mount Saint Joseph College from 1980-84. Currently, she lives in Northern Kentucky and is a self-employed artist who is well represented in regional and national exhibitions.

   Cassell is the recipient of three Al Smith Fellowships from the Kentucky Arts Council, an NEA Regional Fellowship from the Southern Arts Federation, two Summerfair, Inc. grants, a grant from Art Matters, and two grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women. She has received residency fellowships at Yaddo and The Virginia Center for Creative Arts. Cassell has received numerous show and purchase awards. Her work has been published in New American Paintings Magazine and The Artist's Magazine. She was one of fourteen Kentucky artists featured in the WKET public television special "Looking at Painting". She has work in the permanent collections of The Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock Arkansas, The Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, Ohio and the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, Kentucky, plus work in numerous public and private collections.

   Nancy has just been added to our e-mail list. I guess quite a few of us have made something of ourselves despite all our efforts to be no-account ruffians as evident from the following picture! (Yes, I resemble that remark) For more information about Nancy, Click Here.

Scoreboard 12/30/2004

I just received an email from Teresa Patterson Bryson with a few Christmas pictures of her family. In this picture are Teresa's family: Row 1 - Kelsey, Teresa, Dillon; Row 2 - Lindsay, Paula, Tammie, Summer; Row 3 - Stephen, Wes, Greg, Zach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi George,
Thought I might as well let everyone know what time has done with me so I've sent a pic of me in my study. I am writing now in my retirement years and having lots of fun doing it. I write for some magazines. I have started an E- book on my web sight at www.xanga.com/graypeddler. The site is called "Gray Beard's Pen". GrayPeddler is my E-Bay name and I just let it stick on the web sight. That's why its on the address instead of Gray Beard. Oh well. Enjoy the new look of the web sight. We have a new grand daughter Sara Payne pictured with her mother Christy Payne and her mother, my wife, Mary. And the other picture with the other two grandchildren are Ella and Aranza. Hope all have a wonderful Xmas and Holiday season. Best to all - Don Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

A note and picture from Judy Johnston Merrell:

This was made last month (Aug. 2004) at Kenny & Janelle (Miller) Ford's lake house on Tims Ford Lake in Estill Springs, TN.  We had a GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND !! What fun! I set the camera on self-timer and ran & jumped in the picture! (you know the drill......) jjm

HELLO TO EVERYONE! Love, Judy, Janelle & Teresa
aka: "The '66 Dixie Chicks"
 
PICTURED:
back row: Judy Johnston Merrell &  Janelle Miller Ford
front row: Jan's friend, Nancy Denney & Teresa Patterson Bryson

Hi George,

Just a quick note to say hello, hope you and Judy are doing well things at the Meeks household are moving a little slow but we are on the mend. I stopped by my mom's today to get a quick pic of her doll's before they were off to NY and thought I would share it with you. I don't know if I ever mentioned that my Mom is an artist and she sculpts and designs her own dolls. They are called Glamour dolls and this past year she was lucky enough to meet a guy with a  shop in NY. He has since been buying from her and has sold a few of her dolls as Art to a gallery in Manhattan. It's a small gallery but a start and we are so excited for her, they are going to take the doll's or the girls as they call them in NY to a big show in September with hopes for a big showing; they have also done an article on her in a magazine to be published. I'm so proud for her and wanted to show off some of her work so here are the pic's. Take care and sure enjoying the new web site, you have done a great job.

Always,

Carolyn

George,
 

You can update everyone to tell them that I am still in the music industry as well as Lane. If they would like, you can link them to Lane's site  and mine which "piggybacks" off of hers.
   Thanks for taking the effort to keep us all in touch. It's great to have those memories and to see and hear about everyone. Hopefully, more will join in on your site.

Eddie

Judy Johnston Merrell and her beautiful grandchildren. Judy lives in Mt. Juliet with her husband Bill.

 

 

 

Here is  a brief update on the Hoopers. I have a son Tim 38, daughter Tiffany 31, daughter Jessica 15 and two grandkids Amber 19 and Ashley 17.  I am the Senior Pastor of the Restoration Family of Churches and the president of Powernet Television Network an internet television company. Our services can be watched live or by video-on-demand from www.miraculous.org or www.powernet.tv or on broadcast stations in select markets. We live on a farm in Fall Branch, TN.  Best email address steve@powernet.tv

 

Blessings,

Steve Hooper

Here is a photo of Rodger Klein, his wife Cherry and their daughter Jennifer on Graduation Day at Belmont University, May 15, 2004.  Jennifer graduated with her BA in Political Science and was a Belmont Scholar.  She will be attending Graduate School at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA this fall. Congratulations Jennifer!

 

 

 

Carolyn Meeks sent me this picture of  four generations of her family. That's Carolyn, her mother , daughter and two grand daughters. I also included a picture of the two old geezers imitating "Hells Angles". Its good to have hobbies that keep us young at heart. Hope Bobby is doing better. Carolyn is also having a few problems right now. We hope for the best.

 

 

I got a letter from Charlie Little to let me know that he is making a career change. He is going to retire from the Government after more than 33 years service to accept a new position as the Associate Dean of the College of Business at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Way to go Charlie. We all wish you luck in your new endeavor. Maybe your new job will let you visit us more often.
Everyone had a great time at Ronnie's. As you can see from the picture, Ronnie has a great view of the river front. In the picture are: Front Row: Judy Jamison, Teresa Crotzer Finch, Jamie's neighbor Diane. Second Row: Ronnie Gobble, Tommy Regg, Barbara Regg, Jamie Jamison, Jamie's friends Connie and Steve, Nancy Pulley Hackett, Mark Finch, Judy Henderson Stegall, Pat Ozment Ryan and Jamie's neighbor Larry.