Ricky - you're no Mary Shults, but the "Briarpatch" was beautiful nevertheless.  Besides, only goats graze in the briarpatch, not those uppity sheep!  (I, too, sat on your side of Mrs. Newton's class in 10th grade until I found out Southern colleges didn't require a foreign language for admission.)  You said we were still getting 100 hits a day on the web site, shouldn't there be more discussion here with that much traffic?  Don't just lurk -- share!

Briarpatch Thanks Lanny, but do you know who was really responsible for the success of this reunion?  Everybody.  Every committee member, every attendee, every poster to the website (yours included), every email sent, every phone call made, Kathryn Underwood’s insistence that we could meet the Hotel minimum contract, and pulling out her attorney trump card to keep us from being over charged at the end, Mike Austin starting the blog on News of All Sorts with his “I remember” post, George Reed’s Bill Howard stories that made us glad not to have missed that meeting, Anne Green’s Cows, Bouncin Bob’s,Tom Strueber on the par 4 ninth hole putting his tee shot 8 feet from the pin and Frank Hixon sinking the putt for an eagle, Amy Shulman’s broadcast email, (and daughter - google), Rachel Counts putting her new kitchen project aside to attend, Bonnie Bowen whispering in our ear at the 67 reunion, Bobby Rogers, John Fristoe and Ted Mckee sitting around the pool playing guitars and singing, Peggy Moon in a familiar outfit at the BHS tour, Chris Wall and his vintage muscle car at the Junior Varsity, Mike Chase sending the Myrtle Beach non-alcoholic beer orgy pictures, Tricia Gaston tracking everything from phone call and email updates to registrations all in the middle of a move, Marsha Parham saying a prayer for us, Kathryn’s DVD, Linda Saye taking and posting over 300 pictures, Ben Jones handing out Kleenex, Sandy and John and Bobby  in familiar poses from our yearbook (orchestrated by David Dyer), Mike Robert’s son marrying Alana De La Garza from Law and Order fame, Tricia’s contribution of priceless “back in the day” memorabilia, Jane’s picture of a bevy of Briarcliff beauties meeting with Governor Lester Maddox,  Coach Hambrick and Ben Jones riding around in a golf cart after all these years, OMG, the grade school pictures contributed by several classmates, Gail McCorvey at the tour in her Majorette uniform,  John Fristoe cracking everybody up all the time, the timeless grace of Molly and Ricky King, Lynne Barfield’s reaction when Becky Birdsong walked into our meeting for the first time, the support and advice from Turk McKinnon, David Davis and Betty Corcoran, a shout out from our elders Jay Moon (65), Horace Goza and Dan Corky Corcoran (63) Phil Houston (65) Turk, Bill Peake and Betty Corcoran (67) Bob Emerson, Farrell Barton and Barbara Gerber (69), Linda Bell posting from Bangla somewhere or other, on her way to Cambodia, the job the decorating group (everyone but me) did Saturday night, David Dyer talking to  Sarah Palin about the reunion, Jim Mozley trying to explain the Myrtle Beach trip to his 16 year old son. Does this look familiar Mary Shults? And that is the proverbial tip of the iceberg…..   I guess we would best be judged by some of our earliest critics.  According to the report card from Frank, Ray, Cookie, Bettie Lou and Rachel we all get an A+.   Ho hum, another perfect score. Much easier than Eudora’s class.  Anne, you were a sheep, I was a goat.    %^)  

Rick;    Even though I only went to the Friday night party, you did a bang up job in putting the weekend together.  I was great seeing all the classmates from all the classes in a "different setting" from the way I have been seeing them in the past.  Some of you know what I mean.  As David Bachman said to see our class in great numbers was also wonderful.

