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Barbara Terrell (Smith)
nurse
Married
2
1970
yes
working as a nurse, I've worked in hospital administration for the past 30 years, the past 25 years at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. TN
gardening, traveling, going to our lake house in Muscle Shoals.
 Send Barbara a Message
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Frank Smith
 
Recording Artist
www.justlovemusic.com
Married
2
After 1969 I went out to work at Yellowstone Park for the Summer. I attended Jefferson State and began my interest in Bioliogy and Wildlife Science. I continued working in Yellowstone during the Summers and transfered to Oregon State University.
After colege I moved back to Birmingham and worked in the pool business with my father. I met and married Heidi Schultz from Vestavia in 1975.
We soon moved to Seattle where we had two children, a boy and girl. Seattle was a wonderful experience. We stayed there for 29 years. We had a beautiful home with a mountain view and several acres for our children to grow up on. I operated a pool and hot tub business there for many years and later took a position for the City of Seattle as Hazmat Coodinator for the Cedar River Watershed.
I had played guitar as a hobby through the years but only learned a few songs. There was always a guitar in my home though.
In 1985 a friend played an album by Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Music for me. That hour changed my life for good. I went home that day and started playing guitar again making the decision that I wanted to do what I had just heard on that album, (Imaginary Roads).
I started co-hosting an open mic for Victory Music and was the only guy on stage every week playing instrumental New Age guitar. I did this for 10 years once a week.
At some point a friend asked me to play for his wedding. I wrote a song called Ann's Song for his wife, Ann. In order to share it with him I decided to record a version on my computer. That was so much fun I recorded 16 more songs I had written. This became my first CD, "Assemblance of Rings".
While I was running the open mic, a friend who was a counselor for young adults, asked me to put music to a poem he had written. I had just finished writing a song with vocals called "With Angels" and that inspired him to ask me. Normally I write all my own songs but after reading the poem and understanding the story behind it, I had to compose "I'm Coming Over" the title song off CD nunber 2, my vocal CD.
My passion was still writing instrumentals though.
In the late 90's I began playing out at hotels and restaurants around Seattle. I soon decided to start making a living playing my music.
Heidi and I wanted to move to a tropical location to escape the cold, damp rain of Seattle. In 2003 we moved to Naples Florida. Our son stayed in Seattle and still lives there so we get to go back and visit often. Our daughter came along and finished college at Florida Gulf Coast U. She now lives in Thailand and teaches shchool there. We just got back from a visit there.
In 2005 I got a phone call from Will Ackerman, my mentor that inspired me to begin writing music, and he asked if he could produce my next CD. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. I began recording at Imaginary Road Studios in Brattleborough, Vermont in the summer of 2006. I finished the recording in early 2007 and it was released on March of that year.
It was a shock to hear my music on the radio, a dream I had always had. It is still getting lots of radio airplay and is played every few hours on Soundscapes, the Cable TV music channel.
My music has now been featured on several TV shows and on Public TV. In March of 2008 it won the "Lifestyle Music Award" for Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of the year.
I am currently recording a new album with my guitar and with Kat Epple, 8 time Emmy winning flutist. The new CD should come out after the first of the year.
In addition to my music business I also own Gratitude Beads 101. www.gratitudebeads101.com It is a tool used to count 101 things you are grateful for once a day. Check out our ads in Martha Stewarts magazine, Body and Soul.
Heidi and I have also been teaching CPR and Professional Rescue for the Red Cross. Last month we opened Collier CPR and Safety Training. www.colliercpr.com
It is a blast teaching people how to save lives.
Life is good! We are so belssed.
Besided writing music, I love to hang on the beach. I fish when there is time and opportunity. Heidi and I try to take in a movie once a week if we can.
I love reading spiritual and inspirational books and attend a weekly study group to improve my life and keep myself centered.
I can't wait for the reunion. The past 40 years has flown by so it will be great to catch up with all of you. I am blessed and have a wonderful wife and two grown children. Thanks to all of you that have made this a possibility. Send Frank a Message
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Ken Smith
Warehouse Manager
Married
4
2
After high school I went to UAB for a short while but had to quit for a while to work. I didn't choose warehousing but it chose me instead and I've been doing it for over 35 years now. During that time I have lived in Michigan as well as Alabama, married a beautiful woman from Birmingham, Michigan (I guess 3rd time was the charm). Together we have 4 great kids. My daughter has two wonderful sons. I have one daughter at Auburn and one at Alabama (we forgive her) and a son 10.
I enjoy books on tape, photography, warm days on the beach Gulf of Mexico or Lake Michigan, hiking, travelling and spending quality time with my family and friends.
It is so good to see so many old friends.
Send Ken a Message
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LaDonna Smith
 
