Well, it's Summer, 1966, a time most of us remember well. It was time to start a career or head off to local and distant institutions of higher learning to get a degree in something, and in most cases like myself, not too sure in what. Mainly because we had no clue what is was we wanted to do. Some of us were leaving our girlfriends, boyfriends, family and friends behind to go forth into uncharted territory. It seemed like forever, but it wasn't long before the pains of leaving were replaced by new friends, new experiences and new challenges. But for those of us who left, we never forgot Clinton, CHS, and our lifelong friends that we grew up with, went to church with, went to school with, and spent our innocent (well, at least some of us!) youth with. (Thank you Gary Weatherly for helping us get re-acquainted.)

In 1970, after playing basketball and baseball for several years (was there any other reason to go to college?), I graduated from that fine institution known as Lambuth College (it's now a University, finally). Oh yea, I received a degree in Mathematics, thanks to all that prodding and teaching from Bertha Gandy. No big Pro offers came a calling, so I left for Atlanta GA with a good friend to teach and coach for the next several years. I now know what all those fine citizens, called teachers, went through with a lot of the "Class of '66"! I would name names, but our web site doesn't have enough bits and bites for that and all our biographical sketches at the same time. You know who you are!

I had some success during those formative teaching years, not at teaching but in the coaching ranks. But not enough fun (money) to stick around for too long. The kids didn't run me off after the first year like we did some of ours at CHS, but I eventually left Atlanta for Baton Rouge, LA to attend LSU, my first love, to get a Masters in Education. My plans were to get into the college ranks of coaching. But after my masters and the college coaching thing didn't work, and another year of high school teaching/coaching at an all boys Catholic school in Baton Rouge didn't fulfill my dreams, I left south Louisiana for Atlanta once again.

A couple of highlights during those years:

Coaching my high school baseball team in the state finals in 1973. No, we didn't win, but boy what a thrill! Maybe that was how Coach Echols felt each time we won the Little Dixie titles.

I met Hank Aaron, twice. Once while coaching, his son was playing on the other team. Hank was in attendance and after the game our paths crossed and we talked one-on-one for about 30 minutes in the parking lot. In '74, I was in attendance at the Braves game in Atlanta when he hit #715, breaking Babe Ruth's homerun record. Then six years later, while working with Sylvania, I was at lunch with some clients at a small eatery in Conyers, GA. He came in with his lady friend. I was still carrying the ticket stub from the game he hit #715. (Can you believe that?) I interrupted him, yes, after he had finished eating, and had him sign the ticket stub. My 17 year old son has this in his closet along with many other sports paraphernalia that I have much more interest in than he does.

It's interesting the direction the good Lord leads us, as I came back to Atlanta, got a job, fell in love and have been with both since the late '70's, early '80's.

My job is with Sylvania, now Osram Sylvania after a German company, Siemens, bought us. We are a manufacturer of lighting products and distribute our products through electrical wholesalers, distributors, home improvement warehouses, and fixture manufacturers (several of you are intimately familiar with some of these). I've been with them for 21 years. It never ceases to amaze me that some of us have been able to stay with a single company that long, or at least that a single company has kept us employed that long! I currently cover the Eastern Seaboard calling on the corporate and region offices of our largest customers.

My life is with Becky. We met in January, '81. Were engaged 5 weeks later, that's right, WEEKS. Married 5 months later. We had our first boy 1 ½ years later, our second boy 4 ½ years later, and are still very happily married, at least I am. Chad is now 17 and Garrett is 13. I now also realize what those fine citizens, called our parents, went through with some us from CHS '66. Again, I won't name any names, 'cause you know who you are. I wouldn't dare get into all the joy and some of the pain that goes along with doing this thing called Parenting! Children are God's greatest gift and education for each of us. We have had the opportunity to travel and vacation in many beautiful places, but still love the South more than any of them - however, we might go back to Hawaii for an extended stay.... if invited.

I heard an expression recently, "Life is what happens to us as we go about making plans". Some of you are sure better with that planning process than some others of us. But "life" couldn't be better without great friends and the good Lord above - regardless of all the plans we make and all the successes we've had.

So with that brief recap of "life", I will close with a few favorites.

Favorite Book(s): "Left Behind" Series and of course the Bible.

Favorite Songs: "My Girl" and "But it's Alright" by J J Jackson and "The Anchor" by Ray Boltz (Listen to this if you need some inspiration!)

Favorite Place: Haven't been to all of them, but Hawaii, so far!

Most Admired Person: My Mother, Marian Lyons - most of you know her! She's still in Clinton.

Favorite Car: Porsche Boxter (No, I don't have one!)

If I won the Lottery: Would get back into high school coaching - what an opportunity to touch the lives of kids plus I just love coaching!

Most cherished gifts: My Salvation and my children.

PS -- Get your Bios in, it's great to catch up on everyone!