TED ADAMS

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

High School Graduation 1956, Served in U.S. Navy, Stationed in London, England for part of this time.  Other cities:  New York and Washington, D.C.   Lived and worked in Houston, Texas.  Graduated from SFA with BBA in Accounting, opened several shops in Houston.  Moved to Lufkin.  Celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the LEMON TREE SHOP in Lufkin.

GAY ASHBY THOMPSON

Personal History for the Last 40 years:    

     I find it increasingly difficult to believe that 45 years have passed since I moved from Center when in my heart I never truly left.  Fortunately, facts and emotions don't have to be in perfect harmony because my life in Plainview, a town of 22, 000 between Lubbock and Amarillo, has been wonderfully happy. 

     I graduated from high school here in 1955 and married Gayle Thompson ( the "boy-across-the-street"--honestly!)  He graduated from Texas A & M that same year and after a brief tour of Air Force duty we returned to Plainview where he took over his family's farming operation---and here we have stayed.

     We have three children, all duly educated, (Gayle questions this--they all went to Texas Tech!), married and the parents of our five delightful grandchildren.  Scott, 10 and Erinn, 6, belong to our daughter in Houston.   Melinda, our youngest is married to an attorney, Keith Hampton.  Kevin, our middle one, lives in Paris (the Texas one!) with wife Becky (Hill) and Savannah, 9, and Reagon, 5.  He is district manager for Terra, Inc.  Stephen, the oldest, (40!! in Dec.!!) with wife Denise (Drury) and Katie, 4, lives in Dallas.  He is associated with Southland Title Co.  We have discussed that our greatest talents are in grandparenting--we are good at it!

     Gayle assures me that the success of our 41 years together is measured by his having left 17 pine trees alive for me in a land where God never intended a pine tree to survive!

     I look forward to seeing you again in October.  I have preserved all the people, places and events of our shared childhood tenderly wrapped in the fragile tissue of memory and tied with the beautiful threads of time so that each time I open that wonderful gift, everything has been pressed into a lively keepsake, untarnished by the passing years.  However time and circumstances may have altered our outward appearances.  I am absolutely certain that the children we once were will recognize each other instantly.

BUSTER and ERA JO HENRY BALLARD

Personal History for the Last 40 years:   

     The time since that great year of "1956" has been busy.   Buster has his own Civil Engineering Co., which is called "Engineer's Inc."  We have three children who have turned out to be beautiful individuals.   Chris, a dentist, has recently completed his Dental Anesthesiologist Residency in California.  He will be practicing in Houston.  Chris and his wife, Marian, have three daughters, Elizabeth (10 yr.), Alison (6 yr.), and Emily (3 yr.).  Mark, No. 2 son, is a pilot with a commercial airline.  He and his wife, Sandy, and one daughter, Holly (3 yr.), live in Ft. Worth.  Daughter, Melissa, lives in El Dorado, Ark., with husband Tommy, a computer analyst, and daughter, Caitlin (3 yr.), better known as Katie, and son, Christopher - a romping, stomping two year old.

     Buster and I have recently completed a new home on Lake Livingston.  We have been busy planting close to a hundred azaleas.  That means that someone had to dig all those holes in the ground.   I would like to say it has been fun, but I think back breaking would be a better description.  The deer are so numerous here that they come into the yard, sometimes as many as five or six at a time.  It's a chore to find plants that they won't devour.  We would love to have any CHS visitors that would like to come.

SILVER BELL MOTLEY

LUKE MOTLEY, III  '57

Short and sweet history of the last 40 years.

Immediately following graduation from SFASU in May of '59', Luke and I married and lived in Waco a year before he graduated from Baylor U.   Coming back to Center in January '61' where he began work in Farmers State Bank, serving as President since 1977.  Except for a sojourn in Jacksonville (Texas, that is!) where we manufactured tents for the Vietnam War, we have made our life right here in Shelby County.

We have been married for thirty-seven years: have three wonderful kids; and three beautiful granddaughters.

LUKE MOTLEY IV:  A lawyer in Sherman, Texas; is married to Casey, a former Texas Tech Homecoming Queen and Cheerleader, who is the mother of our 2-year old twin granddaughters--Marlee and Jordan.  They are expecting another child in October and we are hoping for our first grandson.  (We are pretty sure it is.)

