Alumni Directory
Class of 77
Name : Bennett, Mary
Maiden Name : James
Email Address : mbennett@sbectrojans.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Olive Branch
Current profession/occupation : Administrative Assistant
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : "Pigouts" at Betty Bell's house, the
senior
trip to Acapulco
Profile : I have been married for 23 years to Randy and he is on staff at
Colonial Baptist Church. We are blessed with 2 wonderful children. Ashley is
20 and a Sophmore at Northwest. James is 17 and a senior at SBEC. I have worked
at SBEC for 11 years and enjoy working with Danita (West) Pate.
Comments : Thanks guys for this great Website! I enjoy being able to see what has been going on with everyone!
Name : Bonds, Johnny
Email Address : www.oreomeow.com
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Olive Branch, MS
Current profession/occupation : IT Professional
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : I enjoyed Jimmy Sparks "calling someone on the carpet" in Bible class for talking and saying, "Do you have listening problems...or understanding problems?"
Profile : I am happily married to Mary Leeper of Southaven and have been so for nearly 10 years. Mary is a Clinical Microbiologist and a graduate of Ole Miss. I have two precious stepdaughters, Hanna and Sarah.
I have a dog (Kwanzaa) and a cat (Alex), and have enjoyed flying and flight instruction for 26 years.
Comments : Thanks for doing the website, guys! Hope to hear from some of
the other alumni.
Name : Briggs, Billy
Email Address: briggs8949@bellsouth.net
Years Attended T.O. : 1973-1977
City of current residence : Collierville, Tn
Current profession/occupation : Different bank but still a banker
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Acapulco, Oklahoma, playing sports for TO, and all the great people. I mean REALLY great people!!!
Profile : My life is crazy with two teenagers in the house. (daughter age 15 and son age 13) My daughter moved to Briarcrest and my son will follow when he reaches high school. My son is a lefty and is big into baseball. I can make the age old parental statement; he is a lot better than I ever was. My kids do keep me humble especially when it comes to homework and music. I can help them with history and writing and such. But, when it comes to algebra, I tell them to go ask their mother! And, the look on their faces when I play 70's music in the car says more than I want to hear. One of them asked me the other day if I liked any songs that were less than 25 years old.
Name : Chenault, Rita
Email Address : jandemom1@juno.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 5
City of current residence : Cordova
Current profession/occupation : Nurse
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : GOING ROLLING YARDS WITH A CAR LOAD OF GIRLS AND THE WINDOW BREAKING IN THE CAR AND BEING SO AFRAID WE WERE IN BIG TROUBLE
Profile : I AM A NURSE IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY AND I HAVE 2 DAUGHTERS AGES 20 AND 18.
Comments : THANKS YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER
Name : Childs, Steve
Email : stevechilds@toweringoaks.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1974-1977
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Ops Mgr - NIKE Golf
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Being voted "Most Attractive" my Senior Year...quite an honor...never saw it in the mirror...still don't...the passing years are insuring that. :)
Profile : Married since 1983 to Laurel (whom I met at Libertyland)...Daughter- Catherine (21 years)graduating soon from Lambuth.Son- Casey (18 years) graduating soon from Briarcrest. With two kids going through college, I will retire when I'm 82 or when God calls me home, whichever comes first. :)
Comments : Please help us keep this site updated...please send photos...update your profiles...send alumni and teacher sighting info to us...we'll post if we can.
Name : Christiansen, Jeff
Email Address : keelingy@juno.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Retail with The Disney Store
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Watching the school be built around us the 1st year we were at T.O. The first day of class looked like a construction zone and my homeroom from Woodale had just been picked up and moved to T.O.
Profile : I have been married to my wife Keeling for almost 21 years. We have 2 boys one 9 and the other 13 who attend St. Benedicts in Cordova. I have worked for the Disney Store for 10 years and I do alot of volunteer work with my boys. I am an Assistant Scout master at troop 457, I help coach Baseball, Soccer, and Cross Country for the 7th and 8th grades at S.B.A. My family is hooked on Walt Disney World which we try to visit at least once per year.
