Pics & Bios

Ferriday, Louisiana

 

  Jimmy Denny '64         

  Thanks to Bill and Sherrie for creating this website. It's been good to catch up on things. Looks like we're scattered all over.
   After graduating from Louisiana Tech in '68, I served for two years as a Baptist missionary in Hawaii (Kihei, Maui).  The  experience was a good one, but at the end of it, I decided that the preaching profession was not for me. I went  back to school at the  Univ. of  Hawaii and have worked the last 25 years as a medical technologist in a hospital laboratory on the island of Kauai. I envy those of you who have been able to retire. I like my job, but I have to spend every third night on call and that sucks!
   Mrs. Breckenridge, our high school English teacher would never believe  it, but I've also  been doing some writing and have published a couple of wildlife  guides:  The Birds of Kauai (UH Press, 1999) and Hawaii's Butterflies and Moths (Mutual Press, 2002).  This place is so beautiful almost anyone can write a bad book and still get published. I was in a daze most of the time in that class, but I can still remember her reading to the class Bill Burris' story about the bushy-tailed squirrel. Now that would  have made a good book!
   In 1968, I married Brenda Yoshimoto. She has been the perfect partner  for me. I'd would still be in a daze if not for her. We've had 3 boys, who are themselves, all over the place. The oldest is 26 and teaching high  school in a Chicago suburb.  The middle one is working in Honolulu, and the youngest is a junior at Bradley Univ. in Peoria, IL.  I may finally get to retire when he's done.
   I don't get back to Louisiana very often, but do occasionally think  about those days. Every time I hear "In the Still of the Night" on the radio, I can't help but recall those long rides home from some far off football  game. It would get so cold up there in the percussion section on the top  bleacher, I couldn't wait to get on the  bus.
  I've included a photo taken this past summer when the boys were home: my wife, our three boys, and a few friends. I'm the fat, bald  55 year old  on  the far right. It's not the Jimmy Denny you remember, but it's me nevertheless.

Aloha,      jhdenny@aloha.net
 

Derek, Melanie, children

Donnie & Penny Dean Daye '58

This is Derek Daye, baby son of Penny and Donnie Daye....and his babies and wife Melanie Sojourner.                                  Following a cowboy and a football coach has kept us busy for a while!! We are at 11 Carriage Lane in Natchez or 16335 Perdido Key Dr in Pensacola, Fl.
We are here at the beach most of the time, but in Natchez for Deer Hunting. Some things never change.                           Have enjoyed the Bulldog site. So proud they are honoring Coach Red!!! FINALLY!!    Now Bulldog fans, we need some help. Pull hard for Nicholls State, it can be your second or third team. That's OK. Need some fan support. Need some lessons down there on how to be FANS, Bulldog style!! Keep the letters
and PICTURES coming. Penny & Donnie  (Still Together)

Barbara Cooper Taylor   '65  Barbara with Mattie Rose

I have been living in Asheville, North Carolina for the last nine years. We love it here. The mountains, streams etc is so back to nature. Rick and I have been married 32 years (some better than others!!!) Where has time and our lives gone? I have 5 dogs that are my babies and we live in a development that is in the country. No street lights, city water or sewer. We have a little over 2 1/2 acres for the dogs with a small (and I mean small) stream running through the property. Put Mom in assisted living a year ago last January, and sold the lake property in June of that year. She had stopped taking care of herself, the bills, the house, the dogs and stopped driving. Wasn't exercising, eating properly or taking RX, being diabetic this was a disaster waiting to happen. This led to several bad falls due to weakness with glucose imbalance. So now she has meals prepared and Rx doled out at the correct time. She is not the happiest camper, but never was. She remembers the house on the lake in its glory days, not as reality in the end-which was laying on the couch sleeping around the clock with no human contact except the maid that came twice a week. I feel much relieve with the security of assisted living in Beaumont where Paula lives. I just knew she was going to fall and be found dead weeks later. Morbid!!! How is Maudine-hope she is going strong. She was always such a character and a hoot!

Rick travels about 50% of the time with his work, and the other time he is at home in a home office. The travel probably saves both of our sanities. He is in Albuquerque for 11 days. That will make for a boring weekend esp with sleet and snow on the way. We have had a mildest winter since we have been here. Just don't want to get house bound and no power.
Since he is out of town, I can commandeer the computer. I'm not very computer literate and can only do the basic of e mails. Sounds like you have the hang of it , if you can create a web site.

I'm just a kept woman living at home, having given up the med tech business years ago. I do toilets and dishes!!! I do travel with Rick when I'm in the mood and it fits his schedule. Went to Dana Point and New York in January, and I'm ready to sit at home for a while. I get my fill quite easily and I'm content to be home with my house, yard, dogs and things after 5 days.

I visited Nancy in Shreveport last June. This is called the Big Thrill- a college reunion of 4 suite mates that I started in Asheville. This is an annual event and we are going to each home, then will branch out to other places This year will be at Lydia Kempa's in St. Louis. She is from Waterproof and was my roommate all four years, then we both lived in New Orleans working as Med Techs for years. We were not at the same hospital.
Barbara    
barbarataylor@charter.net

Atkin & Pat Davis Smith  '66 & '64

Not much going on in Dallas. Atkin is working hard and I am unemployed. Was forced to retire from Lucent when we were bought by Tyco. Then Tyco started their cutbacks. So, guess what!

If you get to Ferriday, go see Ernest. He would love a visit. There is nothing wrong with his mind! He can recall each football game and who did what. Jackie Young's dad visits him often and gives him a haircut. Last time we were home he had a cap on his head. Said Jack had given this one to him with LSU on it.

Carolyn Cothren Doss 

I think I am going to enjoy this website. It's nice to hear from everyone
again. I live in Tallulah, LA and have for about 32 years. My first husband
and I divorced after 31 long years. I have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
I also have a stepdaughter now. I married Mel Doss about a year ago. We met
after he got back here from Alaska and didn't remember each other from high
school. We met about 7 years ago and have been going strong since then. Mom
and Dad are in Monterey on Horseshoe Lake. Hope they can stay there as long
as they can keep their health. Sister Margaret is on Black River Lake and
Cheri is in Baton Rouge.

Kathy Serio Butler   '64          

Married Byron Whitfield Butler, II (of Waterproof, LA) June 2, 1968. Moved to Houston, TX where we lived for ten and a half years. We then moved to Beaumont, TX and lived there 21 years until Byron's retirement in 1998. We now live at "Kittywake" on beautiful Lake Sam Rayburn.

We do not have any children other than furred ones ~ Puddy-Tat & Booh-Booh our male & female black & white Tuxedo kitties. We added our first dog in 2003 ~ a little stray terrier we named Bizzy-Browndog. She fit in nicely with the kitties and doesn't take up much room weighing 25 pounds at her heaviest. In 2005 we added the largest pet we've ever had ~ a chocolate lab puppy we named Chili-Dog. Chili was born April 28, 2005 and even though he has been a challenge due to his size and house training, he has most definitely been a wonderful addition to our little family. Bizzy, of course, having that terrier mind-set, thinks she is in charge and bosses Chili around. She can stand under him and they look like "stack-able dogs" ~ too funny!!

Byron has been training Chili for duck hunting since he was 10 weeks old and they have had a good time going to "Duck Camp" at Belle Ella Plantation in Waterproof (the Butler home place) to hunt ducks this winter ~ Byron has been pleasantly surprised with Chili's talents. I'd love to see Chili "work" but I cannot bear to see any ducks being shot, so I have to settle for throwing dummies for him here at "Kittywake" and working with him on his retrieving skills. I taught Chili to bring in the newspaper and he is such a happy little camper to have this daily job!

We enjoyed having Alice Ann (Forrester '64), Eddie & "Rusty" Hunter visit this past spring. Alice Ann and I had an opportunity to reminisce about our late precious friend, Vickie Vollmer Berry. So sad to lose a darling friend like Vickie ~ someone we have known, literally, all of our lives.

Anyone who is interested can reach me via e-mail at kittywake8845@hotmail.com or by snail mail at 106 Birch Park Lane, Brookeland, TX 75931.

THANKS TO SHERRIE & BILL for being the glue that keeps us all united. The web site is just the greatest idea and I've had friends who went to school in other parishes look up old friends on the BULLDOG web site.
                                                        

                         

Ryan Mac and his momma       Little Bill and his momma

  Geaux, Tigers! from the 1087th Trans in Iraq (2003)

Sherrie Calhoun Jacobs  '65
I was divorced in '92. Have 2 sons...( MY HEARTS)....Bill and Ryan. Retired from Ferriday High School after 22 years. Maudine is younger than springtime. J.T. died in '98 and Grandmother Stella in '96. Since '99 I have been teaching in the classroom again (what a sucka) at St. Martinville Senior High School, LA. I teach sociology (field trip to Angola :-) & English III &  IV  . I am the school newspaper adviser.  My fundraiser bought the newspaper a digital camera (Nikon D-50), so I now take all the pictures around school (will Mabel Lane never die?) Oh...YOU WILL see the camera at the reunion. I will be EVERYWHERE ! I also coach the Academic Decathlon Team. We study all year to go to one big academic competition. My room mate Rachel and I bought a house in Broussard, LA  in 2001  I'm sure you noticed I used my maiden name. Went to court to get it back. That is who I am.  Drummer boy Bill snuck up on my blind side about doing a website. I LOVE the computer, so I am having a blast with it. Hope to hear from EVERYONE.  Spread the word about our website. My other "children" are mad that I didn't mention them....Poppy (Chow mix), Rex (Australian Cattle Dog), Takoda (Blue Heeler Mix), and (Of ALL things) KitKitty (Tabby). They are all rescues and run the house !  Poppy is the tent camper, so she goes on every Southwest Adventure in the summer.
sherrie8168@aol.com

Mary Ann Henderson Devlin  '6

Hello all you guys!