MONICA MOTLEY VAN SLATE:  Our third Baylor graduate and a former twirler for that institution is married to Dr. Jon Marc Van Slate and has a 1 year-old daughter, Sara Elizabeth.  Monica is a Senior Communication Executive for Southwest Airlines.  She and Jon live in Houston.

MEREDITH MOTLEY MORRIS:  Our Youngest, and fourth graduate of Baylor, has just married.  We now have a coach in the family (Basketball & Baseball); they both teach a Wells, Texas and live in Lufkin.   Meredith is the varsity cheerleader sponsor, and she and Brian spend much time at sporting events.  (Luke and I try to see all the play-off games.  Brian's baseball team won Bi-District this year.)

The year that our youngest graduated, Luke (worrying about the empty-nest syndrome) suggested I find something to do.  Center High School needed an English teacher that October, so I began teaching a Senior English class--I was scared to death, but it has turned out beautifully; I went back to school and got certified in English and Speech and have been teaching at the high school for the last ten years.  Am still not too computer literate, but I can do certain things with this darn technology, and it's fun to keep learning.

The Lord has blessed us; we are so grateful....and I look forward to seeing and reading about each of you in October.

NORMA JEAN (BONIOL) RUDD

TEDDY L. RUDD  '55

PERSONAL HISTORY FOR LAST 40 YEARS:  2 Children, 3 Grandchildren, 0 G.Grandchildren.

     After graduation, I went to work in Shreveport, Louisiana, for the telephone co. as an operator.  I only worked until March, 1957.  I quit, came home and married Teddy L. Rudd, a 1955 Grad.   We went into the Insurance Business with his father, Weldon Rudd.  In Sept., 1957, we received a "call" from a large Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas, to come work full time.  We accepted the call.  We loved the church and the work.   Not long after going there, "Sputnik" fell, economy crunched, and we moved back home Christmas, 1957.  We went back into the insurance business and never moved again.  On January 19, 1957, God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl, Kemi LaJean, who grew up to marry Jerry G. Faulkenbery of Snyder, Texas.  On December 20, 1972, God blessed again with another daughter, Keli Sharee, who grew up and married Eddie Fletcher, Jr., of Center.  I went back to work for the Phone Co. in 1964 and retired 1-1-93.

     I lost Teddy to a heart disease, 8-16-1987.  We have three wonderful grandchildren, Hannah and Josiah Faulkenbery, ages 12 & 8, and Brooke Fletcher, age 7.  I now work for Farmers State Bank, Center.

JERRY LYNN BRADSHAW

SANDRA SANDERS BRADSHAW  '57

Personal History for the Last 40 years:  

     Sandra and I have been married for almost 38 of the 40 years since my graduation from CHS in 1956.  After graduation I sent off to A&M and graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1960.  Sandra went to UT in the fall of 1957 and spent a year there before moving back to Center and attending SFA while planning our wedding of Nov. 26, 1958.  Then she moved to A&M and got her degree in PHT (putting-hubby-through).

     I went to work for Union Carbide Corporation in May 1960 and spent 1-1/2 years at Ft. Sill, OK in 1961 and 62.   We then became corporate gypsies.  Between Carbide and the Army, we logged 28 moves, some just to change houses, but most on temporary assignments.  We lived in Oklahoma, Arizona, Puerto Rico, West Virginia and Saudi Arabia and had several stints in Texas and Louisiana.  In 1987 we retired from Union Carbide, consulted for two years and then accepted a teaching position in Texas A&M's chemical engineering department.   It's hard to believe that we are now beginning our eighth year in a second career.   As long as it's fun and we are able, we plan to continue.  But we don't plan to move again.  The last move was number 31.

     Sandra's mother is our only surviving parent.  Irene Sanders, 81, lives in her own home here in College Station.   She is very frail having survived back surgery, a broken hip and a cracked vertebrae a couple of years ago.  She's a real fighter, butt we aren't sure how much longer she will be able to live alone.  Sandra's dad, Barnette, died in 1980.  I lost my dad, Marvin, in Oct., 1994 and my mother, Beatrice, in April of this year.

     Our son Michael lives in Austin and our daughter Carol lives in College Station.  Our grandson, Josh Baker, is nine and Mimi and Papa get to see his Little League baseball, football, and basketball games.  Has god ever created anything sweeter than grandchildren?