Name : Cooksey, Richard
Email Address : rkcooksey@hughes.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
Current profession/occupation : HOME BUILDER
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : SURIVING COACH WERRY\'S BASEBALL TEAM, CLASS TRIP TO ACAPULCO, THE SENIOR PLAY(OKLAHOMA)
Profile : I MARRIED MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART (KAREN CREMER COOKSEY). I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, JENNIFER COOKSEY PRATHER, AND RYAN COOKSEY. I JOINTLY OWN A HOME C0NSTRUCTION COMPANY, PATHWAY HOMES, LLC, AND AM BUILDING IN BOTH TN AND MS. KAREN AND I ARE MEMBERS OF SOUTHWOODS BAPTIST CHURCH. WE ENJOY TRAVELING AND SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY.
Comments : THANKS STEVE AND BILLY FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS IN PUTTING THIS WEBSITE TOGETHER FOR THE TO ALUMNI.
Name : Deaton, Ward
Email Address : st_aden@bellsouth.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current reindex.htm Current profession/occupation : Hardwood Flooring Installation
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : They all seem to meld into positive thoughts and feelings, however, some people will probably say I really do not remember anything specific from high school. The most useful class - typing.
Profile : I married Kathleen Dawson in 1989. My son Pip was on my birthday in 1993. I am a partner in a small installation company. We are members of St. John Orthodox Church. We homeschool Pip. Pip and I study the Martial Art of Taekwondo, golf, fish, and goof around alot. Besides renovating an old house these things consume most of my days.
Comments : Thanks for all the hard work putting this site together
Name : Francis, Peter
Email Address : phfran6@aol.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of currenindex.htmArkansas
Current profession/occupation : Sales Manager, Interface Security
Favorite T.O. Memory(s) : Too many to mention.
Profile : Two kids, 14 year old Elizabeth and 8 year old John. Wife, Harriet
Comments : I've always thought T.O. was a special place with special people. Recently, I visited the old school building on a business matter and was overwelmed with the flood of memories. Every step I took I could see and hear all the faces and voices from all those years ago. Unbelievable, Thanks Steve and Bill for the web site. I hope it leads to many happy reunions.
Name : Gillespie, Keith
Email Address : hkg321@cswebmail.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 74-77
City of curreindex.htmbr />
Current profession/occupation : Sr Manager
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Mrs. Yancey's Geometry and American History classes. Listening to the Rocky theme song on the jukebox at lunchtime.
Profile : I have two daughters. Becky, the oldest, is 19 and lives with me in Cordova. Jessica , the youngest, is 16 and lives with her mother in Oklahoma City. After graduation, I attended Memphis State ( It will always be Memphis State!) and worked at FedEx. I have been with FedEx for over 26 years and have lived in several cities around the Southwest and the South.
Comments : I look back on my time at TO and realize now how fortunate I was.
Name : Gooch, Susan
Maiden Name : Roberson
Email Address : sgooch@pakmail.org
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1976 1977
City of current residence : Bartlett
Current professionindex.htmome computer software consultant
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : The Mad Nine getting caught by the police after we rolled Steve Child's house. Nine girls in one car with lots of toilet paper. The senior trip was great too.
Profile : Larry and I have been married 21 years. We are signed up with an adoption agency to adopt a child. Larry works for the Shelby county Schools and I work for as a computer software consultant at home.
Comments : It will be great to be able to get back in touch with everyone. Thanks Steve and Billy
Name : Gray, Scott
Email Address : sgray@alcorn.k12.ms.us
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1974-1977
City of current residence : Corinth, MS
Current profession/occuindex.htmat Kossuth High School
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Playing football and baseball, the trip to Acapulco, "Oklahoma", great teachers and coaches, good friends, and the parties where the girls tried to teach all of us uncoordinated boys to dance.
Profile : Married to Carolyn Morris (a former TO student) since 1995. Have 3 children: Todd 17, Savannah 9, and Cayla 7. Moved to Corinth, MS in 2004 to become head football coach at Kossuth High School.
Comments : Billy and Steve: Ya'll need to come on down and visit an old friend in the country.