This is Mary Ann (Henderson) Devlin. I live
in Johnstown, PA.

My husband is William H. (Bill) and we have
three children ( 2girls and 1 boy) and also 7 grandchildren of which the
oldest is 16.
We will be married 40 years this September, sure seems like a long time.

Bill and I own and operated the Geisel Funeral Home, Inc. in Johnstown. We
purchased it in 1987. Bill and I met in Ky and were married there. After
Bill got out of the army, we went to Maryland where we both worked for the
FBI for three years and when we were expecting our son we moved to Johnstown
where we bought a home and Bill started to work for the then owner of the
funeral home. Bill decided to go to school to be a funeral director after
our third child was born in 1976. After getting his required college
credits, he went to Pittsburgh for school in mortuary science.
He finished there in 1981 and had to serve an internship of one year.

I worked at a hospital in the laboratory as a secretary for 14 years and
decided to hang it up in 1994. I then started to watch the grandchildren for
the kids while they work. It has been a good time watching them grow up and
start to school.

We lost our Mother in 1967 to a heart attack, she was just 50 years old. Our
Dad passed away in 1975 of natural causes.

There isn't too much else that I can tell you, other than I would like to
hear from anyone.

I do get the Concordia Sentinel to keep up on the news from there and saw
Couch Robertson's good news.

Until Later

Mary Ann (Henderson) Devlin  gfhwhd@charter.net
 

Jackie Adams Young  '65

Hello fellow babyboomers,
I am Jackie Adams Young,(aka Sister) was married first time for 15 years, he
went schizo(literally) and I left for my life with my two sons Adam and Andy,
I led a wild life for 6 years then settled down and married a funeral
director ,Leo Young, I have 2 sons, 3 stepsons,3 stepdaughters, (they call me
Stepmonster, yes they do)16 grandchildren that I adore and won't bore you
with, I have been to every hospital birthing center in the tri state area. I
did work at Louisiana Central Bank, where I started dating Buddy and then we
opened a TCBY store in Natchez, sold it and now am a full time caregiver. My
Mamma, Clara has dementia, is 84, and Daddy and I took care of her until last
Sept. now we have her in Heritage Manor, here in Ferriday. I have lots of
new friends up there, Ernest Davis is one, and a lot of our classmates
parents. My Dad is 86 and skips along pretty good, is lonely so I take up the
slack, know what I mean? Have a 90 yr. old mother in law next door, so this
is w!
hat I do. We have a fishing camp at Larto Lake (we live on Lake Concordia,
but have to go down there to be able to fish, either old folks are kids are
here, and they won't drive that far to bug us down there!! I love to bass and
white perch fish, and read mysteries and visit with grandkids via email, they
have taught me all I know, which isn't much! Am active in Presbyterian
Church, Community Service Club and need to go back to Weight Watchers! Buddy
and I have traveled a lot in our 16 yrs of marriage and plan on doing more if
parents would permit. My best friend is still Phyllis House McDonald and we
still do the same things together, got pregnant, married, divorced, etc. same
time, and are caregivers together, sharing stories weekly. I love to visit
with old friends via email. Hope to see all of you at our next Bulldog
reunion.
Thanks to Sherrie for a great job and devotion to her FHS.
Jackie  
jayoung247@aol.com

Tilton (DripDry) Driskill   '64

HI, SHERRIE
JUST A LITTLE INFO ON MY FAMILY. I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 33 YEARS. WE
HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, THE OLDEST IS 31 , THE YOUNGEST
IS 28. THE 31 YEAR OLD IS A STAFF ACCOUNTANT FOR A CPA FIRM IN HOUMA,
LA. HER HUSBAND IS A SCHOOL TEACHER. HE TEACHES KIDS WITH LEARNING
PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE ONE GIRL , SHE'S GOING TO BE FOUR IN MAY ( 5 th )
THEY LIVE IN THIBODEAUX, WHICH ABOUT 40 MILES FROM US. THAT'S STILL TO
FOR. THE YOUNGEST IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT STORY. SHE WAS MARRIED FOR
A WHILE, SHE AND HUSBAND COULDN'T SEE THINGS ON THE SAME TERMS, SO
THEY DIVORCED. SHE IS NOW LIVING WITH US. SHE IS GOING OUT WITH A REAL
NICE YOUNG MAN . HE'S A LAWYER, THEY RECENTLY ON ( DEC 21st ) BLESS
US WITH A FINE LITTLE BOUNCING BABY BOY.
MY WIFE IS A MANGER OF A LOCAL STORE HERE IN BERWICK. SHE'S PLANNING ON
RETIRING ABOUT THE END OF THE YEAR. THAT THE TIME OUR
HOUSE WILL BE PAID FOR. MYSELF I'M IN THE OILFIELD WORK. I WORK FOR
CONTRACT COMPANIES. MY FIRST COMPANY I WORKED FOR SIXTEEN YEARS.
THE COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, I THEN WENT WORK FOR ANOTHER
CO. I WAS WITH THEM FOR SIXTEEN YEARS , WHEN ANOTHER CONTRACT CO.
HIRE MYSELF AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES WORKING ON THE OIL AND GAS
PRODUCTION PLATFORM. I NOW WORK THE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE
PRODUCTION FACILITY. I HOPE TO RETIRE AT 62 ? THE ONE THING THAT MIGHT
WHOLE ME BACK IS 401K. I'VE ONLY BEEN IN ABOUT 13 YEARS WITH THE
PREVIOUS CO. AND ONE WITH THE CO. I'M WITH NOW. WELL SHERRIE I HOPE THIS WILL
GIVE YOU A LITTLE INSIGHT OF MY FAMILIES LIFE FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS
AS OF SEPT 20th THE DAY MY WIFE AND I GOT MARRIED. SHE IS MY GREATEST
FRIEND IN THE WORLD, A LONG WITH MY TWO GIRLS. THE THIRD IS ALL THE FRIENDS
I MADE IN FERRIDAY THE FEW YEARS I LIVED THERE . THANKS FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP HOPE TO SEE YOU FOR THE REUNION IN MAY.

TILTON
( DRIP DRY ) DRISKILL     peeweedriskill@earthlink.net
MAYGOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Earcel Boyd  '65

Graduated as Earcel "Sonny" Boyd Started College,1965. Got kicked out of college,1967. Drafted - Navy,1967. Joined USO while in Navy Electronics School, became DJ, learned a few social skills, USO DJ President. Stationed in Glynco, Ga; married Miss Navy. First daughter born in Brunswick, GA. Stationed on Guam (USA), 2nd daughter born. Went back to college w/4.0 avg. Stationed in San Diego; two tours overseas on DDG-36, USS John S. McCain - lots of stories! shore patrol, continued college. Instructor Trainer at Naval Instructor Training School, San Diego. Learned to train. Taught others same. Became EXTROVERT? 1977. Got out of Navy, settled in San Jose for 2 years. Worked hard, traveled the world, loved my girls! continued college! 1979. Moved to Oregon, worked hard, LOTS of travel, loved my girls! Continued college!! 1982. Separated & divorced, got custody of girls, CONTINUED COLLEGE!!!! very tired! Went wild for 4 years. 1986. Quit college (graduated 3 degrees: electronics, business, education; 3.97 GPA)VERY TIRED!More travel 1987. Married Carnetta (still). Drive poor woman half crazy - not ready for this much energy. Got cat to harass - saved marriage. Too much travel. More time in Asia and Europe than at home. VERY TIRED!!! Beginning to speak with accents 1992. Adopted son (Josh - my best friend). Harassed him instead of cat. Had terrible car crash - all survived, tinnitus only permanent damage. 1997. Changed jobs - ENOUGH TRAVEL! 1999. Bought home in Corbett, Oregon - enjoy the view of the Columbia Gorge and the mountains in Washington state (across the river). I bought this place for the view and for sharing. GOD HAS BEEN GENEROUS TO ME. Contact me. Let's plan a visit. Come enjoy my good fortune! Drop me a line at  sonny.boyd@office.xerox.com


Patty Gallender Carnette  '64


Since graduation 1964, I have not gone very far. I received a BA from Northeast and then returned to Ferriday to teach at FHS. Somewhere along the way I got a Master's degree and a +30. After 32 years, I am finally thinking of retirement at the end of next school year. Along the way I also acquired a husband and a divorce. The best thing that came from that union was my daughter Elizabeth. She is almost 25, a chemical engineer for 3M in Columbia, Missouri, and happily married to a great guy who will soon be a lawyer.
I live in Natchez, MS, and fill my time with singing alto in the Jefferson St. Methodist Church choir (along with Dorothy Alford Weadock), doing Pilgrimage Garden Club stuff, and right now, being in Southern Exposure, a play put on by the Natchez Little Theatre every year during Pilgrimage (March). Believe me, I won't be doing this play again. I have a very small part and am already stressed out about it.
To relax, I read mysteries and/or play with my cats. In the last year I have started going places with my cousin Stephanie Hoover (Kathy Poole Hoover's daughter) and Dorothy Weadock. We spend weekends in Memphis, Dallas, etc..... anything within a 6 hour radius of Natchez. We had a great time at the Texas State Fair! And we are planning a Caribbean cruise for this fall.
My computer is in my classroom, and I am fairly computer literate. I would love to hear from any old FHS Bulldogs that want to drop me a line. Renewing old friendships has been great fun! (Thanks, Bill Burris.)
Love, Patty  


Raymond Kelly  '61


Patsy Kelly (Jones) Micheau has been a friend of mine for years and last
January asked if I would like to go to dinner with she and her brother (Raymond)- I
said ok but not very enthusiastic - LITTLE DID I KNOW!! We got married on
January 4. So I am now Jeri Sue Kelly but still use Tosspon for business.
I will be in Ferriday until Brent graduates next year then will be going to
Eufaula - but want to keep some kind of house here - we are looking for
something small on one of the lakes and sell my house. Many of my clients
want me to keep on doing their work so there may be a part time office here
and some time in AL.
That's the scoop!