     God has blessed us greatly with wonderful parents, children, a grandson and countless friends.  Many of those friends we look forward to seeing in October.  As we write this we are getting ready to head to Montana to spend a week with Doug Pate riding four-wheelers in the mountains and catching a few trout.

JIMMY RAY BRIDGES

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

We have five children:

     Joyce    -     Has Stephanie 10, and Kenneth 8

     Loyce    -     None

     Greg        -    Samantha 6, and Amber 8

     Larry       -    

     Diane       -

Some of you may remember my sister Betty who was married to Alton Hughes.  Alton died several years ago.  Betty still lives in Center.

JUDY BRIDGES RUSHING

ROBERT "D" RUSHING   '54

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Dear Class of 1956,

The Rushing Family has had a relatively ordinary 40 years with some extraordinary events dotted throughout to liven things up and keep us all on our toes.

For 13 years we lived in Vidor, Texas and saw our two daughters, Rhonda and Cindy grow from cribs to elementary school desks.  Life was so simple then when the world was an easier place to live in.

We moved to Center in 1971, and saw our girls through high school, which was no easy task, both married and left the nest.

D. and I decided to hit the road, live in our motor home and follow Brown and Root around for almost 10 years.  Living and working in three different states and meeting many different types of people was quite an experience-lots of new friends and renewing old acquaintances was blessing that continues to bring us joy.  During this time, our two daughters decided to go to college, Rhonda, who is now and R.N. and Cindy, who is an L.V.N.  Isn't it strange how wise they become about an education after years of being out of high school.

In 1993, we moved back to Center where we will be for the duration.  In the past 40 years, we have been blessed with 5 grandchildren.   Rhonda married Roy Davis, son of Joan Oates and James Davis, both Center graduates, and they have two children, Chris and Kara.  Chris, the only grandson will graduate from dear old CHS this year.  Kara is a sophomore this year and looking forward to another year of high school.

Cindy married Prentice (Bubba) Shofner and they have three girls, Brittany is 10, Mallory, age 8, and Kristen is 16 months old.  Brittany and Mallory think of themselves as being old enough for anything which I guess is typical of that age.  Glad their parents have the responsibility instead of me.

Our lives have been full of blessings and one that we will always hold dear is knowing we shared each other's lives during the years that our values were set and lifetime friendships were made.  With God's help, we will continue to have those wonderful memories to relive over and over as the years go by.

NELDA (BROWN) TYLER

Dear classmates of the 1956 Graduating class:

Following is a very brief summary of my life since graduating from Center High School in 1956.

After high school graduation in 1956, I worked the summer for the County Agricultural Agent in Center.  In September, I moved to Brownwood, Texas and enrolled in Brownwood Business College.  (I always did like typing and shorthand.)   Mother and Daddy moved to Brownwood shortly after that and then they lived in Houston for several years.

I graduated from the business college in April and was offered a job in Dallas, Texas.  I had started dating Kenneth Tyler in the fall of 1956, he moved to Dallas and we were married in September, 1957.  We had one son, Dale, in 1959.

I changed jobs a couple of times and finally started what was to become a long term career with Collins Radio Company, later merged with Rockwell International, later sold to Alcatel Network Systems.  After starting as a secretary, I worked my way up through the secretarial ranks, spent a few years in management and later settled into  administrative/financial analysis work--and loved it.

During this time we lived in Richardson, Plano, Carrollton and I later moved to Garland and Rowlett.  My personal life has had it's ups and downs.   We spent many happy years and then my husband became ill.  He was unable to work for about 6 years and died in 1982.  I have never remarried.

My son Dale has an 8 year-old son (Brandon) who is the love of my life.

I retired from my job after 34 years because the company made a special retirement offer I could not refuse, but have worked contract at my same job since then.  I've just moved into a new home which I hope to enjoy for a long time.