Comments : This was a great idea guys, and I hope the word gets out about it, because I had a lot of great friends that I would love to hear from.
Name : Greenbury, Kathy
Maiden Name : Walton
Email Address : kgreenbury@aol.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Birmingham, Michigan
Current profession/occupation : Clinical Program Manager Rindex.htmr
Design Business
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Wonderful friends...great teachers...slumber parties...dancing...football games...basketball games...good times!
Profile : Married 17 years to Mark Greenbury & living in MI since 1987. 2 Children - Dusty (16) & Dallas (14). Dusty is sophmore @ Brother Rice HS & Dallas (girl)is in 8th grade. All my spare time revolves around sports with both -- Cheerleading is not "cool" here & it breaks my heart! I have a nursing degree & spent many years working in Oncology field in Houston, Tx -- now manage interventional work for 20+ radiologist & have my own interior design business.
Comments : Great job with the website. I have visited it many times & finally took time to register! I contacted Rob Pearigen regarding one of my son's friends who attended University of the South this year & he welcomed them graciously...Thank You!
Name : Griffin, Tim
Email Address : timgriffin59@hotmail.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1973-77
City of current residence : San Antonio, TX
Current professioindex.htmn Antonio Express-News
Favorite T.O. Memory(s) : Too many to mention. The senior class trip to Mexico was a lot of fun, along with being in "Oklahoma."
Profile : After graduating from Memphis State in 1981, I started my journalistic career. I've been working in San Antonio for nearly 20 years, mostly covering Big 12 football and basketball. I've been married for six years. My wife De De is a recovery room nurse. We have no children, but love to travel around the world.
Comments : Good luck in getting the website started. It's always good to catch up with old friends.
Name : Heflin, Mike
Email Address : hefm@msn.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Wake Village, Texas
Current profession/occupation : Account Manager - Applied Industrial Technologiesindex.htm T.O. Memory(S) : So many great memories, it's hard to tell them
all and keep it short. Playing football, the play Oklahoma, going to basketball
games and the trip to Acapulco are some of my favorite momories. Cutting the
grass every summer with Steve Child and Tim Griffin was a lot of work, but
fun at the same time. Football camp at Lake Sardis where Coach Yancy ( Fred
) referred to the lake as "The Dead Sea" and a little burned up
shrub as "The Burning Bush" is not one of my favorite memories,
but one that will stay with me forever. The closeness of our class is something
special about Towering Oaks. We have had two class reunions and that closeness
is still there to this day.
Profile : Married for 19 years and have thirteen year old son named Tyler. I enjoy trying to play golf, most of the time not very well and spending time with my family.
Comments : My dad, as some of us referred to as "Super Fred", is around and doing fine. We both still talk about T.O. even now after all of these years. I showed him this website and we are both happy to see we can now get in touch with our freinds from the past.
Name : Hughes, Denise
Maiden Name : Kirk
Email Address : Mrdkhughes@catt.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 3 years
City of current residence : Ringgold, GA
Current profession/occupation : Part-time Bookkeeper at Home Appraisal Business
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : "Pig Out" parties at Betty Bell's house, Sleep Over's, rolling Mike Heflin's Mustang, Spring Break with the Girls, Favorite teacher Mr. Perrigen (sigh), Sr. Trip to Acapulco, Fran, Gabe, Trish, Beth, Cheryl, Karen, Debra, Pam!
Profile : Have lived in Ringgold,GA for 5 years, have moved several times because of husband's job with TVA. Married to Mark for 23 years, 3 sons, Brandon is 18, graduating high school in May, played football and runs track for RHS, loves his red jeep and knows everything, Taylor is 15, plays Basketball (point guard) for high school and traveling AAU team, baseball (2nd base) for school, loves wake boarding and girls, Nick is 8, my angel, 2nd grade, plays rec baseball (short stop), basketball (point guard), and football (middle linebacker), loves to read, enjoys learning about sharks, snakes, and bears. Work part-time, spend rest of my time volunteering at youngest sons school, involved in high school sports booster clubs, husband coaches 8 yr. old rec teams so that means lots of team mom duties for me. In short, life consists of boys and ball!
