A m aga z i n e f o r a l u m n i a n d f r i e n d s o f M c Ca l l i e S c h o o l
Room
toGrow ❘
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1957-2007: John Pataky Retires Global Education: Morris Thuku ’93 in Kenya 10 In a Row! Football Beats Baylor Winter 20 0 8
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A Fresh View from the Pews A newly-renovated McCallie Chapel opened its doors in September. Construction crews spent
the summer transforming the space into a venue that can easily and comfortably accommodate the entire Upper School population. The most significant change is also the most noticeable – an extended balcony that now covers about a third of the lower level and has added 125 seats to the facility. Other noticeable changes that add to the acoustic potency of the space are the replacement of carpet with mountain stone walkways and window shutters in place of window drapes. The interior walls and trim also received a new coat of paint. On the building’s exterior, workers rebuilt the stairway leading to the Chapel’s parking lot, extended a driveway around the McCallie Avenue entrance of the building for handicapped access and built a concrete patio on the Chapel’s west side for student gatherings and receptions after performances. ■
The McCallie School Mission The McCallie School's mission is to prepare its students for college and for life. The school is dedicated to the academic, physical, spiritual and emotional growth of boys. It seeks to inspire and motivate them: »»to pursue excellence and take pride in one's work and achievements; »»to lead lives of personal honor; »»to be responsible in family and personal relationships; and »»to manifest concern for the welfare of others.
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Room to Grow McCallie’s boarding program provides a home away from home
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Feature 10 » Campus
» Le t ters
15 Decade of Dominance
4 Mr. Gildersleeve Remembered
This year records a tenth straight win in McCallie’s biggest rivalry game
Charlie Marlin ’68 shares his lasting impressions of a favorite teacher
» Alumni
Life
15 Broadcasting from The Ridge
Student broadcasters bring Blue Tornado sports to computer screens everywhere
Ne ws
16 The Art of Biology
5 McCallie Boys of All Ages
Jack Denton paints the picture with a biology research team
Bill Vinson ’42 joins recent graduates for dinner and discussion
5 Action on Darfur
Roger Fuller ’89 challenges students to write letters for Amnesty International
6 50 Years of Dedication
» Class
15
notes
20 Births/Weddings/News
Read the latest updates from your classmates
John Pataky ’49 retires after a distinguished career
8 Teaching Technology in Africa Morris Thuku ’93 returns to Kenya to open a school in his hometown
» Roll
Call
23 Candlelight Memories
We asked several deceades of graduates about their fond melodious memories
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The McCallie magazine is published by McCallie School, 500 Dodds Avenue, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404. | news@mccallie.org | www.mccallie.org | The name “McCallie School,” the McCallie School logo and the McCallie School seal are all trademarks/namemarks of The McCallie School. All materials appearing in the McCallie magazine, including photography, are ©1996-2008 by McCallie School. Reprint or electronic reproduction of any such material for commercial purposes is prohibited without the written permission of The McCallie School. Permission to use written material (not photographs) is granted for non-commercial purposes as long as McCallie is credited. | For information about the McCallie magazine and to obtain permission to reproduce trademarked and copyrighted material, contact the McCallie School Communications Office at info@mccallie.org (423.624.8300) or by writing the Communications Office, McCallie School, 500 Dodds Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404. | McCallie School fully supports all anti-discrimination laws and does not engage in any unlawful discrimination.
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Lasting Lessons
FIRST PERSON:
A Trip Back in Time
the time than the subject matter they for me. McCallie provided me with a were teaching. I had more teachers than generous Faculty Renewal Grant that alI deserved whom I could communicate lowed me to reconnect with my roots. with. I kept in touch with many of them, There were three main stops on my including three of my college professors, trip: Bloomington, Ind., where I had until they passed away. studied for my master’s degree in French As I drove back towards Chattanooga literature at Indiana University; Martins- after my trip, I realized that all that Inville, Ind., where my mother’s family had diana life, all that college life, was gone always lived and where I had lived for for me. Although I enjoyed my trip back about two years; and – finally – Indianapin time, and as much as I appreciate Mcolis, where I had spent Callie’s financial supmost of my childhood, port for my trip, this went to elementary and summer made me rehigh school and visited alize that the first 20+ regularly until my paryears of my life are only ents passed away. history, mere recollecIt was a weird trip. All tions. Although I will the logistics worked out always have memories well – the hotel reser– becoming hazier as I vations, the restaurant grow older – I underreservations, the ticket stand that my life now for the concert of the is here, in Chattanooga, First Person allows a teacher Indianapolis Symphony at McCallie. I doubt I or student to present a unique Orchestra. Almost evwill ever make the pilperspective on life at McCallie. The first writer is Bill Royer, who eryone I had contact grimage back to Indihas taught French at McCallie with was hospitable, ana again. since 1972. He is a dorm engaging, positive in For those of you who advisor in Hutch, director of McCallie’s theater program and his or her responses to haven’t visited the caman advisor to the French Club and me. But it was a differpus recently, I spend a SPIRITUALS. ent world from what I good bit of time outremembered. side my office, either at The theme of my grant proposal was the top of the third-floor stairs or leanto explore why I had decided to pursue a ing in that comfortable brick corner just career in education. Although I had presouth of the stairs. Why? Because I get pared well for the trip, I couldn’t set up energized by my contact with students. meetings with my old teachers – they’re I chuckle to myself over their greetings, no longer with us. I visited my high even when they are not quite approprischool, from which I graduated 41 long ate. Of course I’m touched when a stuyears ago. A strong academic institution dent hugs me or pats me on my bald when I attended it, Broad Ripple High head. Some time ago I realized that this School (David Letterman’s alma mater as teacher-student thing is a two-way street. well) has undergone significant changes We teachers need our students just as over the years. much, if not more, than they need us. Why did I pursue a career in educaHow fortunate to be teaching in a tion? Because I was fortunate enough to school that recognizes its faculty’s need have a number of teachers throughout for renewal! I appreciate so much the my younger years who cared for me, who means that were provided to me to – in were willing to talk with me at moments some sense – reach closure on this earlier when I didn’t want to talk to my parpart of my life. And, I want all to know, ents. In that respect, I think I was a noreven more importantly, how I treasure mal adolescent. I enjoyed teachers who the few years that I hope I still have as I were passionate about the subjects they continue to teach French and work with taught and who communicated that pasboarding students in the dorm. For whatsion to me, but who realized that their ever reasons, I ended up in the right castudents might be dealing with issues in reer for me and at the right school. Need their lives that were more important at I say that I honestly dread retirement? ■ This past summer was a significant one
I remember Mr. Gildersleeve. He had a
reputation as a demanding teacher, and I was really intimidated when I entered his class in the ninth grade. Mr. Eskridge’s eighth-grade English class had been very by-the-book, predictable, regular. Mr. Gildersleeve asked us ninth graders to do the most frightening thing imaginable: think something out for ourselves and take responsibility for thinking correctly. I recall once being jealous of his knowledge and wishing that, someday, I might live in that glorious world of learning that he inhabited. I told him about a quote that sounded funny to me: “Zounds, I was ever so bethumped with words since I first called my brother’s father Dad.” I asked him who said it. He escorted me to the library, which astounded me. No one had ever led me to the library and shown me how he would look something up. He introduced me to Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations and (the jealous part) said sort of offhandedly, “It sounds like something Falstaff would say.” I wondered several things. Who is Falstaff? Does beer talk? (After all, Falstaff was Dizzy Dean’s favorite beverage, and that was the only Falstaff I knew.) How does a person gain such a broad understanding of world literature that he can hear a quote and identify a character who might have said it? Can I ever aspire to such heights? I was impressed beyond words. Mr. Gildersleeve was quite a stickler for grammar and punctuation. I suspect the same thing has happened to other students at McCallie: I internalized his rules. And I have been enforcing them for the last 25 years whenever I proofread or edit something written by my co-workers. His work lives on. – Charlie Marlin ’68 The McCallie magazine welcomes your feedback and memories. Send your thoughts to news@mccallie.org
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McCallie Boys of All Ages Since he graduated 65 years ago, Bill Vinson
’42 hasn’t been back to McCallie or attended an alumni gathering. However, in August, while perusing the McCallie web site, he noticed that the alumni office was hosting a dinner gathering in Davidson, N.C., for recent graduates. “I figured, why, being an alumnus, I’d drop over and see what was going on,” he says. While Mr. Vinson might not be considered a “recent graduate,” he fit in easily with the crowd of Davidson College students, as he earned his bachelor’s degree from the college and is still, in many ways, a Davidson student himself. In recent years he has audited at least 60 courses at the college, studying everything from art to economics to psychology to music. “I’ve audited as many as four classes in a semester, which I find to be too many,” he says. “I just can’t keep up with the work. When tests come, I say, ‘Why, I’m sick.’”