 

Buddy Long  '56

After graduating from Ferriday High School in 1956, I attended Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) on a football scholarship. I was fortunate enough to play on the only undefeated, untied team in Southern Miss history in 1958. We won the Small College National Championship that year, the same year LSU won the major college championship with Max Fuglar, Manson Nelson and Donnie Daye. Believe or not, after playing for Coach "Red" during Ferriday's long winning streak, I was a junior at Southern Miss before playing in a losing varsity football game.

While at Southern Miss, I majored in chemistry and math. In addition to football, I was a member of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity.

After graduating from college, I entered the Army, serving 18 months at Fort Hood, TX. After my stint in the Army, I went to work for Johnson & Johnson, in Dallas, as a Quality Control supervisor. I met my wife, Wanda, in Dallas.

For several years, we moved around quite a bit, living in Dallas, Chicago, El Campo, TX near Houston, Shreveport, Russellville, Ark., and then back to Ferriday for 3 years. We then moved to Memphis and then to Huntsville, AL when my company built a new plant there.

At the age of 39, I made a total career change and went to work for a military contractor in Huntsville. I went back to school and got a masters degree in electrical engineering.

In 1995 I went to work for a military contractor in Las Vegas -- great place to visit, terrible place to live. While in Las Vegas, I lost most of the sight in my right eye and quite a bit in my left. I had to go on disability, so we returned to Huntsville.

About two years ago, I started writing a book on the history of football at the University of Southern Mississippi. We moved to Hattiesburg, MS so I could spend more time doing research. This project is progressing slowly.

Our address and telephone number are

128 Westminister Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 57906385
 

               
Bill and Beth with sons                              MalleyCat with WJ, the
newest grandbaby.

Bill Burris  '64    

Graduated with THE class of 1964. Presently live in Haughton, Louisiana a
small town next to the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Been married for 32
years to a beautiful lady,Beth,from Natchitoches that by the way I first met
at a Key Club convention in Lafayette in 1963(thanks FHS) We have 2
sons,Trey (Grad of Northeast La) and Joel(percussion music major) at
Northwestern
My wife is a 4th grade teacher and I am a purchasing manager for an
industrial distributorship.
There is just something extra special about being a Bulldog. Such warm and
wonderful friends. It has been a ball getting reacquainted. The big mega
reunion we held in 2000 was fabulous and we hope to see EVERY Bulldog there
in 2003. GO DOGS
ferridaybulldog@yahoo.com

Judy Willis Flowers  '60

I've been living in Rome for the past 12 years
teaching English. I do manage to get back to
Ferriday once a year to see my mother. I'll be
returning for a visit this summer and I hope to
see some of you then.

Judy Willis Flowers
j.flowers@itaca.com

Gail Massey Vestal  '57

I am the former Gail Massey, Cheerleader for those fabulous Bulldogs who were
coached by the greatest coach ever. It is an honor to have known such a great
man and his family. I can not think of a more deserving coach to be in the
Hall of Fame. How about Ferriday having two coaches in the Hall of Fame. I
wonder how many schools have that distinction. Martha Paul truly deserved it
also. I had so much fun during my high school days. I wonder if our kids had
that much fun. I was excited to learn of the web page. Dorothy Alford told me
about it . I work at Britton & Koontz Bank in Natchez, Ms with
Dorothy, Carolyn Rials,and Barry Maxwell. Four graduates of FHS all working at
the same bank. Gotta go!
Gail Vestal  
gvestal@bkbank.com


Myra Barnette Price '67

Hi Sherrie-Berry,
Thought I would send my info so that we could have something from '67.
I am DIVORCED-twice. I have two children. My daughter, Samantha, is 25 and is employed at Hibernia Bank in New Orleans as a portfolio manager in the real estate division. My son, Richie, is 16 and a Junior at Huntington School, Inc. I have retired as a Med Tech in 1998. However, I am still working as an educator at none other that old Ferriday High School. I have been at this position for 9 years. I have 11 more years until I retire--gee, I hope I can make it.

Everyone be sure to look in the news to see Ferriday spotlighted. The Delta Music Festival will kick off a music cavalcade in Ferriday. It was said that there will be 20,000 people here. Can you imagine!! Remember what the reunion was like. It should be loads of fun. Will let you know if I survive.
Myra  mprice1@bellsouth.net

Gaye Clark  '56                                 

                           Gaye with nephew and niece, Christian & Theresa

After graduation from Ferriday School in 1956, I enrolled at Northwestern State College in Natchitoches where I was graduated in 1960 with a degree in Business Education. While at NSC, my roommate for all four years was Hazel Barnes (Sampite) also a FHS graduate in 1956. We were both members of Epsilon Beta Chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority along with a group of great gals. Hazel passed away recently and I lost a very close friend. One of our sorority sisters is Carolyn Leach (Huntoon) from Leesville. Among her accomplishments was serving as Director of the NASA Space Center in Houston for several years.

Upon graduation from college I returned home and almost immediately took a position with a local independent oil company where I remained for 26 years. It was not until the business closed down (not many small independent companies survived the oil crunch of the 80's), that I was able to use my degree in education. For several years I taught in a local business school and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. However, in 1989, a job opening came available in the Seventh Judicial District Judge’s office in Vidalia and having been around law enforcement all of my life and enjoying that type of atmosphere, I decided to take this job. This job lasted ten years and then I took a position with the District Attorney’s office where I am remained until 2004 when I retired. Today, in my spare time "ha ha", I do criminal background searches for a number of different companies and gather material for the Miss-Lou Legal News.

When I am not working, I spend time with my nephew Christian Clark in Houston, Texas, or with my niece Teresa Clark Matherne, who has given me a great nephew (Caleb Thomas) and a great niece (Tyler Morgan)). She resides in Houma, LA with her husband Brady Matherne who is employed by Exxon Mobile. Christian, Teresa and Brady are all three graduates of NSU. Chris and Teresa are the children of my brother Hugh Clark who passed away in 1995 and who will be remembered by many people from Ferriday as he attended school there until the 6th grade. Christian is an accomplished singer and musician.. He is a graphics designer in art direction and consulting. He is employed by NCI in Houston.

When visiting Christian in Houston, I have the opportunity to visit with Dot Humble (Lafler) who graduated from FHS with me in 1956. Being the coordinator of the Class of ‘56 for reunion events, I keep in touch with all of my former classmates and enjoy seeing, talking or receiving emails from them frequently.

I have been active in community affairs for many years, having served as President of the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce on several occasions and for several years served as part-time manager of the Chamber and served as coordinator for the Jim Bowie Festival while working as manager. I am a charter member of the Vidalia Women’s Service Club and served as its president three times. When not working, I enjoy watching Atlanta Braves baseball, LSU football (Geaux Tigers "National Champions), working on my computer and talking with friends. I enjoy crocheting, painting, reading, and traveling as well. My email address is: glc@bellsouth.net

 

                              
Tara, Megan, McKenna and me        

Linda Crum Payne '65
lpayne@cctb.com


  

Judy White Patterson Cruse '66  

What a trip!!! Just finished reading 8 updates from FHS schoolmates.....I'm
feeling very Blue & Orange right now!!! Many thanks to Sherrie & Bill for
getting this thing together and to the ones who have written in so far.
Can't wait to get more updates here at this site....

Kenneth & I have been living here in Houston since 1984, we lived in Ferriday
for the 1st year we were married and will be celebrating our 19th anniversary
on July the 4th this year.

The kids are both grown now...Mark (36)has 2 children, Jessica (14) & Jordan
(11) they live in Virginia & Mark is a CPA....Susan (33) is a Social Worker &
her husband is a High School Basketball Coach, they have 2 children, Joseph
(5) & Emily (3) and live in nearby Spring, Tx.