Comments : Great idea guys! Love reading about what old classmates are up to! When are we having another class reunion?
Name : Hendrix, Christopher (Chris)
Email Address : hendrix@midsouth.rr.com
Pesonal Web Page : www.midsouthfootandankle.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Staff-Campbell Clinic
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : graduating
Profile : Private Practice in Memphis since 1998. Currently on staff Mid-South Foot and Ankle Specialists. Married - 2 children
Comments : Great job on the web site!! Go Redbirds!!!
Name : Jensen, Joseph
Email Address : jcjensen@uams.edu
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1973-1977
City of current residence : Little Rock, Arkansas
Current profession/occupation : Trauma Surgeon, Univ. of Arkansas College
oindex.htmorite T.O. Memory(S) : Football & Basketball teams, getting in trouble,
erasing text and assignments out of our Spanish text
Profile : I've been in Little Rock since 1989 (except for a year in Baltimore for school). Married to Ashley (Hill) of Little Rock, one step-son, five spoiled dogs. I fly small planes once in a while for fun.
Comments : Super web page!
Name : Joyner, Kevin
Email Address : kjoyner@concentric.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1974-1977
City of current residence : lancaster, ca
Current profession/occupation : Electronic Technician
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Saturday football games. I can't believe we actually index.htmnd pads. (might explain a lot of things now..!)
Profile : I'm keeping very busy with work. When I,m not working, I can usually be found riding off-road mountain bikes or the endless miles of California roads on my road bike. California has an endless supply of great things to do.
Comments : This website is a great idea. It just seems that I don't have enough time to get back to Memphis for reunions.
Name : LaGrone, Mark
Email Address : mlagrone@integrity.com
Year Graduated : 77
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Collierville, TN.
Current profession/occupation : Minister of Education
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Hanging out with Mark P., Tommy, and Ricky.
Profile : I have been marindex.htm1983 and we have one daughter "Beth". I am currently the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church Collierville.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and I am also a custom knife maker: www.saintmarkknives.com
Comments : I appreciate all of the hard work Billy and Steve did with this site.
Name : Lewelling, Jenny
Maiden Name : ROGERS
Email Address : jennylewohio@yahoo.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current residence : Ashville, Ohio
Current profession/occupation : homemaker/former kindergarten teacher
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Taking Art 1 as a senior with Missy,Pam and Beth, having a locker UNDER Tim Ruindex.htmling into mine (still have his T.O. windbreaker ha!),Ms McAlister always saying-"quiet means quiet" for some reason; watching Midnight Special at a lock in to see video of Bohemian Rhapsody, being in Chorus, Gene Pounds shoe size being more than his age, Missy making Chris Carpenter paper dolls, being a nun in The Sound of Music, Always thinking that Missy would never have kids (she has 8 so far!)Ty Carter trying to sound smart in English class and making up the word "disadmit", and I can still quote John 1:1-14 thanks to Mrs. Yancey for having us learn that in homeroom.
Profile : I met my husband Chuck while working at Memphis State Bookstore. We have been married almost 23 yrs. and have 3 kids: Michael is 18 and just graduated from HS and is heading to Ohio Valley Christian College on a music scholorship (he's a drummer), Michele is 15 and just finished her freshman year and is in the HS choir and just made Women's Chorus, and Maggie is 8 and is heading to 3rd grade,plays soccer and is in girl scouts of which I am the leader. I taught kindergarten in Memphis for 8 yrs. and even taught the Linder's daughter, Carrie. We got transferred to Columbus Ohio area, then back to Memphis, then to Lexington, KY and back to Ohio. Chuck is an attorney and manager of legal dept.at Nationwide Insurance. I stay busy with kids, dogs and cats, volunteer work, and church activities.
Comments : This site is great! Good to be able to keep up with everyone. Thanks Steve and Billy!