Action
on Darfur
Mr. Vinson is auditing a course in Impressionist music this semester, and he also plays tennis twice a week and answers phones for WDAV, the local classical music station, during their pledge drives. While he has stayed busy since retiring (from General Electric, where he worked for 35 years), Mr. Vinson has never been able to make it back to McCallie for a reunion, finding the travel prohibitive at his age. So he was glad that McCallie finally planned an alumni event that was right in his own backyard. “The restaurant where we met is the Brick House, which is right at the back of my lot, so I just walked over without any trouble,” he explains. “It wasn’t much of a journey for me.” Will Scott ’04 had met Mr. Vinson on several occasions before the McCallie gathering. “I sing in the choir at Davidson, and sometimes interested community members join us – Mr. Vinson was one of them,” he
Upper School students observed United
Nations Day and Amnesty International’s “Action on Darfur” Day in October by writing letters to members of Congress pushing for stronger action concerning civil unrest in Darfur. The letter-writing campaign was a response to a challenge set forth by Roger Fuller ’89. Mr. Fuller set up a chapel presentation in early October by photographer David Johnson, who has documented both tragedy and triumph in Sudan over the past year. “Eighteen years ago I was sitting in the same pews you’re sitting in now,” Mr. Fuller told students, “and I can remember Amnesty International coming up onto the stage. They introduced us to a world that many of us were sheltered from and they inspired in us a fire to go out and help others and try to make a difference.” Three months ago, Mr. Fuller met Mr. Johnson and had a chance to look at his book of photos and stories, “Voices of Sudan.” Mr. Johnson is using 100 percent of proceeds from the book to build wells in Sudan. “Going through the pages, seeing the pictures and reading the stories re-lit the same fire I felt 18 years ago,” Mr. Fuller McCallie magazine |
Bill Vinson ’42 (far left) attended his first McCallie alumni gathering in August, along with several young alumni from Davidson College.
says. “He has also audited a couple of music classes I’ve been in. I’m glad to see how active he is in the college community, and it’s exciting to see him express that kind of interest in reconnecting with McCallie.” Though he enjoyed making some new McCallie friends, Mr. Vinson felt his seniority at the gathering. “I was definitely the oldest – you could have added four of them together and I still would have been older!” he says. Mr. Vinson says he would enjoy reconnecting with alumni of his generation, since he was unable to make it back to McCallie for his 65th reunion. ■ Find an alumni gathering near you! Visit www.mccallie.org, click on “Alumni,” then “Alumni Events.”
said. “I ended up purchasing a couple hundred books and sending them to everyone I knew. I was really touched by the response.” Mr. Fuller said he hoped Mr. Johnson’s presentation at McCallie would help ignite a passion for international service similar to what he felt when he was a student. In addition, Mr. Fuller challenged McCallie students and faculty to write their representatives on behalf of the Sudanese people. He promised to make a donation of 50 cents to McCallie’s student activities for every letter written, unless the school could compile 2,500 letters, when the price would go up to $1 per letter. Students were able to compile over 1,100 letters during chapel on the “Action Day for Darfur,” and clubs and classes continued to gather the remaining letters throughout October. “The symbol of Amnesty International is a candle wrapped in barbed wire,” said English Teacher Kemmer Anderson, sponsor of McCallie’s Amnesty chapter. “Roger’s encouragement with letter writing, the backbone of the urgent action network, has ensured that the flame of freedom will burn bright in Sudan. He definitely lit a fire among the student body.” ■
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“Like many of you, I had the privilege of having John as my Algebra 2 teacher. It was a difficult course, and to this day I still misread the sines (and the cosines) and often find myself off on a tangent, particularly when there are multiple variables involved. I have probably forgotten most of what was in the textbook, but I have carried forward the life lessons he taught. Whether it was solving math problems, swimming laps or running billy goat hill, John taught us that with hard work, persistence and a little well-timed help, we could achieve great things and reach goals that were seemingly insurmountable.” Headmaster Kirk Walker ’69, in his remarks
50Years of
Dedication
During Reunion Weekend, some 240 admirers, teachers and McCallie students from the last
six decades came to celebrate the career of teacher and coach John Pataky ’49. Speakers at the event included Headmaster Kirk Walker ’69 (a former student of Mr. Pataky’s) and two colleagues – long-time administrator and teacher Houston Patterson ’43 and Upper School Head Kenny Sholl. Mr. Pataky was a truly exceptional math teacher, and his coaching record in both swimming & diving and cross country were superb by most any standard. His swimming & diving teams won nine state championships in the 11 years he coached. “The swimming & diving program had 20 losing seasons before Mr. Pataky became head coach,” Dr. Walker remarked. “There were no losing seasons during his tenure.” His cross country teams won 88 percent of their meets over the 40 years he coached. His teams won eight Mid-South championships, 12 individual championships, four league championships and five regional championships. During his tenure at McCallie, Mr. Pataky also served as an advisor to TEPS, assistant track coach and chairman of the math department. Mr. Pataky is one of the named honorees of the Alumni Chair of Mathematics (along with Chalmers McIlwaine ’21 and Houston Patterson ’43), and he has also been honored with the John Pataky ’49 Endowed Fund, which supports faculty salaries and helps McCallie attract and retain outstanding teachers. He also donated to the McCallie library a collection of books that his father, an artist, gathered throughout this lifetime. The collection represents many of the 20th century’s best artists. ■
Hundreds of alumni had Mr. Pataky as a math teacher or coach and were the beneficiaries of his guidance and encouragement. This winter, McCallie will celebrate Mr. Pataky’s career. At that time, Headmaster Kirk Walker ’69 will present him with a book of letters from graduates and friends who appreciate what he has meant to them.
at Mr. Pataky’s retirement celebration during Reunion Weekend
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If you would like to participate in Mr. Pataky’s salute, please send your letter to: Audrey Smith, Alumni Office, 500 Dodds Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404 It will be put with others in a keepsake leather binder for presentation to him. If you prefer to send your letter electronically, please attach it to an e-mail addressed to: asmith@ mccallie.org. It will be printed and added to the binder. We will compile the letters on March 17.
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In 1957, the year Mr. Pataky began teaching at McCallie:
»» Sputnik was launched into space. »» Castor oil was a common remedy. »» The original version of the film “3:10 to Yuma” with Glenn Ford was released.
»» The “Little Rock Nine” entered Central High School in Arkansas.
»» “The Music Man” and “West Side Story” opened on Broadway.
»» The United States’ first full-scale atomic electric power plant went online.
»» “American Bandstand” and “Leave It to Beaver” debuted on network TV.
»» Jackie Robinson retired from baseball.