Kenneth's work revolves around the oilfield, we've had some really good years
as well as equally bad ones. He has done plenty of contract work on the
rigs, but for the past several years, has done research work in a drilling
fluids laboratory. I've been right here at Second Baptist Church since 1987,
working as an administrative assistant in the Records department. Our
membership is up to about 30,000 now...Check out our web site at
www.second.org

We enjoy the grandchildren "Big Time" and have great adventures when we are
with them, they keep us young and laughing...we love to see the world from
"their" prospective. Next to the grandchildren the biggest thing going
in our house would have to be NASCAR. Yes, Kenneth still has racing in his
blood...if you cut him he would probably bleed "little race cars"
ha!ha!ha!ha! Can't laugh too hard though 'cause I'm sitting right there in
front of the TV on race day with him. Both of us like to poke around in
Antiques & Collectable shops, and wound up with too much "stuff" a few years
ago, so Kenneth bought some property in Olla, La. including an old "Movie
Theater".....I have since then stopped collecting, he is still working on
it.... but at least we have plenty of space to stash it all!!!

Life has been full of adventures, and we are looking forward to what the
coming years will bring. I miss the Ferriday area and have been trying to
come home for visits with my family & friends more often....hope to be seeing
some of you again soon!
jcruse@second.org


Wayne Berryhill '64

Well, I'm still working for International Paper at Texarkana, Texas. Been here since start-up in '72. Looking forward to November 2, of this year so I can retire and goof off.
My boss, wife, is Nancy Lynn. We have two grown yung'uns. Son, Dennis. Born in Baton Rouge and Daughter, Melissa, born in Atlanta, Texas.
We live in Queen City, Texas. Small town next to Atlanta, Texas.
Haven't been to any reunions as yet. Attended a social a couple years ago but had to attend funeral in Zachary next day.
I finally got to see Sammy Bryant and wife after many, many years. Looks like the same ole Sammy, with a blonde ponytail of course!
Met Bill Burris after many years also.
After retiring, will goof off and fish rest of my days. Nancy will have other ideas I guess! My Mom still lives in Reedsport, Oregon with my sister, Linda. We will go see them ASAP after retirement!

Wayne ( Ed ) Berryhill 
eberryhill@prodigy.net

Gerald Gilley  '64

Hi everyone,
I would like to thank Sherrie and bill for doing such a great job on this new site for the " BULLDOGS " It's really nice.
Well, here goes.
I am Gerald Gilley and I am retired from the Air Force, one x wife and one present wife.
( everyone needs at least two ) I have 3 sons
and 3 grand children. My grand daughter calls
me Ta Ta and she has stolen my heart, she's my little angel. I live in Jacksonville,
Arkansas and work on Little Rock AFB.
I really miss the good old days in Ferriday, I had a good time then. I go home once a month to see my Dad and can't believe how the town has deteriorated. There is absolutely nothing to do there, at least we had the sandwich bar. I enjoy going to the reunions and seeing old friends again and re-living the old memories.
If someone wants to get in touch: call 501-985-2706 or e-mail me at GILLEYSTOY@AOL.COM

God Bless,
Gerald

Mary Boughton Pruitt '67

Keith and I have been married for almost 32 years. We have three children. Two are married , have graduated from college and busy with their own jobs and lives. Our youngest is at LSU - hopefully with two semesters left. That remains to be seen! Our most exciting news is that we are going to be grandparents (our first) any day now. Our oldest son, Chris and wife Toni are due March 10. What makes it really great is that they live about five miles from us in the city limits of the big town of Mangham. You remember Mangham I'm sure since you must always slow down when you are driving though!

I am still the Guidance Counselor at Mangham High School and Keith is the director of Federal Programs at the school board office. I entered DROP in December so for those of you in education you know I'll be retiring soon.
I'm ready! Our dream is to buy a camp on Lake St. John so in 2-3 years if you know of a good deal email me. pruitt@bayou.com


Karen Willis  '68
Hi guys,
I'm still in Rome, Italy, working for U.S. Airways. My daughter Erica is in
the 7th grade. My cell phone number in case anyone is passing through Rome is
347-1021789.
karen.willis@flashnet.it
Ciao
Karen Willis
Class of '68


Joan Schuchs Couch '63

Hi Group,

Sherrie thanks for all your work putting this together! Think this is great!
Okay, here goes.
In 1984, Kelly and I moved to Dallas or rather Plano. I went to work and the children went to school. You know I had never really worked!!! Got a job in customer service and liked it. Got promoted and started traveling the country to work trade shows. Lost job due to merger, went to work for Mexican-owed glassware manufacturer and traveled some more and some to Mexico. Lost that job due to merger with Corning!!! I was getting tired of this. In the meantime, the children were growing up and Kelly and I were growing further apart. I got divorced in 1992. I went to graduate school ( don't anyone faint!!!) I loved it. Got a masters in counseling and development. While doing that I worked in the admitting dept. of Presbyterian Hospital. Loved that, too. During my internship I worked with people with drug problems and got interested in criminal justice. I am now a probation officer for Dallas Co. and love that! I work for a criminal district judge, along with two ot!
her officers. We have 15 felony criminal judges and 15 misd. judges. It is definitely something that I thought I would never do, but I do have an opportunity to influence people's lives.

My daughter graduated and got married and my son is still trying to find himself. No grand children and none on the horizon.

I'm getting ready to go to Europe for two weeks on a bus tour. Have gone on several trips in this country, Canada and last year went to Italy. I love traveling. I just wish I had more vacation time and money!!!

Anytime anyone comes my way, give me a call. 972-517-6171.

Thanks for the opportunity to stay connected.

Love, Joan (Schuchs)    joan.couch@att.net

Freddie Moulle'  '63

Waiting for bio update
nmoulle2@bellsouth.net

Cathy Castleberry Gholson '65         

Hobbies: I am disabled recovering from an industrial accident in '88 and a wreak in 97. Doing well trying to recover from my neck being broken twice and spinal injuries to back. 34 surgeries maybe now I can get
Latest News: I am hoping to come home this year. My sister Bobbie and I are making plans for either a visit/or me looking for a home. Close or in Ferriday. I would rather live on the lake......fish and paint. I miss Ferriday or just all of you. I plan on moving home hopefully later this year. Love to all and stay well...Cat    mary.gholson@comcast.net


                          

                          Tommie with daughter, Lea, and son, Cory.

Tommie Cordova  '64 

Hi everyone, isn't the website something.  Congratulations to all who put this together.

    I'm currently living in Alexandria, La.  After leaving FHS I finally graduated from NSU in 1969 and received a masters in 1979.  Gave 4 years of my life to the US Air force, and have no regrets. I've been in education for 32 and a half years.  Who would have ever thought that.  Planning on retiring April 2003.  Have 2 children a boy, 23, majoring in pre-med at NSU and a daughter, 20, majoring in elementary education at McNeese.  As many of you have said, the years at FHS were something else.  Will never forget the good times and the bus rides to basketball games, the hayride at John Alwood's camp and all those great friends I made that will last a lifetime. 

    In case you can't figure the picture out I'm the one in the middle, my daughter Lea and son Cory.  Look forward to seeing everyone at the next reunion.  Take care and may god bless each and everyone.  Would love to hear from you.

Tommie Cordova, class of 1964     Braves71301@yahoo.com

Fran Swayze Lanehart  '63  Lance, Mom, Ty

  Jonathan                                         

Hi, Bulldogs.

I can't believe it has been 40 years since I have graduated from old Ferriday High the home of the Bulldogs.

Just wanted to let you know what I have been up to. I have been living in Little Rock for the last 33 years.  I got a divorce in l980 after l5 years of marriage. I have 2 sons Ty 34 and Lance 31.  Ty and Karen have a little boy named  Jonathan who is 6 1/2 and he is keeping Old Grand busy with his ball playing.

Lance  and Lee  have been married 1 1/2 years and both are going to college at this time.

I have been working for the Little Rock school system for over 27 years in the library. So I guess I enjoyed reading books.

I see no way to retire soon so if anyone want to email me at this address frantastic@alltel.net and my phone #  501-225-5981 just call  when you are passing through. The next time any of you go to  Branson,  please give me a call.

Looking forward to seeing All of you former Bulldogs on Memorial week-end. Thanks ,Bill and Sherrie, for your great work getting the website for us.

 Fran   frantastic@alltel.net

Charles Harrell '64

Great web site, thanks for all the hard work. 

 

It is very difficult to write about oneself, striking the right balance between the proper amount of humility and the joy in the blessings we have enjoyed.  

 

After High School I graduated from NSC and lived for a few years in Alexandria before moving to the New Orleans area.  I am a manufacturer’s representative for several engineered products,  calling on petrochemical plants.  My territory is Louisiana, Mississippi and southern Alabama.   I travel only a few nights a month, conducting most business via email, fax or telephone.  I have an office in New Orleans but work mostly from our home, located outside of Covington, LA

 

I have been married to Susan Woodington for 30 years; we have two children, a son Brandon, who will soon be 22 and a daughter Lauren 18.   Both are in college, Brandon at Southeastern and Lauren at NSC.  Both have brought great joy to our lives.  They are truly great kids with very promising futures. 

 

Susan teaches music in St. Tammany Parish public school, grades K-8th grade.  She sees over a thousand kids a weeks and knows all their names by the second week of school each year. 

 

I am serving my third term on the St. Tammany School Board, which has been a great diversion from my normal activities.  I have truly enjoyed being involved with a great school system and its many excellent educators.