Name : McWherter, Betty
Maiden Name : Bell
Email Address : jakeandjedsfolks@eplus.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 73-77
City of current residence : Jackson, TN
Current profession/occupation : Pre-K Teaching Assistant
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : My favorite part of high school was that we were all friends and did things all together. The parties, riding around, rolling yards, football, basketball and baseball. Long talks about life with Mr. Linder. I loved every part of it with special fondness for hanging with Billy, Steve and Jan. (I have to say that I also enjoyed looking at Rob Perrigen, Brad Smith and Fred Yancey too, but that's another story!)
Profile : I have been married for 17 years to Mike McWherter and live in Jackson, TN. We have two wonderful boys, Jacob, 10 and Jed, 5. I left the legal profession and have recently changed careers. I am a Pre-K teacher's aid at St. Mary's School, which is where our boys attend. Mike commutes to Cordova daily and works for First Mercantile Trust. I lost my sweet parents in 2004 and 2006, so we don't come to Memphis as often any more. I guess Jackson is now home, but it feels strange to say that, even after 14 years here.
Name : Ogletree, Pam
Maiden Name : Walls
Email Address : tanmadpax@comcast.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1973-1977
City of current residence : Collierville, TN
Current profession/occupation : Homemaker
Personal Webpage : Facebook page-Pam Walls Ogletree
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : My favorite part of high school was the super group of friends I had. We all had such a fun time! Hi Beth, Cheryl, Fran,index.htm Missy, Melissa, Jenny, Trisha, and Becky. I will never forget the time we had to dissect a frog in biology class and the frog jumped off of the table in the middle of the experiment. I had to leave the room! My senior year was great, I loved Art class with Ms. McAlister,and of course English with Rob Pearigen, our super Senior trip to Acapulco, sleepovers, and our Senior Prom at the Tallysen Ballroom.
Profile : I have been married to my husband Mark since 1987and we have lived in Collierville since 4/1991. After T.O. I went to Memphis State, was a member of Sigma Kappa and immersed myself in the whole college experience. 4 years later I graduated with an associates of Science degree in Home Economics with a minor in Marketing. I eventually worked my way up to my dream job as a buyer and traveled to NYC monthly and had just began traveling to the Orient. Babies and lots of travel just don't mix in my book, so I became a stay at home mom to my three children. Tanner (b. 1991), Madison (b. 1993) and Paxson (b. 1996) have kept us both quite busy with competitive baseball, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, competitive dance , track and now more competitive dance. Life is good.
Comments : Thanks to Mrs. Neuen for inviting a clothing buyer to visit her students in her Home Ec class when I was in 9th or 10th grade. It was then I decided that was what I wanted to do when I "grew-up". As a result, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do after High School and I was able to take the necessary steps to reach that goal within a couple of years after graduating from college. I was a buyer for several years and spent a lot of time in New York and was also able to travel to Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan on buying trips. Thanks Ms. Neuen!
Name : Pate, Danita
Maiden Name : West
Email Address : SPate@midsouth.rr.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Olive Branch
Current profession/occupation : Fifth grade teacher at SBEC
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : I remember coming to T.O. with my 4 best friends from fourth grade up. The summer before school began in the ninth grade we index.htmt Ole Miss. A mascot had still not been decided so we had to yell "Go Tobs" the entire week. I remember being very silly and having so much fun with all the girls. I want mention our pig names, but I still remember them. I remember teaching the boys how to do the "roller coaster" and the "bump". Skipping school last period and laying out on Kim Brook's roof to get a tan. The packed gyms at the basketball games was the best. There was so much school spirit. I loved T.O. and even though I do not see even my closest high school friends very often, I still think of you as the best friends I have had. We were blessed to have such a great class, fun teachers, and so many wonderful memories.
Profile : I have been married for 22 years and have 2 children. My husband, Steve, is a Pharmacist for Coram Health and manages the pharmacy. Our son, Taylor, will be a sophomore at SBEC and our daugher, Allyson graduated this year from SBEC. Ms. Schwartz was my daughter's math teacher. Mary James Bennett is the Elem. secretary. I teach at SBEC and our kids have been involved in baseball, softball, football, cheerleading, and golf at SBEC. So you can see where I spend all of my time. Like Steve said, I am also living vicariously through my children.
Comments : Thanks so much Billy and Steve! It has been great catching up.