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Teaching Technology in Africa
By Chet LeSourd ‘72
This summer, Chet LeSourd ’72 and Billy Faires ’90 traveled to Elburgon, Kenya, to visit the school that Morris Thuku ’93 and his brother Andrew have founded. The purpose of their visit was to deliver used items from McCallie’s technology office and to explore ways that Keo-Kio and other student organizations can continue to support the Thukus in their mission to educate and empower children in their hometown. Morris looked at us, gave a little smile, and
said, “My family’s been looking forward to your visit.” Yet as Billy Faires and I opened the door of our old Toyota 4-Runner, we were immediately greeted by an African song. The central highlands of Kenya offered a light mist and cool temperatures that July evening, but it hardly dampened the happy melody that hit us as 10 of Morris’s family members and friends burst into a welcome song I won’t soon forget. We were eager to visit Morris’ school and see the 40 kids, most of whom are on scholarship, who attend TIIT – Morris named his school in honor of the Tennessee Institute of Information Technology, who supplied him with the initial Pentium I computers in 2002. Every six months, these kids, mostly from an impoverished section of Elburgon, come to this school for nearly 10 hours a day to learn basic computer skills. In Kenya, of the roughly 7.2 million kids who finish elementary school, only about 48 percent go further with their education. The Kenyan government funding for education ends in the eighth grade, so if children live in poverty they usually have little means to better their lives. This is where Morris and his brother Andrew have stepped in to try to help. TIIT
is a co-ed school, with students aged 13-21. Working non-stop each day, they attend classes on basic computer skills, computer repairs and maintenance, video documentary production and editing and a general class on literature and composition, combined with basic business skills and etiquette. There was an additional class of three or four kids processing wool taken off local sheep. It was this class that sewed the sweaters, given as gifts to us, that had a picture of Africa on the front with McCallie and Keo-Kio lettered within the continent. While we were there for parts of three days, we taught a few classes, bought a sheep for slaughtering so that these kids could eat that day and spent time watching these young people focus on their work with understandable seriousness. When we spoke during class (the students use both English and Swahili), their attention seemed unwavering, and they wanted more, even after 90-minute-long sessions. Although six months of education isn’t a long time, Morris and Andrew work hard to place these students in jobs around Nakuru (30 minutes away) or Nairobi (three hours away), through family members and friends, and they employ as many of these students as possible at the school itself. These brothMcCallie magazine |
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ers feel such a sense of responsibility to help these kids out, to try to give them other possibilities than those that await them in this town. I couldn’t help but be struck by the TIIT’s similarity to McCallie in its founding – both were started by two brothers. Andrew spends his time as the visionary and principal fundraiser, while Morris runs the school and is one of its two teachers. Their vision is to start these kinds of schools all over Kenya, spending their lives trying to give poor kids a chance at a better life. And even though they rarely have enough money to keep one school going, they’re thinking ahead and trying to plan for the future. The dominant memory I’ve carried back to the Ridge is how happy Morris has been to be reunited with us here at McCallie. He spoke so proudly about McCallie to everyone we met, talking about our tradition, the faculty here that he remembers so fondly and the way he sees God using all that McCallie represents in his life. I felt so honored to be there for the school. ■ [Editor’s Note: This story was written prior to the election and subsequent civic unrest that have gripped Kenya since late December. We will provide updates on the Thukus’ situation as they become available. Please visit www.mccallie.org, then click on “Alumni” and “McCallie Magazine” to learn more.]
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The notebook of one of TIIT’s more advanced students, currently learning video editing software. The students write their notes in English, although it is their second and sometimes third language behind Swahili and the tribal language of the Kikuyu tribe.
Students at TIIT sit in a study group in the school’s largest room. Even when not in class, the students frequently review their notes together.
Due to the limited number of computers – six outdated desktop PCs prior to McCallie’s donation of several laptops on this trip – students work in groups of two or three at each computer. Most of the work focuses on learning and mastering the use of basic Microsoft Office software. The two students pictured are working on a Power Point presentation.
The Kenyan children the McCallie teachers encountered were almost always curious, happy and quiet (relative to American children). The resilience and cheerful demeanor of the Kenyan people, even in times of extreme struggle and poverty, is most visible in the faces of their children.
Chet LeSourd and Billy Faires attended the Thukus’ church, the Revelation Church of the Holy Spirit. The service included several hours of singing and sermons from the church’s seven male pastors. The “spiritual mother,” on whose property the church grounds sit, also interpreted several members’ speaking in tongues.
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Room To Grow McCallie magazine |
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We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. – Winsto n Churchhill
A few facts about Pressly Hall, McCallie’s newest dormitory: square footage: 32,000 student rooms: students:
56
28
faculty apartments: study rooms:
4
common rooms:
feet
4
2
restroom & shower areas:
4
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Freshman Joel Avey had never considered
even looking at boarding schools until he received a letter from McCallie in the mail last year. Because his hometown of Suwanee, Ga., was only a couple hours away, he decided to come to campus for a day-long visit. “When I came to McCallie, I said, ‘This is it,’’’ he recalls. “I made the decision right there. I knew this is where I needed to be. This is where I wanted to be.” Joel was drawn to McCallie by its strong academic program, many extracurricular activities to choose from and the sense of campus community. So far, his first semester is living up to his expectations but, like all new boarders, he has found that the transition to boarding life creates a unique set of challenges. “The first week was extremely hectic, just trying to figure out where everything was and dealing with a new homework load,” he says. “Back at home there was no homework, and everything was easy. Gliding by has its ups and downs, but being able to do your work helps you be more active in class and gives you more to talk about. You come here and have a lot of work thrust at
you, but it’s kind of overwhelming and nice at the same time.” The fast pace of a boarder’s first few weeks at McCallie is not accidental. History Teacher Bryan Smith is the head of McCallie’s newest dormitory, Pressly Hall, where the majority of freshmen live. He explains that dorm faculty members deliberately design an experience that introduces new students to an array of activities. “From the day they drop their bags in their room to the day they start class, we have them constantly on the move – getting to know Chattanooga, getting to know McCallie’s campus, introducing them to Big Five sports (inter-dorm competitions), eating ice cream sundaes with their advisee group,” he says. “So from the very beginning we’re keeping these guys active, not so much to prevent homesickness, but to show them how many opportunities they have right here at their fingertips.” Senior Jonathan Cao, who is a resident advisor (RA) in Pressly, remembers being dazzled by these opportunities when he was a freshman. “I was always busy, from the very first day – I had signed myself up for ev-
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erything,” he remembers. “It was very busy, but it was also a lot of fun, because it was all stuff that I had signed up for; I wasn’t pushed into any of it. I remember a shift in mindset where it was about my choices and how they would impact my school.” (“That and doing my own laundry,” he adds.) A wide support network of RAs and dorm faculty helps younger students learn to balance this new myriad of responsibilities, in the midst of settling into a new culture and making new friends. When it comes to academics, a mandatory evening study hall helps boarders prioritize their academic work and develop good study skills. “I kind of miss the free time in the evenings, but I know now that if I’d been at home and had been given that free time, I wouldn’t get my work done,” Joel says. “Here you have those two hours to work and that helps me get in the mindset and not procrastinate.” Senior Brian Burch is a new student at McCallie this year – he deliberately sought out a boarding school for his senior year to prepare him for college. His main adjustment has been writing more papers for his
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“I made the decision right there. I knew this is where I needed to be. This is where I wanted to be.” —Freshman Joel Avey from Suwanee, Ga.
classes, but he says living in the dorm has particularly helped him adapt to McCallie’s academic environment. “One of my advisors teaches science and knows I take AP physics, so he can help me out with that,” he says. “We also have a calculus teacher in the dorm, and he’s right there, so it’s really easy to ask for help. There are other people from my physics class in the dorm, and they come to me for help, or I go to them.” Brian says this network of faculty and fellow students has helped him feel right at home in the dorm. “There hasn’t been any really big challenge so far because I always have people there to help me out in the dorm,” he says. “There’s always someone there. You form a pretty good relationship with your advisors because you see them every day. It’s really nice to know them and know that they know you.” Members of the dorm faculty are ably assisted by a strong staff of RAs, who help enforce dorm rules and can offer their peers advice about everything from getting along with roommates to meeting girls or choosing classes. Mr. Smith believes these advisors represent the heart of McCallie’s
boarding program, especially in their influence on freshmen, who may become RAs themselves in a few years. “These senior leaders understand what they’re doing and the impact it can make,” he says. “I think they take that very personally as their own mantle. As a dorm head, it’s my job to empower them, to let them take on those leadership roles and allow them to showcase what they’ve learned over the past three years about community and about being part of something larger than their own needs. It’s a wonderful feeling to step back and watch these young men lead younger boys down the same path that they were led down three years ago.” “[Being an RA] has really put a whole new perspective on my experience, because as a senior and an RA you get a whole new view of the dorm and you get a whole new level of responsibility,” senior John Wells says. “I think that makes you think about the impact of your decisions a lot more and the way you carry yourself.” As seniors, resident advisors are able to share a wider perspective on the challenges and benefits of boarding life. John remem-
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bers that he was hesitant about boarding school at first and admits that his parents had to shove him out the door at the beginning of his freshman year. “Now that I’ve been here, though, I realize that they were seeing a much bigger, better view of my life than I could have seen at that point,” he says. “I’m really, really thankful.” “I originally came here for the academics, but now I’m here for the friendships,” Jonathan says. “When you’ve lived with someone for four years, you know him on a different level of friendship – you’re more like brothers.” Students like Joel look up to their senior advisors and are already experiencing those unique friendships and experiences for themselves. Joel has found that his favorite elements of boarding life are the unexpected moments that arise out of the dorm community. “I like the things that aren’t part of your daily itinerary but come with being a boarder – like on a Saturday you might go with your RA to Sonic and it has an olderbrother feel, or you might just watch a movie with some guys,” he says. “All the different small things that add up that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do at home.” ■
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FA CULT Y Tom Boyd, a teacher at McCallie since 1974, was named the 2007 recipient of the Southeast Region Award for Excellence in High School Teaching by the American Chemical Society. He is the first-ever recipient of this award and will now be considered for the national award. In addition to his service as a teacher and dormitory advisor, Mr. Boyd has served as chairperson of the 2000 and 2002 American Chemical Society National Advanced High School Chemistry Exam and question leader for the Advanced Placement Chemistry exam. He is a former member of the test development committee for the College Board Advanced Placement Chemistry Test and also served on the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad Committee.