artist/musician/teacher
www.the-improvisor.com/transmuseq/ladonna
Committed Relationship
you mean dogs? I have 5
hi everyone. yes, I am the musical explorer, been around the world several times, as a violist and violinist improvisor, managed a music journal, teach violin & piano, am Director of Birmingham Suzuki Violinists, and just recently started another new business, performing on the grand piano at parties, ceremonies & events,with an awesome african american singer, Tena Wilson, (who can regularly been seen at Unity Church)and we call it, GRAND TIMES!
I enjoy working in my garden, being outdoors, in and around beautiful plants.. I love long mountaintop views and contemplation.. I love water and the sound of it, small mountain streams, rivers and oceans..
I like to be on my mat, practicing yoga..I love playing the piano, and an assortment of ethnic instruments like erhu, shamisan, and flute..
When I drive into Homewood from 280, I still see the woods, the circle, and the tower, where I spent my 3 years at SV.. I regret that the land was not sold or donated to the Birmingham Zoo to expand into for the benefit of the animals and the citizens. What a lost once time only opportunity! It's always about money, isn't it? And I regret that's the truth. Imagine seeing buffalo roam where the Mounties once trod.. Send LaDonna a Message
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William Luther (Smith)
Attorney
www.employerscouncil.org
Married
2
1969
3
Not as much as I would like
Went to Jacksonville State the summer after graduating from Shades Valley. Roomed with classmates Bob Wood and Bob Sims during some of the time at JSU. Worked for the Power Company and the Birmingham Police Department until moving to Mississippi in 81 to go work for Mississippi Power. After getting an MBA from William Carey University, left my job to go to law school at Mississippi College. From there we moved our two sons to Denver, CO. Our older son is now an attorney in Denver and he and his wife have our 2 granddaughters and grandson. While in Colorado, Cindy, my wife taught 6th grade science. In 2014 we moved to Arizona where our other son and his wife live. As many of my classmates have expressed, we know very well that God has given us a wonderful opportunity to raise a family, hold down a career, make new friends in places where we live and travel. I know your reunion will be a blast. Maybe I can make the next one.
I thoroughly enjoy being on the golf course. I am writing a training booklet for anyone interested in a tour of the Bible. I am almost a fourth through my work.
Send William a Message
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Patty Dyck (Soule’)
 
Retired
Married
1
1969
3
Yes several
Sharing My life and interests with my amazing husband of 44 years. We have been blessed with a wonderful son, daughter-in-law and 3 incredibly bright and gifted grand boys. They are the light of our lives. I’ve had a fulfilling and successful career; 2 years at UAB as a Research Assistant overseeing the clinical and research kidney transplant program, and 30 years at Vanderbilt University Medical School. I dedicated 10 years as a Research Associate studying various avenues of cardiovascular disease, resulting in significant publications. I was then recruited into the arena of hospital administration serving as Administrative Director for Clinical Pharmacology (10 years) and Department of Psychology (10 years). Psychology Department was extremely diverse, challenging, and interesting to me because it encompassed the undergraduate and graduate teaching programs plus research studies in cognitive, clinical, and neuroscience fields funded by both federal and private sector grants. I retired in 2006 and have thoroughly enjoyed my freedom to pursue personal interests, family responsibilities, and a healthy lifestyle.
I am an avid tennis enthusiast and played competitively for years at the 5.0 USTA level. Lake life, boating, snow skiing, beaches anywhere, reading, and gardening are a balm for my soul. I dabble in interior design and floral arranging. Travel sharpens my appreciation for all cultures. I continue to learn life’s lessons and hope that they make me a better person.
Send Patty a Message
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Virginia (Ginger) Virginia (Ginger) Floyd (Stubblefield)
VP, Jace Chandler & Associates, Inc.
www.jcasouth.com
Married
4
1969
4 boys, 3 girls
No, but I need to!
Wow . . Raising children, working in the same profession (highway safety appurtenances and intelligent transportation systems, traveling.
Spending time with family, children, grandchilren, sewing, embroidery, applique, gardening, traveling.
Send Virginia (Ginger) a Message
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Don Taylor
 