Name : Payne, Mike
Email Address : mikepayn@bellsouth.net
Year Graduated : 1981(Briarcrest)
Years Attended T.O. : 1977
City of current residence : Cordova
Current profession/occupation : UPS Driver
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Hanging out with Mike Roark and David Briggs.
Profile : I have been married to Luanne Halford(class of 82) for 19 years and have 3 children.(Larindex.htm) I have worked for UPS for 20 years. I also took up piano/voice after I graduated, and am the lead singer/keyboard player for a local cover band. I also am on staff and am the music leader for the Contemporary Worship Service for Covenant United Methodist Church in Cordova, right down the street from where we live!
Name : Perkins, David
Email Address : perklo@perkloafm.com
Pesonal Web Page : www.perkloafm.com Year Graduated
: 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 3
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Art Director
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Football 2-A-Days, Art Club and the Lunchroom...
Profile : Let's see - I'm still married to the love of my life (Barbindex.htm of my two kids is 27. I've worked as an Art Director for AutoZone for 22 yearindex.htmunt and shoot competitively. I have my own home-gunsmithing website (Another Fine Mess) and after 9/11 I joined the Tennessee State Guard and do volunteer security work at various Tennessee military bases.
I stay pretty busy...
Name : Pounds, Gene
Email Address : gpounds@midsouth.rr.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current residence : Memphis,Tn
Current profession/occupation : Owner, Independent Inspection Services
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Winning the MCAA Basketball championship my Junior year.
Profile : Married for almost 24 years,wife Karen,4 kids: Kalley, Keith, Julindex.htmaughters: Brinley and Micaela. I'm affectionately known as Grampy, So my AIM screen name is inspectorgrampy5 for all you instant messenger people
Comments : Neat idea Billy and Steve. Hope we can have a reunion of sorts. Last one I couldn't make. Next one I'll make sure to be there (Lord willing of course)
Name : Proctor, Peri
Email Address : Spiritproc@aol.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Boca Raton, FL
Current profession/occupation : Distributor for Wright Medical Technology
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : As many other people have mentioned,it is hard to narrow it down to one. Probably the 1976 Basketball Championship. However I still vividly remember the first day I met with Roger Yancy to discusindex.htmWooddale to T.O. It was certainly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I remember laughing alot and lots of great friends. sports, Senior trip, The belonging to a great group.
Profile : Undergraduate and MBA at Memphis State (University of Memphis)
1982,1983
Worked for Ernst & Whinney for 4 years before Moving to South Florida
in 1987.
Worked for Smith & Nephew Richards for seven years before accepting the Distributorship for Wright Medical Technology.Been together with my wife Suzanne for 13 years. We have an 11 year old son, who is the best.
I scuba dive and Fly airplanes in what little free time we have these days.
Comments : My time at T.O. was one of the greatest learning experience of my life. Most of the important lessons did not come from a book.
Thanks to Billy and Steve for putting this site together. I look forward to hearing from other TO Alumni and to a reunion soon.
Name : Reed, Richard
Maiden Name : Alfred
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Flooring Nabob
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Surviving....coach Wherries baseball camp.....day spa
Comments : Nada
Name : Simmons, Shelley
Maiden Name : Weeks
Email Address : shelleysimmons@peoplepc.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 73-77
City of current residence : Houston
Current profession/occupation : Nurse
Name : Smith, Missy
Maiden Name : Wallace
Email Address : herbgardener@netzero.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current resideindex.htment profession/occupation : homemaker, homeschool teacher
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : art class with Jenny, Pam and Beth....plus the laughs in typing class.
Profile : First off, after graduation from T.O., I got a degree in Interior Design from Memphis State. Then I met my husband we have been married for 2index.htm Rogers Lewelling always cracks up when she talks about my kids. Who would've figured, huh?) Their ages run from almost 19 down to 2 years and we've homeschooled from the get-go.
As of now, when I'm not doing things with the kids, I enjoy writing. My goal is to have something published in the near future but that just takes patience and time. Got lots of that!
Comments : Thanks Steve and Billy for setting this up. Looks like it's flying already.