CHARLIE M. BUSSEY

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

     Lucretia and I have been married for 40 + years.  I joined the Marines in '57' and we were stationed in Hawaii for most of the time.  Returned to Center and started to SFA in Jan. of 1960 - grad. Jan. of '64.  Worked with my day in Center until Lucretia graduated in August, 1965.   We moved to Austin in January of 1966 to go to grad. school at U.T.  Moved back to Nacogdoches in 1968 when we bought an auto parts store there.  We sold it after 14 years.  Moved to Shreveport in August of 1986 and back to Center in December of 1986 when my dad died.  We have now been home for ten years.  Our children:   Beth, Glyn Ellen and Chuck are all in Texas for a change.  Beth and Chuck at SFA and Glyn Ellen in Groesbeck (close to Waco where she taught last year.)  We will have eight grandchildren by Homecoming, 4 boys - 4 girls.  Come to see us when you're in town.

CAROLYN CAMPBELL BROWN

Personal History for the Last 40 years: 

     WOW!!  Has it really been FORTY YEARS since we graduated from high school?  The years have gone by entirely too fast.

     After graduation, I first attended Kilgore College, then Stephen F. Austin.  I married Bill Brown of Tenaha.   Bill and I have three sons and two daughters-in-law.  They are Mike and Ann, who live in Tyler; Mark and Adrianne, who live in Allen; and David who is single and now living in Longview.

     Bill worked for a major oil company for twenty years.  This meant that we moved around a lot.  In fact, during the twenty years, we lived in College Station, TX; Shreveport, LA (four times); Houma, LA; Tyler, TX; Carthage, TX; Lafayette, LA; and finally ended up in Houston, TX.

     We now live in Longview and I expect we will be here from now on, since Bill has his own business.  As a matter of fact, a couple years ago our youngest son, David, went to work with Bill.

     Both of my parents have passed away.  My sister Mary, and her family also live in Longview.  We see each other frequently.  Between the two of us, we manage to keep up with a lot of the happenings in Center.

     I have always enjoyed going home to Center, even if it's only for the day.  It is still the same even though so much has changed.  The house in which I grew up has burned along with our high school.  Our grade school has been torn down and I have a hard time figuring out which building on the square was my Dad's store.  Only my church looks the same.

     Writing this has really brought back memories of skating around the Court House, Gunnel's Cave, Big Ditch, the Shining Grave, Cotton Ford Road, the Circle Inn and many other things which I don't dare to mention.

     I feel lucky to have shared my youth with the special people from the Class of 1956.

JEAN CHILDS BAILEY

     Wish I could be with you all, but it's not possible this time around.  Look forward to Number 50.

     Darrell and I have three sons, Jack, Joe, and David.  Jack and Anita have twin girls, Ashley and Autumn (12.)  Joe and Diana have twin boys, Shawn and Eric (9) and Chris (8).  David and Patty have Cody (7), Melissa (2) and Jonathan (10 mos.)  These grandkids are the light of our lives and have a direct pipeline to our bank account.

     Two and half years ago, I decided to live my second childhood while I could still remember what it was.   I took my Commercial Driving test and now team with Darrell driving an 18 wheeler.   Never had so much fun in my life.  It is great do do something fun and get paid good money for it.  So far, I have been in all but two states in the Continental United States.  We haven't made Vermont and South Dakota as yet, but there is still plenty of time, unless we win the lottery (wishfully thinking.)  We spend a great deal of our time on the road so now it's really nice to get home.  We see a lot of country and hear a lot of tall tales.  I didn't know if we could spend this much time together without pulling out each other's hair, but we've done great.

     Know this will be a great reunion.  This is my "Happy 40th" to everyone.

SHIRLEY CHOATE NICHOLS

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Dear Classmates of '56.

     As of Aug., this year, Perry and I have been married 25 years.  We have lived in Center all this time.   We live in the James Community.  I have one son, James Hammers & his wife, Joni.  They live in Baytown, Texas.  Have two granddaughters, Deena, age 18 and Kristie, age 16.

     Perry is a truck driver and after 21 years, with Hallmark Cards, I retired in December, 1994.  Enjoying just being at home and sewing.

     Sorry I can't be at the reunion, but we already have an engagement that day.  Maybe next time.

ANNIE MERLE CLARK DENNY

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

Worked for title company in Houston after my marriage to Jim Denny.  Moved from Houston to Katy, a suburb of Houston in 1977, and started working in Real Estate shortly thereafter, and continue to do so today.  I lost Jim in 1990 after a three year battle with asbestosis.

I am very active in the Fidelis Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church of Houston, having served as it's President, Vice-President, and Entertainment Chairman, at various times.