temporary job with the Census Bureau
Married
1
This will be my first reunion and I'm really looking forward to seeing you all. I can't believe it's been 40 years. Here's a little about what I've been doing since 1969. I'll make it a bullet list for all you engineer and business types out there.
+ Univ of Alabama Tuscaloosa 1973 BS Psychology
+ UAB 1977 MA Psychology
+ Univ of Houston 1981 PhD Cognitive Psychology/Human Factors
+ I worked for Bell Labs in Denver from 1981 until I was laid off during a restructuring and downsizing in January this year. During my career the company and division that I was in changed names a few times -- AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Avaya Inc.
+ I found a new temporary job with the Census Bureau in June. I'm not sure if I'll retire next year when that job is over. Time will tell.
+ While in Tuscaloosa I met Stephanie Mitchell, who had gone to Ramsey. We married in 1974 and moved to Colorado in 1981 when I joined Bell Labs. Stephanie worked as an elementary school teacher until she retired a couple years ago. She enjoys taking occasional substitute teaching jobs.
+ Our daughter Sarah was born in 1983. She has made us proud. She's finishing up her EdS degree in school psychology next spring and will likely look for a school psychology position in Colorado when she gets her license.
+ We enjoy traveling and have been to some great places in the world. We still like to travel, including going to our timeshare in Grand Cayman just about every year.
+ Besides traveling, we enjoy beautiful Colorado and the mountains -- hiking, snowshoeing, skiing. We also love Santa Fe and try to take a long weekend trip down there once or twice a year.
+ I also enjoy motorcycle riding, dining out, friends and family, good books, movies, scuba diving, snorkeling, amateur point-and-shoot photography, Geocaching, ...
I'll see you in October!
Can't wait to see how many people I recognize.
Send Don a Message
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Ron(Ronnie) Traywick
 
Aircraft inspector
Married
1
None
Losing the love of my life, getting married, getting divorced, a 20 year Army career, traveling and living many places, Kentucky, Washington state, Germany, Washington again, Virginia, Korea for a year, back to Alabama, off to Washington again and now Savannah, whew!!!. I've been in Savannah for the past 7 years and looks like I might be here for a while.
Look for me on Facebook. I just started on there recently and still learning. I hope there is another get together planned soon. I regret missing the reunion last fall but hope to get another chance to see people I've missed for all these years.I love auto racing, especially sports cars. Been to Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta, Daytona 24 hrs, Sebring, Monte Carlo, German Grand Prix. Never been to LeMans but plan to go some day with someone. I also love vintage Warbirds and airshows. Just went to Atlanta to see Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theater and wish I could go again. Just got my first Corvette and love it. A white 2008 C6. Send Ron(Ronnie) a Message
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Joshua Tropper
 
Attorney
www.bakerdonelson.com/joshua-tropper/
Married
2
1971
71
eight year gathering the same academic credentials as President Obama; thirty-two years practicing law; sixteen being a father and somewhat longer than that being a husband.
My only surviving hobby is wine. I really enjoy traveling to places where the food is better than at home and the wine is better yet.
Sorry I can't make it to the 40th, but always happy to hear from old friends!
Send Joshua a Message
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