 

We rarely get back to Ferriday, only for family or Bulldog reunions.  It amazing how the time has flown!  Where did the years go?   It seems like only a few weeks ago that we were irritatingly plucking the metal support rods on the desks in Mrs. Barlow’s civics class.

 

Bill, thank you for your efforts in keeping everyone in contact, you will never know the difference that you are making in people lives.  May God continue to bless you all.

 

Charles Harrell (Class of '64)

23284 Oak Alley Place 

Covington, LA 70435

985-893-8020 

charlesharrell@usa.net

 

Lloyd Paul Jr (Buddy) '67
Bill and Sherrie,
this brings back a lot of memories. thanks for
all the hard work. Married Betty Bartlett from Monroe in '72.
Two boys--Aaron 27, and Ryan 19.
Both live in Ruston. Aaron works for BTG (computers) and Ryan is
sophomore at La Tech majoring in mechanical engineering----wants
to go into automotive design. Had 30 year wedding anni-
versary last May------who wudda thunk it??
Betty works as an elementary teacher, and I am
the counselor at Vidalia High. Barry Maxwell
joked at one reunion that I "was like the blind leading the blind!"
Am nearing retirement age now.
We live in Ferriday---same house I grew up in.
Martha lives on Lake St. John (83 yrs young). My
dad passed away in 1977. Jan lives in Denver,
and Jerry lives in Anchorage. Jan has one son,
and Jerry has two daughters. I work with 2 fellow
bulldogs----Dorothy Staggs Ulmer and JC Myrick.
Again thanks Sherrie and Bill for all the hard work.
Buddy.    email
sway1002@bellsouth.net

Nancy Dillon Miller  '65              

Ferriday Friends

 

How could we be THIS old?  Having children who are in THEIR 20’s is real wake-up call!

 

Doug and I met at La. Tech and have been married 34 years.  Our three children

Are Heather (29) and husband who have our only grandchild and live in Minden.

Kelly (26) and Jimmy live here.  Our son, Darrell (24) graduates from LSU next month in computer Science.  He will remain in BR to work. We have discovered that being grandparents is great and much less mind-boggling than being parents! Our grandbaby, Olivia, is such a joy.

 

 We have lived in Shreveport, LA  the past 20 yrs. where I have substitute taught in 3 elementary Schools until recently.

 

Doug has just retired and we have big plans for enjoying our “empty nest” which include local sailing.  We just completed a course and bought a small boat.

 

Trips to Ferriday are rare for me now with few ties there and our childhood home

Sold. Mother died 5 years ago and Daddy has been here in a retirement home for the past year due to poor health.

 

I enjoy an annual visit with Barbara Cooper Taylor and Anna Sewell Sharp!

 

I have loved looking at the website photos and “bios”.

 

Thanks , Sherrie.                         

 

 Nancy Dillon Miller   dmiller@sport.rr.com

Anna Sewell Sharp  '65    Susan,Nate & Family

    I have enjoyed viewing the website and seeing others talk about the good and bad times in their adult lives.  I have had my share of life’s valleys but I also have enjoyed some mountaintops.  I appreciate the hard work that Sherrie has done on the web site and the effort people are making to write their bios.

        I lived in and around Louisiana until 1986 when Boeing offered me the chance to move to the Seattle area.  I have now lived here 16 years and still work for Boeing in spite of the highly publicized layoffs in the last year.  I changed from Human Resources to project management supporting airplane engineering design groups in 2001 and actually have fun at work now. 

     I have one child, Susan, from my first marriage.  She and her husband, Nate, live about 30 minutes away from me.  Both had jobs and experiences which gave them a first hand look at all the children who need foster parents, so they began doing foster care 2 years ago.  Their current charges are Leanna, age 5, and Lauriano, her half brother who will be 2 on 2-25-03; it’s fun to look at the world through their eyes.

     I enjoy working on projects at home and seeing the Northwest, definitely one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen.  I make 2 trips a year to Alexandria to check on my mom who has been in a retirement home there for 6 years.

 I wish all of you a happy holiday season!

 Anna (Sewell) Sharp    amskirkland@verizon.net

Carolyn Comer Boydstun  '67
  
 
1971 was a big year for me.  I married David Boydstun of Natchitoches in January and we moved to Shreveport and have been there ever since.  Also, I graduated from Northwestern with a BS in Health and Physical Education.  I got my Master's Degree and +30.  I'm now teaching Adaptive Physical Education and I'm in DROP (1st year).  I can retire in two more years.
     David and I have 2 children:  David, Jr. "Dee", and Jennifer. Dee graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.   Dee married Kristie Cowan last April and bought Nancy Dillon's old house.  Dee works for my Dad in the funeral home.  Kristie is a massage therapist at Just Hair in Vidalia.  So, you people living in the area, call Kristie for a massage.  They are good.  I can attest to that!!  Jennifer graduated in Management from Northeast and married Kelly Herring from Newellton.  They move around alot because his received his degree in Construction Management.  They have to move where they are building.  At this time, they are in Orlando, FL..  No grandchildren yet!!!
     David and I have been teaching and/or coaching for over 31 years.  We just bought another house after 29 1/2 years.  We both like to be on the computer and the internet.
     I enjoyed helping with the first big reunion and can't wait the one in May. It was so much fun seeing Bulldogs from all eras!!  Hope to see all of you there!!!

Ccboydstun@aol.com
 

Bob Osborne  '58      Our four grandchildren Megan, Benjamin, Catherine and Jennifer.

Updated May, 2006.

Attended Northeast La State College 58 to 59. then transferred to LSU (when there was only one). Roomed with Leo Crawford for last two years. Received BS in Chemical Engineering in 1962 from LSU and was employed by Eastman Kodak’s Texas Eastman Company in Longview, Texas, as a junior engineer.

Married the former Joan Willis of Kilgore, TX and Dallas, TX in September, 1963. Joan is a graduate of North Texas State University. Two daughters: Virginia(1966) and Sharon(1967), four grandchildren ages 10, 9, 6 and 5. We are blessed with two great sons-in-law. Virginia’s husband is a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, most recently in Belgium, and Sharon’s husband has electrical engineering bachelors and masters degrees. He designs chips for servers. Sharon is a marketing manager for a high tech company in Austin, TX. Virginia has degrees from Texas A&M and University of North Dakota. Sharon has degrees from Texas A&M and UT Austin. My Mom, Frances Osborne, who turns 89 in June, and my sister, Diane Costantini, both live in Vidalia. I have an older Bulldog brother, John(’54), who lives in Newton, TX, and a younger brother, Gary(not a Bulldog), who lives near West Monroe.

A Presbyterian since 1963, teaching Sunday School, serving on the board, planting grass or whatever is needed. Attend Mo-Ranch Presbyterian Men’s conference each year west of Kerrville, TX. We are proud that both our daughters’ families are very much involved in churches also.

Held various supervisory jobs and project engineering and project management positions with Texas Eastman through the years. The highlight was serving as project manager for the building of a $125 million+ chemicals manufacturing plant in Singapore. We lived temporarily in Yokohama, Japan for a year in 1997 during engineering work and then 18 months in Singapore during construction and startup. Quite an interesting, and difficult, experience. I have pretty much seen parts of the whole world.

Retired from what is now called Eastman Chemical Company in December, 1999, then worked as independent consultant in Houston for most of two years and then for an engineering contractor in Longview for two years. At this date(May 2006), I have been REALLY retired for 15 months and loving not working. I am doing some volunteer work and spending all the time that I can on the golf course here in Longview.  

Thanks, Sherrie, for maintaining the web site.

Best regards,

Bob Osborne, ‘58      jbosborne@cablelynx.com

Judy Tullos Carroll  '65

Since we graduated in 1965 I have been thru a bunch - of husbands that is. 
Danny Massey and I married in that same year and are the parents of two
daughters.  Dana our oldest is 34 now and is the mother of  3 , Coy (named
after my daddy) is 15, Leah is 12, and Hunter is 8.  My other daughter
Melissa (age almost 32) and her husband do not have any children.  Some of
you may have met her at Taunton's in Ferriday.  You can tell who she is
because she looks just like I used to.  I was married twice more and raised
a bunch of step children.  Now I am married to Bobby Carroll who also went
to Ferriday school.  He played basketball in jr. high and Ernest Davis used
to call him Apache.  I haven't gotten very far from home.  We live in
Vidalia and my mother still lives in Ferriday.  My father died in 1985 and a
few years later mama moved into an apartment.
She is 81 now and still driving.  I look back on our school years and
remember a lot of good times.  I'm really looking forward to the reunion in
2003.  I only stayed for the daytime part last time but I plan on being
there for the whole thing this time.  I missed seeing a lot of people by
attending only part of it.  If I see you and don't act like I know you
please stop me and tell me who you are.  Names aren't as easy to remember as
they once were.  But I'm sure I'm not alone in that.  My e-mail is
jcarroll55@hotmail.com and I would love to hear from everybody.
 