{ For full coverage of events around campus, visit www.mccallie.org. }
MID D LE S CHO O L At the beginning of the school year, Middle School Head Lynn Goss asked teachers to name a song that reminded them of when they were middle school students themselves. Some teachers offered songs that reminded them of the era, while others chose one that held a special place in their memory, that helped them get through those strange and unique years. Thanks to Math Teacher Roc Evans, their list of 30 diverse songs that range over four decades of musical styles and tastes is now available as a mix through iTunes. To see the songlist, visit the Middle School page at www.mccallie.org.
C OMMUNI T Y SER V ICE
ACA DEMIC S A fifth of the members of McCallie’s class of 2008 were named National Merit Semifinalists or Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program this fall. Of the 1.4 million students to take the PSAT nationwide, only 34,000 are named Commended Students and 16,000 as Semifinalists. McCallie has averaged over nine semifinalists per year in the past five years, with an average of 18 Commended Students. McCallie’s National Merit Semifinalists (pictured below) are: Nolan Boyd of Dalton, Ga.; Steven Dama of Panama City, Fla.; Mike Donohue of Cumming, Ga.; Steven Green of Wallingford, Conn.; John Harris of Charlotte, N.C.; William May of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Matthew McClure of Hixson; Carter Meissner of Chattanooga; Nick Venable of Chattanooga, and Mark Young of Cleveland, Tenn. The seniors honored as Commended Students are: Robert Anderson of Asheville, N.C.; Reggie Brown of Columbia, S.C.; Kevin Buniak of Chattanooga; Noah Burney of Chattanooga; Jonathan Cao of Simi Valley, Calif.; Doug Chapin of Lookout Mountain, Ga.; Andrew Daly of Chattanooga; Tyler Hamilton of Signal Mountain; David Keyt of Hixson; Farid Khan of Dalton, Ga.; Scott LaFoy of Signal Mountain; Eric Martin of Chattanooga; John Patrick McLemore of Montgomery, Ala.; Matthew Mildenberg of Charlotte, N.C.; Stephen Pollard of Harrison; Stephen Ramey of Rocky Mount, N.C.; Preston Smith of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.; Austin Starkey of Lexington, Ky.; John Wells of Columbia, S.C.; and Robert Williams of Cookeville, Tenn.
At its first national Youth Leadership Conference in September, Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Program Department recognized McCallie’s campus chapter as one of the top five college and high school chapters in the nation. Currently, some 600 campus chapters exist nationwide, with a large majority of those at colleges and universities. McCallie’s chapter was cited for its decade of building homes for those in need in Chattanooga – the past seven having been built in a partnership with GPS – as well as for annual trips overseas to help international affiliates in Fiji, Brazil, Thailand and Romania, just to name a few. Habitat for Humanity also commended McCallie’s chapter for its extensive education program on campus through invited speakers from Habitat International, from the Chattanooga affiliate and from the Chattanooga community, as well as through build events with both students and alumni.
Pictured are, from left, State Farm representative Tim Lee, senior Alex King, Chattanooga Habitat representative Linda Sneary, faculty advisor Sumner McCallie, Marshall Burke and faculty advisor Ken Henry.
A R TS In late October, students celebrated the beginning of autumn weather with a unique Folk Fest arranged by Art Department Chairman Jack Denton. The event highlighted local craftspeople, artists and musicians, including many members of the McCallie community showing off their talents. Displays included Civil War re-enactors, African drumming and dance, an array of farm animals, blacksmithing, hammock making, whittling, wool spinning, a popular kettle corn station and much more. ■
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Dominat10n Do you ever miss the excitement of McCallie’s major sporting events? Now you can catch all the action live on your own computer. Seniors Duke Battles and Alex Taylor tested out live broadcasting for two football games last year – this year, with the help of junior Boyd Jackson, they have called all of the fall’s home football games. They are continuing with basketball, lacrosse and baseball games. “Last year we didn’t have the technology we have this year,” Duke says. “This year we’re using a sound board and headsets and a live video feed. This year has been a lot more of learning from a technological standpoint. But by now we’ve gotten the hang of any glitches we usually have and know how to fix them.” The only limitation on when and where the students can broadcast on campus is the necessity of access to the internet. “A lot of schools don’t have internet in their press boxes,” Alex explains. “We have wireless internet beamed from the technology office.” Sports Information Director Trey Tucker ’98, who helped the student broadcasters set up the activity, estimates that approximately 100 listeners log on each week – as many as 197 tuned in at one time during this fall’s Brentwood game. The boys take turns running the camera and calling the games and have encouraged everyone they know to listen in. They laugh, though, when asked if they’ve ever said anything silly during the streaming broadcasts. “A lot,” Alex confesses. “It’s not anything that shouldn’t be heard over the radio, though. I said that B.J. Coleman had really big shoes once.” Duke and Alex have been roommates for all four of their years at McCallie, though, so their rapport on the air is definitely unique. “We could probably finish each other’s sentences by now,” Alex says. “Sometimes we do,” Duke adds. The two seniors have already begun recruiting more underclassmen to carry on the broadcasting next year. “The coolest thing is that this could be our legacy at McCallie,” Alex says. “Since I don’t play football and I like it so much, it gives me a chance to be part of the game,” Duke says. “It’s so fun to sit up there and talk on the radio and call the game, like the guys on TV.”
