1960s A Special Decade With

Special People in the Class of ’67

The Class of ’67 was truly special, from 1963 and the Greenest Freshmen, Teresa Burke and Tommy Hunter, to the Most Sophisticated Seniors, Steve Quarles and Suzanne McDaniel . . . from a future captain of the Vanderbilt University football team (John Robinson) to co-writer of two great country music hits, “Somebody’s Knockin’” and “Heaven’s Just a Sin Away” (Jerry Gillespie). Senior Class Officers were President, Tilford Elkins; Vice-President, Paul Winter; Secretary, Karen Glover; Treasurer, Fay Davenport; and Sgt. at Arms, Ronnie Windham. Ricky Jones was Student Council Association President, and Beth Hawks was Secretary.

We had some great athletes too, with forward Rita Rochelle and center Roger Fisher both named Midstate Players of the Year in basketball—an amazing feat for both Players of the Year to come from the same school. In girls’ basketball, Rita and forward Beth Hawks and guard Barbara Carson were named to the Region IV All-Tournament Team. In boys’ basketball, Roger and forward Ronnie Windham were named to the District 13 All-Tournament Team. In football, Jerry Stubblefield was All-Midstate honorable mention quarterback, and Ronnie and John Robinson were both named First Team All-Midstate at wide receiver and fullback. Senior Cheerleaders included Nancy Comer, Rita Johnson and Melanie Campbell.

For the football homecoming activities, Melanie Campbell was Homecoming Queen and Senior Attendant was Cathy Croy. Band Sweetheart was Melinda Campbell, and the attendants were Thia Sanders and Grace Pope.  Speaking of the band, the sponsor was Mr. Jai Flynt, Letitia Berry was Drum Major, and Jerry Gillespie was captain of the Pep Band.

Some especially intelligent students were included in the Top 10 Seniors– Anita Watson (valedictorian), Paul Winter (salutatorian), Richard Lewis, Bobbie Jo McCargo, Grace Pope, Judy Jennings, Lynette Hall, Libby Fite, Fay Davenport, Pamela Watkins. And Paul, Grace and Anita were all on the Four-Year Honor Roll.

Class of ’67 Superlatives Include a Combination
of Funny, Friendly, Athletic, Attractive, Intelligent

The Future Farmers of America Queen was Nancy Johnson, with Donna Ragland and Emmie Wright as FFA Attendants. Nancy Dunklin was DAR Representative. Tilford Elkins was voted Mr. High School, and Rita Johnson Miss High School.

Other superlatives included: Most Beautiful Girl Sharon Phillips and Most Handsome Boy Jack Sullivan; Cutest Girl Joan Taylor and Cutest Boy Howard Riggan; Wittiest Girl Emily Hodges and Wittiest Boy Ronnie Hancock; Most Popular Girl Nancy Comer and Most Popular Boy John Robinson; Most Talented Girl Letitia Berry and Most Talented Boy Jerry Gillespie; Most Athletic Girl Barbara Carson and Most Athletic Boy Ronnie Windham; Most Likely to Succeed Girl Glenda Hightower and Most Likely to Succeed Boy Paul Winter. The teachers selected Fay Davenport as Best All Round Student.  In earlier years, Emily Hodges and Steve Cantrell were Silliest Sophomores, and Ann Goodner and John Robinson were Jolliest Juniors.

Blue Flame Newspaper Excels,
Souvenir Yearbook Dedicated to Mrs. Harrison

Glenda Hightower and Fay Davenport were co-editors of the Blue Flame, which was rated “Excellent” by the Tennessee High Press Association. Nancy Dunklin was Feature Editor and Alice Eatherly was Sports Editor. Other staff included Anita Watson, Karen Glover, Barbara Carson, Tilford Elkins, Cheryl Climer, Sharon Phillips, Bobbie Jo McCargo, Wanda Huffines, Brenda Horton, Jean Thomas, Suzanne McDaniel, and Bryson Place. Mrs. Guy Thackston was sponsor of the Blue Flame.

Tommy Gallaher was Editor of the Souvenir Yearbook, and Nancy Comer and Grace Pope were Assistant Editors. The yearbook was dedicated to our beloved math teacher, Mrs. Clark Harrison. Business Manager Ann Goodner and Assistant Business Manager Ann Barrett did an exceptional job, selling more than 100 ads. Art Director Steve Quarles helped create a “new look” of larger photos and better layout design. Features and Organization Editors included Susie Yahola, Steve Cantrell, and Rita Johnson. Beth Hawks and Pat Martin were Sports Editors. Other staff included Annice O’Connor, Judy Jennings, Danice Mason, Nancy Johnson and Patsy Napier. Mr. James Victor Miller was sponsor of the Souvenir.

Friends of LHS Class of ’67
Included Castle Heights Graduates

Some of our junior high school classmates attended Lebanon’s Castle Heights Military Academy, whose students include well known people such as General Wesley Clark and the Allman Brothers.  Local friends who graduated from Heights include Jimmy Suddarth, Carleton Thackston. Terry Stone, John Maggart, Loyne Alsup, Joe Jewell, Mike Conatser, John Armstrong, Scott Williams, James Owens, Ken Reynolds, and the late Jimmy Askew and Bobby Gwynn.

Other friends who were our classmates before 1967 include Jannie Johnson Tilley, Jenny Wolfe Major, Kathy Nave Hunter, Paula Cloyd Henley, Linda Edwards Malloy, Teresa Burke Melton, Larry Morgan, Brenda Moore Patterson, Nancy Pruitt Paulk, Barbara Suite Presley, Mary Gwynn Veazie Thompson, Ann P. Bates, Barbara Russell Griffin, and Lou Lord.