Marie Potts  '62

Update on Marie Potts.   Assistant Principal - Ferriday High -  5th year.    Will complete DROP this summer.   Plan to retire at that time.    I will work part-time for the next year and probably return to a classroom somewhere for 2  - 3 years if my health is still O.K.     I now have a Christmas Tree farm that seems to be doing well.   This year was a very good year.   I sold 400 trees.    Patty keeps me in touch with most of  her class activities.      mtrees@bellsouth.net

Sandra Loomis Tiffee  '69

Hello Bulldogs,

    After graduation (1969) I lived and worked for a year in Lafayette. Decided I should get a college education and attended USL until I dropped out to marry Scott Tiffee from Monterey (where we have lived for the past 30 years).  We raised two children: Aaron, owner of Natchez Bicycle Center and a full time paramedic with Metro Rural Ambulance Service, lives in Vidalia with his wife Leah Owens (an R.N. at Riverland hospital in Ferriday) and their two children, Jack Aaron (8) and Arden (4). Our daughter Amber teaches fourth grade in Sicily Island where she lives with her husband Scott Passman (he raises cattle and hay) and their two children Kade (5) and Madison (1). As anyone with grandchildren knows, these babies are the light of our lives.

    When my daughter was a junior in high school I realized I would soon have an empty nest. I went back to college and graduated in 1997 with a degree in education and library science. I taught English at Monterey High School for four years. Last year I finally realized my dream and became the librarian. My duties include teaching library and research skills to Pre-K through sixth grade. I also teach high school publication classes in which we produce the El Lobo (yearbook) and the Diario del Lobo (school newspaper).

     Both of my parents are also graduates of the Bulldog era. My mother, Betty Grace Person Loomis, graduated in 1951 and still lives on Lake St. John. Daddy, William Kermit (Bill) Loomis, Jr., finished in 1950. He lost his life in 1979 in an accident on Lake St. John Highway.  There are quite a few members of the Loomis family associated with FHS. Many people will fondly remember my great-uncle, Charles Loomis. His wife Loraine still lives in the same house across the street from the school.

     Thanks to everyone responsible for the Web Page. It’s been fun reading about everyone. I challenge the class of ’69 to send in their bios! Looking forward to the reunion in 2003.

 Sandra Loomis Tiffee  tiffees@bellsouth.net

Cookie Crum Dickerson  '67

waiting for bio....

Cookie's e-mail     jdickerson@sport.rr.com

James "Red" Walker  '63

waiting for bio...

Red's email    krispi@bellsouth.net

Ralph Reardon  '54

Hello Sherrie; My name is Ralph Reardon I graduated in l954. I attended the reunion in 2000 and was really surprised that many of my classmates were in attendance. I had a good time and some of those people I had not seen since we graduated. I joined the Navy after I graduated and when my enlistment was up I came home and after about a week I headed to New Orleans to look for work. There was no work (except for the cotton patch) available in that part of the country. I found work, married a cajun girl and we had six kids. I have 3 grand young'un and one great grandson. I found out that some of the people I graduated with had passed away and is the reason for this email. They are Louis Brown, Greta Green and Kenneth McKnight.

Thanks Ralph Reardon   reardon001@msn.com

Betty McKamie Walters  '64
Nobby and I married in Sept 1964 by Brother Fields at the First Baptist
Church in Ferriday and our life began there and it has been good.
I could write a book but will just graze the top. We married move to
Vicksburg, Ms, We live there for 18yrs.
In 1982 moved to Marion, AR which is across the river from Memphis, TN.
My husband and I worked for a construction company (he was purchasing
mgr.and I was in accounting). After 4yrs in construction my husband open a
welding supply company. In 1987 I went to work in Memphis for an Engineering and
Construction Co as a cost accountant. I have been with this company for
almost sixteen years.
My husband sold his welding supply company in 1998 to a larger welding
company and signed a two yr. non compete contract. While he was off from
work on this non compete contract he built us a log home on the Little
Red River in Heber Springs, AR. We sold our home in Marion, AR March 2001 and we
moved to the Little Red River house. My husband is a salesman for AirGas
in Searcy and I still drive to Memphis 3 days a week to work just can't
seem to give up and quit work.
We have one son (Brian) he is 30 yrs old. He graduated from Louisiana
Tech. He moved back to Marion and works in Memphis. No he's not married yet,
but looking. So no we have no grandchildren to brag about yet.
I lost my dad in 1988. My mom still lives in Alexandria where my sister
Emily cares for her which is a full time job.
My husband had his second defibrillator implanted in his heart labor day
week-end. He's doing okay the device just wore out after 4yrs. We though
it was suppose to last 8yrs. Guess not.
Bill & Sherrie keep up the good work its great to see how and what
everyone has been up to.

BETTY (MCKAMIE) WALTERS AND HUSBAND NOBBY  bwalters@arkansas.net

Larry R. Smith  '69

My name is Larry R. Smith class of 1969.  My brother informed of this web
site and I thought it appropriate to send a note and thank you for your
efforts toward this endeavor.
This is what happens to a graduate from such a small community as Ferriday.
I left Ferriday in May of 1969  two days after graduation to join the Navy,
and it has been a long journey since.  I one year in Vietnam and 4 year on
a submarine as a Torpedoman.   I continued my career with the Navy for 5
more years as a teacher in Nuclear Weapons at Guided Missile School,
DamNeck, Virginia.  All the time I worked on my degree at various
educational institutes.  Graduated in 1981 with a BS in Education and
obtained by commission in the US Air Force.  Spent an additional 5 years in
a hole in South Dakota as a Minuteman Missle Crewman, Commander and 5 years
in logistics ending as the Director of Logistics at MacDill AFB in Tampa
Florida in 1991.  I participated in Viet Nam,  Grenada, Capture of Noreiga,
Desert Shield and Desert Storm.   After retiring as a Major in the Air Force
I went back to school for by Nursing Degree,  I became a registered nurse in
1993 and now I am a teacher at the public school level in Nursing.   I
completed an  Associates in Business,  Tidewater Community College,
Associates of Arts ,  Air Force,   BS in Education from Southern Illinois
University,  Masters in Education from Goldengate University, and I am
presently 50 percent through with my Advanced Registered Nursing Masters
Degree from  University of Tampa.   I have always wondered what has kept me
in school.  If you saw my grades in school at Ferriday I was not really good
enough for college then.   I remember Mr. Gibson when I had to plead with
him to take me into BSCS,  advanced Biology, because my best friend
James"Jimmy" Kelly was so smart and was in the course.  I know a lot of you
will not remember me,  I was the quite shy one that worked at Strozier's Food
Market on Mississippi Ave.    Oh,  I can tell you now I had my crushes and
wondered over the years what happen to these people that from short distance
of one desk could have been as far away as the moon for me to talk with.
Ms. Hawkins work across the street from Strozier's and had a very cute
daughter,  you might know her,  Mary Jane Hawkins.  She was untouchable in
my world, and of course  there was the beautiful and talented  Mary Ann
Vestal,  surely all the boys were envious of Eddie Ray Campbell and Donnie
Newman, our athletic stars of the era and there ability to catch the pretty
things.   It took me years to realize my insecurities and when I broke out
it was with a vengeance.   I married a beautiful blonde from California,
Ronnie Kay, and we have 5 children,  one has already served her time in the
Air Force.   Sometimes I go back to Louisiana,  I presently live in Tampa,
Florida, and cant believe how it has changed.   Pasternacks used to be the
place to find any thing your heart desired, it was boarded up,  the old
Arcadia Movie theater that I got my first kiss in and spent many enjoyable
hours watch good shows is run down and dilapidated.   They put out a sign
coming into Ferriday celebrating that Jerry Lee  and Mickey Gilley were born
here,  trust me, I lived down the street on Mississippi Ave and watched
Jerry Lee ride that big Harley with his head bandana and I can tell you he
did not care two cents for Ferriday, the fact his Momma lived there was his
only reason for coming there.   That sign should have real heroes like Dr.
"Hoot" Gibson, who tried to keep the schools sanity during the big change
in 1969, integration of the high school.  Well, I have run longer than I
expected.  Would love to chat with you.   My email is Smith_l16@edu.com or
LLARRY@AOL.COM        BY THE WAY   "GO  BULLDOGS.'
 

Ernie Newman  '70

ENJOYED YOUR WEB SITE.
(waiting for bio.....)
ERNIE NEWMAN  e-mail  Kathyernie2@aol.com
FERRIDAY BULLDOG/CLASS OF 1970

Liz Rials Brooking  '68

(waiting for bio...)