In edging out a 20-17 victory over Baylor in overtime, McCallie clinched a solid decade of winning its biggest rivalry game. When McCallie’s 10-year win streak against Baylor in varsity football began, Britney Spears
hadn’t even released an album yet. Most of McCallie’s sixth graders weren’t even a year old when Baylor last won a varsity football game against its rival. Cell phones were big, as in large. People connected to the Internet by dialing up through their phone lines. John Elway was still quarterback of the World Champion Denver Broncos. Google didn’t even exist. While McCallie had rung up nine straight victories, true blue fans knew that getting that tenth and completing the “decade of dominance” would be the hardest of all. After graduating a large senior class in 2006, expectations were fairly low going into the 2007 football season, the first under new head coach Rick Whitt, but the team was a promising and better-than-expected 4-3 going into its annual matchup against its local “rival across the river.” Baylor stirred up a slight ruckus amongst local alumni after electing to host the game on its home field, cutting in half the number of attendees from 2006, but even the home field advantage wasn’t enough to break the Blue Tornado’s streak. But the game could hardly have been closer, and the results left student-athletes on both sides of the field physically and emotionally drained. Athletic Director Bill Cherry, who has watched more than three decades’ worth of games since his arrival on the Ridge in 1970, could think of only one game in his time on the Blue Tornado sidelines that eclipsed the 2007 version. “When we played Baylor in the 1974 playoffs, that was the best game I’ve ever seen in this rivalry,” he said. “Waymon Tipton, Ed Smith and Tom Clark our quarterback were all seniors, and Baylor beat us badly (31-14) in the regular season. But we met them again on UTC’s Chamberlain Field in the playoffs and fought hard for a 29-7 win.” Mr. Cherry said he could think of a handful of other games in the rivalry that could arguably match this one for drama and entertainment value, but not any others that were unquestionably better or bigger nail-biters. “Some people forget that last year’s game (in 2006) was close until the fourth quarter. To have that much drama in front of 13,000 people was pretty awesome,” he said. The game itself was hard fought throughout the first three and a half quarters, and McCallie held tightly to a 17-14 lead as it punted to Baylor with under 2:00 remaining. After a string of big gains, however, the Tigers found themselves with 1st and Goal from the 1-yard line with less than a minute left. Two failed attempts to gain that final precious yard forced a harried last-second field goal that barely beat the game clock, leaving the teams tied at 1717 and headed to overtime. After a missed field goal from Baylor, McCallie set up for a 22-yard field goal on third down, and senior place-kicker Matt Higgins missed the attempt, but not before Baylor’s sideline had called a time out. He did not miss his second attempt, giving McCallie its “decade of dominance” in the series. ■ McCallie magazine |
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The Art of Biology
When a group of McCallie biology teachers
and students traveled to Montana this summer to partake in a wildlife conservation project, they took along an unlikely member of the group – Art Department Chairman Jack Denton. Ten years ago, Mr. Denton was the recording artist for a TVA water quality project. He asked Biology Teacher Pete LaRochelle, who coordinates McCallie’s Learning Through Experience internships, if he could perform a similar role for the McCallie group when they returned to the 200,000-acre Flying D Ranch (owned by Ted Turner ’56) near Bozeman. Students spent their days monitoring trout incubators, improving habitat for treatment, measuring stream flow rate and trout population density and removing
non-native fish species. Their work was part of an ongoing joint project between the U.S. Forest Service, the Montana Department of Fish, Game and Parks and Turner Enterprises to reintroduce the endangered western slope cutthroat trout on the ranch. “This is the biggest project of its kind attempted and has collectively cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so the stakes are pretty high,” Mr. LaRochelle explains. (Grant Reid ’07, a member of McCallie’s 2006 team, served on Turner Enterprises’ research staff this summer.) Meanwhile, Mr. Denton roamed around the ranch and its surrounding towns, searching for the day’s vistas. “It was great, getting all the warm colors and seeing how quickly everything changes with the light,” he says. “It goes from cool to hot colors in
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no time; it’s very dramatic with the clouds rolling by so quickly. Every evening the breeze would come up and create a lot of drama and contrast in the sky. The sky is a big part of the equation out there.” He usually returned to the ranch in the evening with two paintings to touch up. “The bunkhouse became ‘Louvre Montana,’” he jokes. “We’d tape the paintings up so the wind wouldn’t take them away; we had to go chase them down sometimes. They were landscapes in two ways – there were landscapes that I was painting, but then there would be so much tumbleweed and stuff adhered to them that they became a collage of actual Montana terra firma and foliage, a multimedia sort of thing.” The coexistence of art and biology inspired a spirit of mutual admiration. “I
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think Pete’s the hardest-working guy I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Denton raves. “He really stays driven and made all the things in the background work so we’d have good experiences out there.” “Jack brought a different perspective to the trip,” Mr. LaRochelle says. “The staff really started to appreciate what Jack was doing.” The trip also inspired ways the Learning Through Experience program could evolve. “One of my dreams for this program would be that this could be broadened from wildlife to writing or art. It would be a great relationship. Then it would be a full-spectrum educational program. I’d love to see that.” Mr. Denton completed a total of 23 paintings this summer, and he’s working on larger versions of some of his studies. Staff members at the Flying D purchased several of
the works – the rest will be showcased in an exhibit at Chattanooga State University this spring. ■
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In Memoriam David Lee “Tex” Hill ’34 of San Antonio, Texas, died October 11, 2007. He was a five-year boarding student who later attended Austin College. While at McCallie, he was a cheerleader and a member of the State Club, the Demosthenes Literary Society, the Len White Literary Society, the Wanderers Club and football, basketball and track teams. The retired Air National Guard brigadier general and renowned leader of the Flying Tigers during World War II is survived by his wife Mazie, two daughters, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Ernest Alexander Grindler ’35 of Swainsboro, Ga., died September 12, 2007. He was a seven-year day student who later served in the U.S. Army during World War II. While at McCallie, he was a member of the Woodrow Wilson Literary Society, the James Fenimore Cooper Literary Society and the football, basketball and baseball teams. The former owner and operator of Swainsboro Gas Co., Inc. is survived by two sons, two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. George Washington Stowe Jr. ’36 of Gastonia, N.C., died June 9, 2007. He was a one-year boarding student who later graduated from Davidson College and North Carolina State University. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. While at McCallie, he was a member of the State Club. The former president of Crescent Spinning Company is survived by his wife Kathryn, two sons, one daughter, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Samuel Ervin Hall ’39 of Richmond, Va., died July 27, 2007. He was a three-year boarding student who later graduated from the University of North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. While at McCallie, he was a member of Keo-Kio, the Student Council and the football, track and soccer teams. The retired senior vice president of Harrison & Bates Realtors is survived by two sons and 12 grandchildren.
James Lander Morgan ’41 of Laurel Hill, N.C. died August 27, 2007. He was a one-year boarding student who later attended Davidson College and graduated from the University of North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. While at McCallie, he was a member of the band, the State Club and the soccer team. The former chairman of The Morgan Company and The Morgan Foundation is survived by his wife Elizabeth, son James ’71, three daughters and 10 grandchildren.
Carlton Lamar Swope ’46 of Pinellas Park, Fla., died August 31, 2006. He was a four-year boarding student who later graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of Florida. He was a lieutenant in the Air Force Communications Branch during the Korean War. While at McCallie, he was vice president of Keo-Kio and a member of the Monogram Club, the Hop Committee, the State Club, YMCA and the football and swimming teams. The retired engineer and builder is survived by his wife Doris and one son.
Arthur Leet Healan Jr. ’42 died April 9, 2007. He was a four-year day student who later graduated from the University of Chattanooga. While at McCallie, he was a member of the band, the rifle team, the Glee Club, the State Club, the Ham Radio Club and the tennis team. He was the retired laboratory director of Collegedale Medical Center.
Harry Wesley Stowers ’48 of Knoxville, Tenn., died August 12, 2007. He was a three-year boarding student who later graduated from Lehigh University. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. While at McCallie, he was a member of Keo-Kio, the Student Council, YMCA, the Tornado and the basketball and baseball teams. The co-founder of Stowers Machinery Corporation is survived by his wife Sarah, sons Wes ’72 and Stewart ’73, one daughter and eight grandchildren.
Dr. George Walker St. Clair Moore ’42 of Venice, Fla., died August 1, 2007. He was a four-year boarding student who later earned degrees from Washington and Lee University, Duke University and the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines. While at McCallie, he was a member of the Glee Club, the State Club, the band and the swimming and basketball teams. The former urologist is survived by brother Robert ’40, two sons, one daughter, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Dr. James McIntosh Hedrick Jr. ’44 of Winston Salem, N.C., died August 23, 2007. He was a fouryear boarding student who later earned degrees from the University of North Carolina and the Northern Illinois College of Optometry. He served in the U.S. Army. While at McCallie, he was a member of YMCA, the State Club and the tennis team. The retired optometrist is survived by four nieces.
McCallie’s memorial wall commemorates all alumni who lost their lives in military service. The area surrounding the wall will become a memorial garden this winter (see next page).
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Thomas Ewing Rice ’48 of Tullahoma, Tenn., died August 31, 2007. He was a seven-year boarding student who later graduated from the University of Tennessee. While at McCallie, he was a member of the State Club and the soccer and football teams. The retired president of Town & Country Motors, Inc. is survived by his wife Alma, two sons and five grandchildren. George John Evans ’49 of Winter Springs, Fla., died June 12, 2007. He was a three-year boarding student who later attended Millsaps College. While at McCallie, he was a cheerleader and a member of the Glee Club and the football, baseball and wrestling teams. He was a former realtor with Land Masters Realty. Dr. Thomas Buchanan Looney ’49 of Hendersonville, N.C., died June 9, 2007. He was a four-year boarding student who later earned degrees from Rhodes College, Columbia University and Vanderbilt University. While at McCallie, he was a member of the Missionary Committee and the tennis, wrestling and soccer teams. The former minister and teacher is survived by his wife Marjorie, one son, two daughters and two grandchildren.