Name : Taylor, Melissa
Email Address : melissa6568@sbcglobal.net
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Alpine
Current profession/occupation : Director of Case Management
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : I look back on the whole time with great fondness! I especially remember all the laughter with Pam, Beth, Norma and Ginny. I remember especially the good times in study hall!
Profile : Bob and I recently moved from Memphis (where I lived all my life) index.htmcharming little town of less than 6000 people. My nearest Wal-Mart is 225 miles away (this from the same woman who was horrified when Dillards at Poplar and Highland closed and I had to drive to Oak Court Mall)! My closest airport is 185 miles away! I have been a RN for 21 years and I left staff nursing about 7 years ago. I now am Director of Case Management at a 25 bed hospital, a far cry from Baptist on Union. I don't have any children so I have lavished my attention on my neice and nephews and friends' children. I have made the most of life!
Comments : I am appreciative to this day of the sacrifices my parents made to send me to Towering Oaks!
Name : Thompson, Karen
Maiden Name : McWilliams
Email Address : bfcmom@midsouth.rr.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 4
City of current residence : Bartlett, TN
Current profession/occupation : Cytotechnologist
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : There are so many: parties in Danita's garage, pig out parties at Betty's, dancing to the "Best of Bread" album,Wild Cherry, and Parliment (is there a theme here?), OKLAHOMA, Mike Heflin's black Mustang, and Acapulco, just to name a few. I have come to understand how blessed index.htmpositive high school experience. I think of my classmates often eventhough I have lost touch with many.
Profile : I have been married 19 years to Phil (a graduate of Briarcrest). We have one son, Lee (age 15), a sophomore at Bartlett High School. We spend much of our time following Lee to go kart races and soccer events. I'm having a mid life employment crisis and have left medicine to explore other interests.
Comments : Thanks Billy and Steve. This is a great opportunity to rekindle some long lost, but not forgotten friendships. I look forward to hearing from each of you.
Name : Ward, Debbie
Maiden Name : Hicks
Email Address : bwsong58@hotmail.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1974-1977
City of current residence : Memphis
Current profession/occupation : Medical Transcriptionist
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Dancing the hustle and the disco lady at parties to Boston (remember albums?). Crushes on Rob Pearigen, Senior English teacher, and Brad Smith, bible teacher. Being late to homeroom every day. I enjoyed being on the staff of the Green and Gold Review.
Profiindex.htm Billy for 21 years and have a 5-year-old little boy Timothy. Timothy is an answer to prayer and is the light of our lives (even though people mistake us for his grandparents). I work at St. Jude Hospital as a medical transcriptionist.
Comments : Thanks so much Steve and Billy for your hard work! This site has brought back a lot of memories. I am so glad TO alumni finally have a website. I had searched last year and found that Briarcrest had one but not TO. We are like the man without a country...alumni without a school. Let's all do what we can to help this site grow.
Name : Westrich, Sylvia
Maiden Name : Lenti
Email Address : seastpoor@aol.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 2
City of current residence : MPHS, TN
Current profession/occupation : Materials Manager
Profile : Have two wonderful sons 18 and 15. They keep me extremely busy. When not busy with or my partime catering job. I go to the lake. We love it and try to go as often as possible.
Comments : This is a wonderful idea. Hope you hear from lots of alumni.
Name : Wilson, Connie
Maiden Name : Boldreghini
Email Address : gtownlady@msn.com
Year Graduated : 1977
Years Attended T.O. : 1973-1977
City of current residence : Germantown
Current profession/occupation : IT Professional
Favorite T.O. Memory(S) : Being in the Choir and involved in the plays was the greatest moments at T.O. I loved the football games.
Profile : I have three healthy, wonderful children and three dogs. Our son Stephen is at UTK in the combined MBA/Phd program. Mark is a Junior at HHS. Kimie is a Freshman at HHS. My husband works at the University ofindex.htmau and I am at the Bankruptcy Court. God has blessed us with health and happiness.
My son, Mark Jr. was tragically killed at age 19 by impaired driver in 2007.
The hearts and prayers of all of us associated with the TO web site go out to Connie and her family for their tragic loss.
Comments : Great job on the website!