Max Stewart '65                                                                      
 Bill and Sherrie, thanks for all the work that you have done on the web site and for making the effort to keep us altogether. As everybody else has said "where have all the years gone?"
 After graduating from FHS, I went if the Air Force where I spent the next 4 years traveling around the world. Went to work for International Paper Co. in Vicksburg, Ms.. Moved back to La. in 1973. Divorced in '75, remarried in 1980 to a great Lady, who has put up with me for the last 23 years.
 We live in Christiana, TN., which is about 35 miles South-Southeast of Nashville, TN.. We are out in the country on 3 1/2 acres which our 19 year old daughter, Carla, raises sheep on along with 2 Dachshunds, and one rabbit. Carla is in her 2 nd. year at Middle Ten. State in Murfreesboro, which is only about 15 miles for us.
 Tina, my wife, is office manager for a large J.C. Penney store in the area. I drive a truck and am part time dispatcher for the trucking co. I work for. We have lived here in TN. since 1981 and I have about got use to the cold weather up here. I make 2 trips a week to New Orleans, La. to the docks, so I still keep in touch with La. and what is going on down there. I have not been back to Ferriday since 1993 when I sold Mothers house in Gilbert, La. and moved her up here. I am looking forward to the class reunion in May and plan to attend. Was sorry to see all the names that have past on before us, both teachers and friends. Once a BULLDOG always a BULLDOG.
 You may contact me at:
Max R. Stewart
11905 New Zion Rd.
Christiana, TN 37037
Phone; 615-274-2049 Home
           615-512-9139 cell
See you'll in May. "GO DOGS" 

Goo Vogt
well hi guys, have been out here in "never-never land" for a while!! all is well, happy and healthy!! my wife, Laura,  works at public tv, Maggie, my most magic child, is in her 3rd yr. at the University of Montana, biology major, sweet Melissa is in her 3rd yr of high school, boy its different than our time!!! so, Goo is still in search of the "yellow brick road" doing some guiding here in Alaska. am still running raft, fishing, adventure trips in the former soviet union, mainly north of china. as well as Fiji and Tasmania  Australia. so far-so good. plowing snow in the winter.
we just bought our first real home,  just on the edge of anchorage. Cughach Mts. on the east, gulf of Alaska on the west. after 20+ yrs. this must be home!!
try to get to Ferriday every yr. or so. just something about that LEVEE, that gives me back my youth.( just ran across a picture of our very good friend, Joe Brocato, while looking up how to spell levee!!)
so this is what Goo is up to in 2003- just wanted to say hi, and how lucky and proud i am for being from FERRIDAY LOUISIANA!!! thanks for being part of my life.
love to you all - Goo
Goo Vogt       
goovogt@gci.net
Alaska Wildwater
P.O. Box 110615
Anchorage, Alaska
USA 99511

Charles Russell  '46

Checked out Bulldog website today and enjoyed the info. Looking forward to May reunion. Naideen Comer sent me the poop and I plan to attend.
My bio follows but I don't  have a scanner to send picture.
Charles R. Russell  Class of 1946  Spouse Pat Patton Russell  Ruston High-1950
1 Lanshire Drive
Texarkana, Texas 75503-1628
E-mail    w5vsu@aol.com       Phone 903-831-4580

Charles

Ginny Bruce  '61

Hi, It’s so good to see the old names and faces. I’m Ginny Bruce and I graduated in ’61. I now live in “Cajun Country” and after being in South Louisiana for about 25 years you’ve got to love it. I still have my Central Louisiana accent, so they say.

I spent 35 years in banking and I now work for the Chamber of Commerce in Abbeville. It took me a long time to find my “nitch” but this is definitely it. My job is more fun than work. I have been married to Michael Alexander for 23 years and prior to that I was married to Wayne “Scratch” Brown. Wayne is deceased. I do not have any children but I have step-children who were grown when Michael and I married. I do have pets which I love dearly. Love to hear from some of you. My e-mail address is GinyaZander@aol.com

Great site, Thanks for taking the time, Ginny

P.S. We have some of the best food you’ve ever tasted and the friendliest people.

Betty Nell Rowe Ridgway     '54

Hi,

My name is Betty Nell Rowe(Ridgway) class of 54. Married to Larry Ridgway. Live in Villa Rica, Georgia. Mother of four. Two boys and two girls. Grandmother of three. Coming home if at all possible for the reunion.  e-mail address doubleseven99@msn.com

Billy Nelson   '64

I'm 2 1/2 years married to Cathy live in Vidalia. I retired from International Paper last Dec 2001 (37yrs), spent a couple of years in army, one year in Germany. Now working at River's Correctional on Hwy. 15 in Ferriday. Favorite pastime is riding my Honda 4-wheeler and drinking Miller-Lite beer. I've got two children Lisa-35yrs & Bill Jr. -33yrs. Doing well for somebody 57yrs old (physically) exercise at the health club about twice a week. Billy- at   wrbillynelson@bellsouth.net

Katie Harrell    '53
So pleased to find friends, family, relatives and graduates from FHS on the website. However, search as I do, I have yet to find anything about the class of 1953. After all, this is our fiftieth year since leaving high school! It's our golden anniversary!!! I know Jane Lancaster and Jean Knight Thompson are working on some kind of news article because I had a letter from Jane informing me of this website.

Biography: FHS, class of '53; Louisiana College, class of '59, Peabody College for Teachers, '61; University of LaVerne, Masters plus 30, class of 76; CalSTRS, retired 1998; Currently contract with Monterey Peninsula School District (hourly) for reading support services; also contract with Calabash, Teacher Training Services, Houghton Mifflin as needed; volunteer for RIF (Reading is Fundamental) and America Reads.

Personal: Married to Jack J. Kelley for 37 years, who retired from military service in 1973, and contributed the next twenty years to education. Upon my retirement, I had given 38 years to education--thirty of which were in California. Our daughter, Jacqueline, lives in the same neighborhood where she grew up and is married to Anthony Souza. They have two daughters. As we all know, grandparenting is so wonderful! I also have two step sons--Woody and his family live
in Dubois, Wy. and Christopher and company live in Farmington, New Mexico. Keeping up with family activities give us both great pleasure.

We try to return to Louisiana annually, and I was at the 2000 reunion. It was shocking to learn of those who had passed away. We were home in November and part of December this past year for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of my brother, Hansford Harrell and his bride, Winnie Mae Jones.
I enjoyed seeing so many friends on these last two visits--especially all the people from Clayton.

The FHS reunion is only about eight weeks away! At this time, I cannot see the possibility of a trip to Louisiana until a bit later in the year. However, I do send greetings to my classmates, and to those lovely children I taught at Ferriday Elementary in 1961-64--some have already posted notices on your bulletin board! I hold special memories for Iola Cross, Ben Green, James Lancaster, Edith Green, Charles Loomis, Sue Morris, Greta Green, Virginia Keathley, Ed Perkins, Lloyd Perkins, Douglas Hart and many others who have left deep impressions on so many lives.

Sincerely,

Katie Harrell Kelley /jkkelley@redshift.com
18040 Prado Lane
Salinas, CA 93908

Mark Seiley  '68 

Class of 68.  Didn't have time to do a bio, but I am enclosing a resume with info.  Attached is  a photo with my daughter, Jennifer.  Look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.
 Three children 

Home Address: 5010 Amesbury #1002

Dallas, TX 75206

Phone: 214-739-0352

Mobile: 214-437-5609

Education: University of Oklahoma, Master of Architecture, 1974

Louisiana Tech University, B.S. in Architecture, 1972

Northeast Louisiana State University

Registration: Architect, State of Texas, 1979, License #7056

Interior Architect, State of Texas, 1993, License # 2448

Ruth Elise Warren  '54

Ruth Elise (Warren) Jones, Class of '54, now living in Lubbock, TX,
retired chaplain at St. Mary of the Plains Hospital, two years ago. 
Widowed in 1977.  Five children (grown) and seven grandchildren. 
Graduated Texas Tech University, '82 with BS and '86 with MEd.  Ordained
Episcopal Deacon in 1985.  Planning to be at the reunion.  Enjoyed the
2000 year tremendously.  Great job to all who pulled it together!  I
spend my time these days doing all kinds of "stuff" at the church and in
the community and have done some traveling over the years which I hope
to continue to do.  I have children (and grandchildren) in Atlanta, GA;
Ft. Worth, TX; Minden, NE; Tucson, AZ; and Honolulu, HI!  So I do get to
go to different places.  Would love to hear from old friends:  3010 60th
St., Lubbock, TX  79413, rwjones10@earthlink.net, or (806) 793-1206. 
Hope to see many old friends at the reunion!

Kenneth Beasley  '64     newest grandkids napping

(Waiting for bio.....)

e-mail Ken  beasleykj@peoplepc.com

Vikki Williams Sibley   '68

SHERRIE,
I'M BACK IN CLAYTON ,LA. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WITH MY DAD.  HAVING A GREAT TIME SEEING OLD FRIENDS AND MEETING NEW ONES.  DIVORCED FROM JOHNNY SIB X 2 . WE HAVE FOUR VERY INTELLIGENT AND LEVEL HEADED CHILDREN. 
VIKKI WILLIAMS SIBLEY
   e-mail Vikki at   Fprdh@aol.com

Elizabeth Spivey  '69

Hi Sherrie,  I graduated 1969 (my sister is Alma Ruth' 65).  I was reading the bios and saw that your son is with the 1087th Transportation unit.  I am the nurse who probably gave him his Antrax immunizations as I am also in the National Guard.  I had no idea there were so many from Ferriday in the unit.  I have been teaching nursing at LSUHSC School of nursing here in New Orleans for the past 26 years.  I plan to be at the reunion.  Hope to see you there. I have drill again this weekend (second one this month) we are getting another group ready to go somewhere.  I am not sure where Alma Ruth is we have been out of touch for a long time.  I believe she may be in Tennessee.  We use to live on 9th St. in front of the McGlothin's  and by the old health unit.  Daddy worked for Pontiac place for years, then taught at the trade school, then worked for Ford place.  Mom worked at Taunton's for several years.  When she sold the house she had been working at the senior center teaching ceramics.     Some people knew me as Tinker,  I am Liz here in New Orleans. LSU- HSC is the Health Sciences Center.  The medical, dental,allied health and nursing schools are all here in New Orleans. Enough for now I will try to get back to later.  Liz

Everyone.  Moved to new address.  954 Rosa Ave. Metairie, La  70005.  Phone: 504-849-1076
New e-mail address is
ESP5515585@cox.net   

Delane Burnette '59
Found your site and think it is great.
I am passing information on to others that are not aware of the site.
Missed this past reunion, but will hopefully be at the next one.
Delane

Larry Trant '68

I graduated in 68. I recently heard about this web site and had to say hello. I am still in
the Shreveport area. Retired from the Shreveport Police Dept. in 2001 and
couldn't stay at home. I am working with a local hospital firm. My e-mail address is
Larrytrant@hotmail.com It would be great to hear from some of the old gang.
Home address is 3552 Hwy. 169 Mooringsport La. 71060
 

Pat Clanton Baxter '58

THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT PUT THIS SITE TOGETHER. I HAVE ENJOYED SEEING ALL THE PICTURES FROM THE REUNION. SORRY I MISSED IT BUT HOPE TO ATTEND THE NEXT ONE. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE.