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Howard Claude Bozeman Jr. ’51 of Huntsville, Ala., died May 30, 2007. He was a two-year boarding student who later graduated from Auburn University. He served in the U.S. Army. While at McCallie, he was a member of the Tornado, Fizzbatt’s, the State Club and the soccer team. The former architect and design contractor for Marshall Space Flight Center is survived by his wife Janet, two sons, one daughter and eight grandchildren. Thomas David Anderson ’51 of St. Petersburg, Fla., died December 11, 2006. He was a two-year boarding student who later attended the University of Florida. He served in the U.S. Navy. While at McCallie, he was a member of the State Club, the Tornado, Fizzbatt’s, the Astronomy Club, the Missionary Committee, the Drama Club and the baseball, tennis, wrestling and gymnastics teams. The former owner and operator of St. Pete Gas and Appliance Co. is survived by two daughters and two grandchildren. Rufus Sherrill ’52 of Southport, N.C., died September 17, 2007. He was a six-year boarding student who later attended the University of North Carolina. While at McCallie, he was winner of the American Legion Award and a member of the Senate, Keo-Kio, Student Council, YMCA, the State Club, the Hop Committee, the Smoking Club and the tennis team. Earl McMillen Jr. ’57 of Eatonton, Ga., died September 1, 2007. He was a two-year boarding student who later attended Georgia State University. He served in the U.S. Navy. The former founder and president of Earl McMillen Jr. & Associates, a design and development firm, is survived by his wife Peggy, two sons, one daughter and one grandson. Theodore Morrison Crain Jr. ’59 of Sherman Oaks, Calif., died November 23, 2006. He was a four-year boarding student who later attended Vanderbilt University. While at McCallie, he was a recipient of the Maurice Contor Award, a member of the Astronomy Club, the Hop Committee, the Glee Club, the Drama Club, Cum Laude, YMCA, the Tornado, the Pennant, the Argonaut and the debate team. The former accompanist is survived by one sister.
This winter, an area at the heart of McCallie’s campus will become a reflection garden. The
family of David Cooper ’09 asked that the contributions given to McCallie in his memory be used to establish a place for reflection that was central to campus. The decision was made to enhance the area where the memorial to alumni who lost their lives in military service is located and to incorporate a sculpture given in David’s memory. The landscape plan, developed by Bob Franklin ’78, will transform the area between Tate Hall and the Maclellan Academic Center (see drawing above). The plan incorporates a winding stone path, benches and new plantings, as well as a sculpture by Art Department Chairman Jack Denton. “The path will lead by the sculpture and by the memorial plaques,” Mr. Franklin explains. “The two areas will be defined by landscaping so that each has its own sense of place and identity, but there will also be one unified landscaping plan defining the entire area. It is that sense of place that will make the sculpture and memorial special. It will be a place for boys to walk and sit and talk and read and remember.” In speaking of his sculpture, which depicts a flame based on the Fibonacci sequence, Mr. Denton said it is “an inspirational, universal, spiritual, uplifting image.” “David was one of my talented students,” he says. “I feel very honored and appreciative that the sculpture will be part of this space, and I hope that the sculpture will reflect David’s positive spirit.” The new reflection garden will be dedicated on February 14.
Todd Calais Akin ’82 of Chattanooga died July 27, 2007. He was a one-year day student. The former musician is survived by his wife Rhesa, brother Michael ’77, four children and his parents.
Robert Ashley “Bob” Rogers ’03 of Chattanooga died August 22, 2007. He was a four-year day student who later attended the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. He is survived by his parents. ■
Patrick Gregg Ramseur ’86 of Hickory, N.C., died February 4, 2007. He was a two-year boarding student who later attended Furman University. While at McCallie, he was a member of the cross country and golf teams. The former president of Carolina Furniture Supply is survived by his wife Carolyn, two sons and two daughters.
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Notes
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Winter 2008
Births&Weddings Births00s
Births70s
To Tim Vincent ’74 and Marilea a son, Lucas James, on July 14, 2007. ■ To John Pregulman ’76 and Amy a daughter, Goldie David, on June 21, 2007.
To Trey Clark ’02 and Paige a daughter, Brooklyn Marie, on September 16, 2007. ■ To Graham Taylor ’03 and Kalie a daughter, Tatum Makaio, on May 31, 2007.
Births80s
Weddings80s
Teddy Turner ’81 to Blair Selden on December 18, 2006. ■ Rev. Robert Watkin ’81 to Phoebe Yan on July 14, 2007, in Charlottesville, Va.
To Charlie Knox ’83 and Kimberly a son, Henry Seymour, on August 24, 2007. ■ To Cary Folk ’84 and Stacey a son, Henry Prest, on March 28, 2007. ■ To Craig Butler ’87 and Carina a son, Blake Cameron, on August 24, 2007. ■ To David Ellis ’87 and Margaret twin daughters, Julia and Gretchen, on June 20, 2007. ■ To Cameron Hill ’87 and Sally a son, Cameron Strawbridge “Strobe” II, on May 8, 2007. ■ To Rodes Cole ’89 and Elizabeth a son, Rodes Myers Jr., on April 12, 2007.
Lee Bishop ’91 and his wife Laura celebrated the birth of their second son, Matthew Daniel, on January 26, 2007.
Weddings90s
Taylor McElroy ’91 to Erin Forrest on July 21, 2007. ■ John Causey ’93 to Elizabeth Penland on April 28, 2007. ■ Jeffrey Petroff ’94 to Annemarie Hauck Krothe on October 7, 2006. ■ David Foster ’96 to Deborah Elizabeth Bernstein on July 22, 2007, in Hanover, N.H. ■ Tony Ankar ’98 to Mary Hagood Drennen on July 7, 2007, in Highlands, N.C. ■ Timothy Grein ’98 to Alison DeeAnn Hulin in June 2007. ■ Clay Odom ’99 to Cheryl Ann Canipe on July 28, 2007, in Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
Births90s
Members of the Cole family gathered in Bowling Green, Ky., in August to honor the upcoming marriage of David Cole ’86. The family dressed up in new “big blue” apparel to commemorate the occasion. Pictured are David, Rodes ’89, Will ’94 and Rodes Myers Jr., who was born on April 12, 2007. Lucas Marshall ’11 also attended the gathering.
■
Jac, born in May 2007, is the son of Andrew Crews ’92 and his wife Corrie.
Lucas James is the son of Tim Vincent ’74 and his wife Marilea. He was born on July 14, 2007.
To Marc Crossman ’90 and Carrie a daughter, Lila Grace, on July 30, 2007. ■ To Holland Johnson ’90 and Ceci a daughter, Lucy Barrow, on July 14, 2006. ■ To Walton Moseley ’90 and Jessica a daughter, Ella Rose, on August 16, 2007. ■ To Kurt Weigel ’90 and Carolyn a daughter, Lauren Abigail ‘Abby,’ on April 15, 2007. ■ To Lee Bishop ’91 and Laura a son, Matthew Daniel, on January 26, 2007. ■ To Timothy Hartline ’91 and Amy a son, Nathan Daniel, on May 23, 2007. ■ To Andrew Crews ’92 and Corrie a son, John Andrew ‘Jac,’ on May 11, 2007. ■ To Joseph McCoin ’92 and Elizabeth a son, Charles Hardwick, on July 27, 2007. ■ To Frank Crump ’95 and Mimsie a son, Frank McLemore, on August 1, 2007. ■ To Cole Gahagan ’95 and Jackie a son, Henry Cole IV, on August 21, 2007. ■ To Jason Stumpf ’96 and Margaret a son, Jonas Funkhouser, on August 14, 2007. ■ To Scott Reynertson ’96 and Alexis a daughter, Ava Jolene, on August 31, 2007. ■ To James Keras ’97 and his wife JJ a son, Dallas Reed, on May 20, 2007. ■ To Matthew Carroll ’98 and Jewell a son, Ethan William, on June 26, 2007.
Kurt Weigel ‘90 and his wife Carolyn welcomed their second baby, daughter Lauren Abigail “Abby,” on April 15, 2007.
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Weddings00s
Brent Bowman ’01 to Amanda Wallace on July 28, 2007, in Chattanooga. ■ John Hardin ’02 to Mary Katherin Roark in June 2007. ■ Lee Connell ’03 to Jessica Leigh Henshaw on July 21, 2007, in Kingsport, Tenn.
Several alumni were groomsmen in the wedding of Timothy David Grein ’98 to Alison DeeAnn Hulin in June. Pictured (left to right) are Dalton Grein ’01, Patrick Lowry ’98, the groom, Brown Dudley ’98, Wesley Camp ’98 and Matt Rabil ‘98.
John Pregulman ’76 and his wife Amy are the proud parents of Goldie Davis, born on June 21, 2007. They and their five other children live and work in Denver, Colo.
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Frank McLemore Crump, born on August 1, 2007, is the son of Frank IV ’95, grandson of Frank III ’64 and the great-nephew of Acker Rogers ’64.