Would love to hear from you.  I'll try to come to the homecoming, but not positive yet.  If I don't get to come, please save me a booklet.

MYRNA COUNTS DENNIS

PERSONAL HISTORY FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS

I have had a very full and busy life.  I lived in Alaska, Louisiana, and Ohio and for the major part of my life lived in Lufkin, Texas where I worked as an accountant for Axley and Rode, CPA's.  I was married to Don Dennis who was a partner there.  He died of a heart attack in November of 1988.   I have four children and on stepson who are all grown up and living far and near.   Donnie, my stepson lives in Lufkin, Texas.  My Oldest son, Jim, is a helicopter pilot and lives on Maui with his wife and three children.  My oldest daughter, Carol, lives with here husband and two children in Carrollton, Texas.   Jeff, my younger son, works for Davis Insurance, lives in Atlanta, Texas, and has one son.  My youngest daughter, Nancy, is a social worker and has three children.   She has just recently moved to Fredericksburg, Texas, and lives just a few blocks away.  So, I am enjoying having grandchildren nearby.  I have a wonderful old Victorian house here in Fredericksburg that in addition to being home is also a bed & breakfast.  So company is always coming and there are lots of interesting people to meet and entertain.  I love old houses and am in the middle of restoring another one.   I love gardening and pottery and plan to never "retire."

AARON THOMAS (TOMMY) DEAN

Personal History for the Last 40 years:

I have 2 Children, Peggy has 3 Children, we have 1 together, that's 6...We have 4 Grandsons and 10 Granddaughters.

I moved to Los Angeles, Calif. during Christmas break of my junior year.  For my senior year, I returned to Bryan, Texas.   Served 4 years in USAF finishing in Amarillo, Texas, where I met and married Peggy.   We moved to Houston in 1960, where I enrolled in an electrical trade school and became an electrician.  We lived in Pasadena for 30 years where I serve on the City Electrical Board for the past 14 years, San Jacinto College Electrical Tech. Advisory Committee for 6 years.  Have held the Masters License for an electrical company for 20 years where I am superintendent of service.

Moved to Conroe 2 years ago to try the country life.   Our hobbies include gardening, chickens, ducks and cruising with the Corvette Club.

BETTY LOU DICKINSON TRAVIS

Personal History for the Last 40 years:    

     After graduation in 1956, I moved to Shreveport, LA and worked for South Central Bell as a Long Distance Operator.   I met William Barry (Bill) Travis, who was in the USAF at Barksdale AFB, LA in September, 1956 and was married on December 15, 1956.  Bill is originally from Dallas, Texas.

     Our son, William B. Travis, Jr., was born July 13, 1960 at Misawa AFB, Japan.  Our daughter, Teresa Kay Travis, was born Sept. 18, 1962 at Sewart AFB, Tennessee.

     In May, 1968, we moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Bossier City, La.  Bill was sent on a 15 month isolated tour to Ching Chang Kaung, Taiwan.  He retired from the USAF Oct. 1, 1969.

     Bill works for Dyn Corp., Aerospace Division as an electrician and is presently with a field team working at Midway Airport in Chicago, Illinois, installing HUDs (Heads Up Displays) in helicopters for the Illinois National Guard.  Our previous locations were Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.   We get to travel a lot.  I return to Louisiana for a visit about every 2 months.

     Our son has a daughter, Cristin Marie, age 15.  She lives in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, with her mother.  He is remarried and has 2 step-children, ages 11 & 9.  He is the Maintenance Director for Live Oak Retirement Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.  He plays bass guitar and has performed with many notable musicians.

     Our daughter lives at home and maintains it while we are on the road.  In May, 1996, she got her BA in Psychology, from Louisiana Tech University.  She completed her 4-year degree in 2 years while working part-time as an aerobics instructor and performing with her band.   Before she returned to school, she worked in banking with the FDIC.

     Life has been good to us.   We will celebrate or 40th anniversary in December.  We plan to retire and return to Bossier City by March, 1997.  Before I started traveling with my husband, I worked for 20 years in insurance.  My hobbies are crocheting, bowling, playing pool and working crosswords.

     Although I will probably be back in Chicago when the class reunion is held, my thoughts will be with each of you.  I cherish my high school years and the many fellow students that I had the honor to be associated with.