PAT

PAT@TNTCRANE.COM

Charles Smith  '67

Hey Sherrie,
My name is O.C. Smith. I was known as Charles Smith when I attended FHS. One of my deepest regrets was not finishing high school at Ferriday. I joined the Navy in 1967 and received my FHS diploma while serving. My wife attended FHS for a short period. Her maiden name was Barbara Prince. We were married after I completed basic training in San Diego, Ca. I served 22 yrs. in the Navy retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. After retiring I continued my education and received my ADN degree. I have been a RN since 1992 and have been practicing in Jacksonville Fl. specializing in Gastro Interology. My wife and I have two grown children ages 35 and 32, and a 5y/o grandson who is the apple of our eye.
I want to thank you for this site. It was very enjoyable reading the responses of some voices from the past. They triggered pleasant memories from a different time. I wish you well and encourage you to continue with the site. If anyone is interested my E-Mail address is

barboc@bellsouth.net
Sincerely,
O.C. Smith

 

Luke Arrington  '67

'67 to '69 - Louisiana Tech
'69 to "89 - Owner/operator, Arrington Machine & Welding Co., Inc.
'90 to '93 - Production operator, Shell Oil Co.
'93 to '02 - Special Projects Officer, MS Department of Human Services
'02 to       - Branch Director, MS Broadcasting Networks      

    Married Martha Day '69 (still married), Martha is a legal secretary to a family friend in Brookhaven, has been there since day one, less time off to raise three kids.  Holly Elizabeth (34) married to Bill Baily, they live in Flower Mound, TX., 2 kids, Dawson, 8 yrs. and Kathleen, 3 yrs.  Both Holly and Bill work in the clothing industry, she is in catalog sales and Bill runs the laundromat for the same company Got'cha Covered . (I jokingly tell people that my oldest son in law washes blue jeans for a living, which he does, but it is a helluva lot more to it than that).  Jenny Day (28) married to Brian Williams, they live in Martha's parents house (both deceased) in Brookhaven.  Jenny is in retail sales and Brian is a service technician.  2 kids, Madison, 7 yrs. and Walker 2 yrs. Drew Hardy (27), while I am certainly proud of my girls, Drew is kinda special.  He was born 3 months premature in '76 and he was given  less than 10% chance of survival and if he did he wouldn't be "normal".  Well he survived and I like to think of him as better than normal.  After spending the majority of his first 3 years in the hospital he snapped out of it.  He graduated from high school with honors, was named "Most Athletic" and was offered scholarships to several schools in the southeast, but he was also nominated for an appointment to a US military academy.  He graduated with honors June '00 from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.  He works as a marine systems engineer onboard an oil tanker (as I type this he is in the Caribbean) working approximately 75 days on and 75 days off.

    Well that's it in a nutshell, let me hear from some of you.

Luke Arrington
410 East Meadowbrook
Brookhaven, MS 39601
luke.arrington@mpbonline.org


Horace Peniston '57
Sherrie,
Thanks for the website! Just happened to run across it. Lots of memories.
I am Horace Peniston, Class of 57. Married the former Martha Sue Keyes of
Waterproof, La in 1959. Still more happily together!!! I spent 33 years in the U.S.
Air Force and retired in Shreveport, La. I presently work as assistant store manager
for Ivan Smith Furniture Gallery and enjoy the opportunity to meet new folks.
Two Children: Marshall, 42 and Susie 40. Two "grands" Blair 5 and Reiss 4.
Don't get back to Ferriday (Clayton) much any more but enjoy hearing from folks
back home. John and Margie Woods keep us in on all the latest.

Again, thanks for all your work.

Horace     e-mail :   horace.sue@hotmail.com
 

Rhett Powell  '66         

                                                                    

Rhett & Nanette                         Keith, Rhett, Bonnie

Dear Sherrie,
 
As you know upon graduation in 66, I enrolled at Oral Roberts University.  I completed my degree at The Art Institute of Atlanta.  I married Frances Latham and had on child, Bonnie Blue.  I settled back in Ferriday where I have resided since then.  I worked for the Natchez Democrat and also the Concordia Sentinel.  Frances and I remained married until her death in 2001.  I spent 2 years as a widower before meeting a wonderful Cajun lady from Golden Meadow.  We became friends over 6 months, then dated for 1 month, and married in July of 2003.  We still live in Ferriday and I still take photos, and Nanette has her own business that we are developing.
 
I am very happy.  Nanette and I are best friends and we both feel like we have been married to each other much longer than 3 months.  I still live in the same house on Mickey Gilley Ave. (Mississippi Ave.) that I grew up in as a child.
 
I have one daughter and one grandson, Keith Matthews.  He is 3 and like all grandkids, knows how to get his way with grandpa.  I am basically a homebody.  My one activity is riding motorcycles.  I have 2, a sport bike and a cruiser.  Any more bike lovers from the old Bulldog era feel free to write.
 
We are getting older but that does not mean we have to feel old.  Think young and you are young.  God Bless...
 
Rhett and Nanette Powell   
 
James (1962) and Peggy Joe Jones(1964) King 
Hello, Thanks so much for the Bulldog site, it certainly brings back pleasant memories. Peggy and I have been married for 38 years, and have three boys Tod, Troy, & Toby. We have 6 grandchildren with one more on the way, (expected in Jan. 04).  Peggy is a beautician and has owned a shop in our home for 30 plus years. I worked for Firestone for 15 years and have managed a hardware store/lumber yard for the last twenty years. We continue to live in Ferriday, I would love to move but I can't get Peggy off the Doty Road. The Lord graciously saved me in 1968 and Peggy and I have been very involved in a small Baptist Church on the Doty Road ever since. I lead the music and teach Sunday School and Peggy teaches the children's dept. We still enjoy the benefits of living in a rural setting, hunting, fishing, & 4 wheelers etc. I am working on trying to research my family ancestry, so if anyone has any tips,  please pass them on.   My e-mail is jgking@bayou.com
James G. King

Phil Templeton  '66

Hello Sherrie, Sorry we missed the last reunion. Were planning on being there and could not get home. Just now saw the updates. Can't wait for the next event. My wife and I are team truck drivers. We moved back to Ferriday, La. approximately two years ago. My oldest daughter, Lacey just gave birth to our most precious, 1st Grand Child, Hadyn Marie Hurst. She and her husband Bobby live in Texline, Tx, and operate a cattle ranch . My youngest daughter Heidi teaches and coaches at Episcopal in Baton Rouge, La. No plans for marriage yet but getting close. I divorced in 1991 and am now married to Anne Brewer and we are approaching our fourth wonderful year of marriage. Our E-Mail address is patemp5@aol.com

Phillip and Anne Templeton

Richard Calvin Alwood  '57     

                                     Richard & Sheila at a Papal Audience in Rome, 2003

Richard is the Title I Supervisor with Concordia Parish School Board and Sheila Salvo Alwood is the Assistant Principal at Ferriday Elementary School.  Their 3 children; Lawrence, Cal, and  Mary Margaret are all in Baton Rouge.  This is the best I could do, Richard!!!  So, now, YOU send me the REST of the info!!!  I love you! :-)

Contact Richard:

Richard Alwood
116 Lynwood Drive
Ferriday, Louisiana 71334
318.757.2787

Dan Wagoner  '68                 

Hello Sherrie,  Just a note to say good job on the BULLDOG website.  I enjoy ????  looking back. Hope the picture comes thru,  Dan Wagoner '68  email to renogawnad@yahoo.com

 


George Fields  '64    George with Benjamin & Zachary

Here is George's first grandbaby boy...Benjamin Blake Fields. Additional info...Sherrie, thank you for ram-rodding our website...yes, my daughter, Heather (who is a production stage manager) and her husband, Eric (director of the orchestra, composer, musician) are currently part of the touring company of the Broadway play," Thoroughly Modern Millie."  They presented me with my second grandchild, Zachary Mitchell, born, April 22 in San Jose, CA. He weighed 6lbs.13oz. and is doing fine. I haven't seen him in person, yet, but hope to soon. Got to see Benjamin Blake (Grandson #1) Friday and last night...what an absolute JOY...If I were not flying to Panama City, FL, I'd be spending time with him tonight, also...One day, you'll know...
Write George at  mgeorgefields3@yahoo.com