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Class Updates 1940s
James Sizer ’43 is a mechanical engineer with the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command in Warren, Mich. His duties include providing corrective actions for logistical support of combat vehicles in the field and at the depots. Many alumni and students celebrated with John Hardin ’02 and Mary Katherine Roark at their wedding in June. Pictured (left to right) are Wayne Holley ’71, Wes Stowers ’72, Parker Baird ’04, Tom Baird ’72, Alan Baird ’02, Tye Haeberle ’03, Kilton Kingsman ’02, John Little ’02, the groom and bride, Bart Roark ’06, Wiley Roark ’78, Tom Bible ’77, Tucker Mosteller ’02, Will Wampler ’09, Nick Moore ’05, Kirk Walker ’69, Dave Banks ’06, Matt Banks ’12, Mike O’Neal ’76, David Banks ’71 and Will Bible ’08.
Charlie Castner ’47 continues his jazz piano playing and was recently featured in a program on his local public radio station. He also plays for his church and Rotary Club. Jim Lyle ’49 delivers Meals on Wheels and teaches a Sunday School class at his church.
1950s
Gordon Sisk ’51 writes: “Lots of traveling and enjoying every minute. Watching my two granddaughters grow up.” Stephen Cole ’59 retired after 25 years in property/ casualty insurance underwriting and 10 years driving tour buses. He is living in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where his wife Nancy is a United Methodist minister. Clay Odom ’99 (right) married Cheryl Canipe on July 28, 2007, at The Fairyland Club in Lookout Mountain, Ga. His brother Brett Odom ’94 (left) was best man and is pictured with his wife Mary.
1960s
Shelby Brammer ’60 retired in 2003 and splits his time between Seattle, Wash., and Florence, Italy. Donald Moseley ’60 just returned from Gabon, Africa, where he was searching for gorillas. He reports that he has nine grandchildren under the age of 5. Sid Ballinger ’62 retired as president of FedEx Ground in 2002. He lives on a golf course, playing several times a week.
Jeffrey Broughton Petroff ’94 married Annemarie Hauck Krothe on October 7, 2006. In attendance were Kevin Petroff ’91 and Christopher Huffman ’99. The couple honeymooned in New Zealand and reside in Wilmington, N.C.
Tom Biggs ’64 and his wife visited their daughter and son-in-law this summer in Japan to welcome a new granddaughter. During the visit, Tom climbed Mount Fuji at 12,338 feet. Pete Austin ’64 is now a sales consultant for Versant Properties in Asheville, N.C. Turner Howard ’65 won two national cycling championships in July. Shortly after turning 60, he won both the time trial and the road race for his age group at the USA Cycling National Festival. He also won the Best All-Round Rider Award and a chance to compete at the World Master’s Championships in Austria in August.
Lee Connell ’03 married Jessica Leigh Henshaw on July 21, 2007, at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Kingsport, Tenn. His groomsmen included: (front row) Blythe Grant ‘03, Jack Silberman ‘03, Adam Connell ‘14, Nolan White ‘03, (back left) Patrick Sholl ‘04 and (right of the groom) Science Teacher Gordon Connell.
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McCallie magazine |
1970s
Tom Froneberger ’70 retired in October after 30 years of federal service in the Army. Larry Hare ’73 opened a ComForCare Senior Services franchise in Huntsville, Ala., in June. Randy Siegel ’73 has just released his second book, PowerHouse Presenting: Become the Presenter You Were Born to Be. In it, he promises, “In less time than it takes to read this book, I can help you fast-track your career.” The book is available online at Amazon.com and Lulu.com. Bruce Myer ’75 writes: “I’m am thrilled to say my oldest son, Parker, is in his second year at McCallie as a junior. As fate would have it, Parker is in the same rooom in Founders in which Will Fanjoy ’75 and I were RAs 32 years ago. Will’s son Thomas is also at McCallie as a junior.” Rick Bohner ’78 and his family have moved to Orlando, Fla., where Rick is an assistant principal at The First Academy on the campus of First Baptist Church. Al Flowers ’79 lives in Tulsa, Ok., and serves with the U.S. Army Reserves as an engineer officer. From October 2007 until December 2008 he will be deployed to Iraq.
1980s
This summer the South African Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery awarded Dr. Stephen Updegraff ’80 the Kritzinger Award for contributions to refractive surgery. He accepted the award in Cape Town, South Africa, in June. Quintel Williams ’80 has retired from the U.S. Air Force after more than 23 years of active service. He began working with The Boeing Company as an integration engineer in July. At the age of 40, Mark Deaton ’84 has returned to law school. After his first year at the University of Houston Law Center, he ranked in the top 10 percent of his class and was invited onto the Houston Law Review. This fall he was elected president of the Sports and Entertainment Law Organization and will serve as a teaching assistant in civil procedure. Cam Conklin ’87 and his family moved to Lookout Mountain, Tenn., in June.
Jay Wellons ’87 and Gary Welch ’87 “ran” into each other at the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon in July. “There were over 1200 participants and as we were lining up by race number for the swim the person that was one in front of me was none other than Gary Welch from my McCallie class,” Jay recalls. “It was unbelievable! Gary had done the race before so he completely calmed my jitters and we laughed all the way to the start. Of course we took a photo at the end...the quarterback and the newspaper editor.”
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Class
Notes continued . . .
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Winter 2008
1990s
John Ashe ’91 and Rusty Bishop ’91 recently spent some time hiking and fly fishing in the Trinity Alps in northern California. “While the fishing was mediocre, the trash talking was top notch!” John reports. Ash Bullard ’93 earned his doctorate from the University of Sourthern Mississippi in May and is doing post-doctoral work at USM’s Gulf Coast Research Lab. “Having lost my home to Katrina, I am living comfortably in my FEMA trailer on my lot in Ocean Springs,” he writes. Still Hunter ’95 was named one of Real Estate Forum’s “35 Under 35” industry standout stars in the magazine’s July issue. Still is a senior investment associate with Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and is ranked as the 16th highest-grossing agent in the firm nationwide.
K. C. Dyer ’99 graduated with high honors from the University of Tennessee Dental School in May. He began a graduate program in orthodontics in August. William Rogers ’99 is a district executive with the Three Rivers Ridge District, Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.
2000s
Hunter White ’00 lives in Chattanooga and plays in the band Doghouse Riley, which has been performing in local and regional shows. Corp. Stephen Thomas ’00 is stationed with the U.S. Marines at Fort Meade, Md. He is serving with Company B of the Marting Cryptologic Support Batallion as a Spanish Cryptologic Langauge Analyst. Cyrus Shahmir ’00 writes that he has recorded a full-length album for his band, the N.E.C. (which had its first performance at McCallie), called “Million Minks.” He was also a credited audio assistant for the Adult Swim shows “Aquateen Hunger Force,” “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” and “12 Oz. Mouse.” He has also worked on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon movie which will come to theaters this year.
Alex Cook ’05 (far left) is a member of the Dartmouth Dodecaphonics, Dartmouth College’s oldest co-ed a cappella group, which sang at the beginning of the presidential debate held at the college in September. (photo from Dartmouth, by Kawakahi Kaeo Amina ’09)
In October, the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored Josh Wheeler ’06 with its “Medal of Courage.” The award, according to the organization, is given to “a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges, which may be physical, mental or other handicaps that make their achievements all the more uplifting.” Since his senior year at McCallie, when Josh underwent two surgeries for a cancerous brain tumor, he has earned honorable mention as an All-American triathlete and has raised more than $10,000 for cancer research. Josh is currently training for the Collegiate Nationals and the age group Nationals in triathlon, in hopes to qualify and represent the U.S. at the Worlds in Germany. Josh is also an honors scholar at Appalachian State University.
Jason Blair ’01 is in nursing school at Idaho State University in Boise, Idaho, and works for St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center.
Several members of the class of ’95 gathered for a weekend in Chicago in July. Pictured (left to right) at Wrigley Field are Cole Gahagan, Thomas Hinton, Aaron Atkinson, Loyd Comegys, L.A. Galyon, Jeb Phillips and Chris Irby. “It should be noted that Thomas Hinton ate 13 hot dogs while in Chicago,” L.A. writes.
Tripp Pettigrew ’01 toured around the country with Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” this fall. Tye Haeberle ’03 graduated magna cum laude from Washington & Lee University and started medical school at the University of Louisville.
Will Haeberle ’96 lives in Jacksonville, Fla., and was recently promoted to a management position at Price Waterhouse.
Matt Kreis ’03 graduated magana cum laude from the University of Georgia in May with a degree in risk management and insurance. He works as a risk analyst for March USA in Atlanta.
Jim Stanko ’98 earned a degree in criminal justice this spring and moved to Charleston, S.C., to take a full-time position with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Department.
Andrew Einstein ’03 completed his bachelor’s degree in physics at Middlebury College in May. He is now attending Cornell University working towards a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Bryan Wyker ’98 recently accepted a position as a commerical real estate broker with The Providence Group of the Carolinas in Charlotte, N.C.
Vivek Rao ’03 was the student speaker at his graduation from the University of California Berkeley College of Engineering last spring. Vivek graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in creative writing. During his time at Berkeley he was a designer of Berkeley’s solar car, a student researcher and the director of Berkeley Invasion. A video of Vivek’s speech is online at www.coe.berkeley.edu/ multimedia.
Aaron Long ’99 is one of three young Chattanooga natives who teamed up to open the Market Street Tavern in Miller Plaza. One of his co-managers is Miller Hedges, brother of Stephen Hedges ’00. 2nd Lt. Aravind Dileepan ’99 headed to Iraq in August as a platoon leader with the 478th Engineer Battalion out of Ft. Thomas, Ky. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College in 2003 and then his master’s in political science from Boston College in 2006, he went to basic training and OCS and was commissioned into the Engineer Corps in July 2006.
Alex Franks ’04 has been admitted to the honors program at the University of Edinburgh in both philosophy and English literature. Austin Roberts ’04 is beginning dental school at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.
McCallie magazine |
Thomas Perkins ’48 (left) hosted friends Robert Freeman ’48 and Eugene Branham ’44 at his home in Gallatin, Tenn., this summer.
B.J. Coleman ’07 accepted the Scrappy Moore Award for male athlete of the year from brothers David Moore ’53 and Scrappy Moore Jr. .’52 at the Best of Preps Banquet at the Chattanooga Convention Center this fall. The award is named for Scrappy Moore ’22.
22 | Winter 2008
Honor|Tr ut h|D ut y
Roll Call The 23rd Candlelight program was held before Christmas, filling the newly-renovated McCallie Chapel with listeners. We asked alumni to tell us their favorite memories of performing in the annual event… “Candlelight brought out the best in all of us,
just as the season of Christmas will do. The defining factor, however, is that Candlelight was and is magical. You arrived to perform with anticipation for greatness, and greatness was achieved. You left the building lifted high spiritually, craving more, realizing this one night was something that could happen only once and never again. You can go see a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” anywhere in the world, any time – word has it, that show plays every night somewhere on the globe. But Candlelight, each year, each night, is uniquely precious, mesmerizing and ultimately quite magically spiritual. Each night can never again be created the same. Lew Cisto would often tell us in dress rehearsals leading up to the Candlelight concerts, ‘Folks, take mental pictures. This is special. These are times you want to remember.’ He was right. Spiritually, and musically, Candlelight at McCallie resides in my heart as one of the happiest times of my life.” —Stefan Schermerhorn ’93
“Candlelight was always more than just a
musical endeavor to the singers, and I think Mr. Cisto understood that better than anyone. To many of us, Candlelight was home. From the seniors’ verse in “O Holy Night” to doing the Time Warp at the cast party, being part of Candlelight was a cultural experience. It may not be as well known as SPIRITUALS antics or Keo-Kio tappings, but the experience of Candlelight is the first thing that comes to mind for many McCallie men when you ask them about their time on the Ridge. The credit goes to Mr. Cisto for seeing the opportunity to build community and tradition where others might never have looked past the same old Christmas show.” —Jay Mayfield ’97
“There was the allure of singing with the
Candlelight choir, made up of not only McCallie men but women. Part of this mystery of Christmas was watching the women – singing, playing with their hair, chatting, and making eyes at all the men. Having spent so much of every school day with a
bunch of guys, having never enjoyed the experience of a co-ed school, I always looked forward to those rehearsals. I met Connie Reddan (GPS ’91) through the choir, and began to court her earnestly throughout the fall of 1990. Seventeen years later, we are married and have two children. Candlelight became a focal point of our relationship and helped develop Christmas as a special time for the two of us. We were married on December 27. We have both always looked forward to Christmas, and not a Christmas holiday goes by without one of us pulling out the Candlelight 1990 VHS tape and watching old memories pass by on the screen. I miss Candlelight every year, and I always look forward to being able to attend.” —Whit Miller ’91
“My favorite Candlelight memory actually
happened after I graduated. I had arrived a bit late, and found myself in the mass of chorus in the narthex of the chapel. I could immediately feel that rush of excitement, that electric silence that preceded each Candlelight. Everyone glowed. The chorus began the first strains of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ and I immediately fell in love again with being in that place, with being surrounded by that depth of tradition and unity of voice. Mr. Cisto must have seen the sparkling in my eyes, because his eyes locked on mine and he cued me in to join them. My voice joined with the chorus and I was transfixed. I realized then that I had not lost those words and that I would never lose them. They will be with me forever.” —Brandon Mozingo ’95
“The part I always remembered was the
“The great thing about participating in
Candlelight is that it’s not just another high school Christmas program; you are really part of a living tradition. Alumni know that when they return to the Ridge, they will find the program to be filled with both the traditional and new repertoire. Every time I hear ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ or ‘O Holy Night,’ I immediately think of Mr. Cisto leading us in those songs and telling us to ‘take mental pictures.’ I still have those ‘mental pictures,’ and some of my fondest memories of McCallie are from Candlelight.” —Scott Woods ’02 ■
final chorus of “O Holy Night.” Mr. Clem ripped into the piano, and everyone sang like it was the last words they’d ever sing… Everything felt sharp, in focus, and electric. I have never since, even in my stint in music school, participated in a chorus with so much professionalism. Mr. Cisto has a talent for finding that spark in each individual and bringing a glorious flame out of the shyest of students.” —Joe McPherson ’92
McCallie magazine |
23 | Winter 2008
More tributes can be found online at www.mccallie.org -> Alumni -> McCallie News
Next question: What is your strongest memory of being in Bible class at McCallie? Tell us at news@mccallie.org
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Questions or comments? Feel free to contact McCallie’s Communications Office at 423.493.5615 or e-mail news@mccallie.org.
A Fresh Face to the World (Wide Web) McCallie first entered the worldwide web in 1994,
when the communications office launched www.mccallie.org. This spring, we will offer the most significant change to our online experience in 14 years. Partnering with the awardwinning WhippleHill Communications, a leader in web site design for independent schools, this newest version will allow alumni and parents more control than ever over what they see when they stop by for a visit. Through secure pages, alumni will be able to read notes from classmates and write their own updates. Alumni can also choose to be notified by email when class notes from others in their class – or another class of their choosing – have been added. The new system will make it easier to track class-related events and reunions, find out about gatherings being planned in specific areas or inform the alumni office about newsworthy updates. Visitors can even add wedding photos, baby photos or shots from a recent get-together with classmates. All visitors will enjoy an enhanced media gallery – with photos and video and audio podcasts – as well as an improved and customizable calendar system. In essence, the new web site will foster a thriving online and interactive alumni community and many new options and surprises for parents and friends. Look for it this spring!
He admaster
Dr. R. Kirk Walker, Jr. ’69
Director
of
communications
Billy T. Faires ’90
Mc Callie Maga zine Editor
Rebecca Nelson Edwards
B oard of T rust e e s Chairman of the Board
Edward G. Michaels III ’60 Atlanta, Georgia
James D. Blitch IV ’83 Atlanta, Georgia
L. Hardwick Caldwell III ’66
Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
E. Robert Cotter III ’69
New York City, New York
W. Kirk Crawford ’77
Robert E. Huffaker, Jr. ’78
James P. McCallie ’56
S. Elliott Davenport ’78
Graeme “Greg” M. Keith ’74
R. Kincaid Mills ’88
Joseph M. Haskins ’76
Michael I. Lebovitz ’82
Joseph Edward Petty ’80
C. Wayne Holley ’77
Howard I. Levine ’56
Colin M. Provine ’88
Charlotte, North Carolina Lookout Mountain, Georgia lookout mountain, Tennessee Albany, Georgia
lookout mountain, Tennessee charlotte, north carolina Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga, Tennessee
Rome, Georgia
Lookout Mountain, Georgia Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Morristown, New Jersey
Marcus H. Rafiee ’80
Charlotte, North Carolina
Daniel B. Rather ’53 Atlanta, Georgia
David A. Stonecipher ’59 Atlanta, Georgia
Timothy A. Stump ’75
Charlotte, North Carolina
Robert J. Walker ’58
Nashville, Tennessee