I can't wait to see everyone!  I live on Lake Lanier in Gainesville-have been here for 22 years-but still have lots of family in Atlanta and Decatur so I am there quite a bit.  I am no longer married, but I have great kids:  two sons and a daughter, all in college.   I stay busy substitute teaching, volunteering with Hospice and the Humane Society, ringing handbells at my church,  taking Zumba (Latin dance) and pilates classes and traveling as much as possible.   I spent my  working years as a real estate agent and later as a travel agent, but that was quite a while ago.  Thanks to everyone involved in getting this party started! I've enjoyed talking to old Briarcliff friends about the reunion and more importantly, about how much the high school years meant to us.  I really hope we'll have a good turnout!

Ben and David, I am shocked to hear that you guys would roll Molly's yard or anyone elses.  Molly, Lynne, Alice, Phyllis, and I NEVER left spend the night parties and did such things.  Did we?

And in answer to Ricky’s accusational question in today’s Reunion e-mail, the answer is absolutely not!  As I said, we NEVER did such shocking things!  Scandalous!  Right, ladies?

Jeff Avery where are you?

Lynn Waller will probably win the prize for earliest friendship.  Mary Schultz and I were in first and second grade together at Westchester in Decatur.  I came to Thompson in the 3rd grade; I don't know where Mary went before she turned up at Briarcliff. But we're glad she did!

This site is a blast to read. Everyone seems so excited about the reunion. Even though I was not at Briarcliff for long I have enjoyed reading about former classmates. I hope to stop by the pool party before going away for the holiday weekend. By the way Miss Spencer from Algebra is my next door neighbor. She is still a talker, sorry Anne...but what a wonderful friend she has become over the years! 

Bobby Poole's Mother:Betty Poole, mother of Bobby Poole, passed away suddenly on November 11th.  Visitation will be on Sunday, November 16th from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Turner's Funeral Home in Decatur (next to DeKalb General Hospital).  Memorial services will follow immediately after visitation in the Chapel at Turner's Funeral Home.Bobby and Kathy Poole's address is:   4990 Center Hill Church Road   Loganville, GA  30052Bobby, words can only add little comfort at this time but our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Howdy Barons!I just thought I would drop you good people a note.  Things are well in Denver, CO.  My oldest, a math teacher is moving back home after a year in Anchorage...so he'll be with us for the summer.  That's a mixed blessing...ha ha!I am still looking for work, coming up on 8 months now.  The Good Lord has provided many miracles along this journey and we still have our house and continue to persevere. I don't know when I will make it back over to Atlanta, but rest assured you are all in my thoughts and prayers.Take care and keep rocking!Bobby

This website is great!! Hope our class gets this going as well. Alice Cowan McDougald forwarded it to me. We were in the class of '69. It's funny how many DeKalb County grads we come in contact with, I even married one 34 years ago, Druid Hills class of "66. (I still get mad when he calls us the "Briarcliff Bunnies".) Oh well, I'm sure none of you guys remember me, but I do remember a lot of you and just wanted to say hi and go to the reunion, cause you might not make the next one. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Ricky, you did such a great job on this site! Do you want to do the same for us? It was great reading about everyone.  If you know anyone in the class of '69, send me their email address. I have become the "Keeper of all emails for the Class of '69".  We are planning our reunion for sometime in late April or early May of next year. You are all welcome to come. 

Great response Ben and Mike. I shared it with James. He then asked about the pint that Robert Dodge was sipping. Of course I suggested that it appeared to me to be bottled sweet tea. He didn't buy that. But he did think that I had 'cool' buddies that would respond in my defense. Regards

The next classmate to register will be#68

No, Moz, you have it all wrong.  Behind us in the picture is actually a mural depicting stacked beer cans.  I have no explanation for how it seemed to grow from one picture to the next, nor do I recall what those objects were that we seem to be holding in our hands.

Concerning the beer cans stacked on the wall in the above pictures, as I've tried to explain to others, we were "green" before it was cool.  We picked up the litter on the highways and beaches and donated the proceeds to the local humane society in honor of a dog that was in the wrong lane at the wrong time on the wrong highway.

Just became aware of your GREAT website... so glad that you all had such a great time at your reunion. It was great to read so many of your comments and memories.I hope that you ALL will join us at our next reunion get together on June 12( I think) at the Briarcliff Woods Club House... everyone is welcome.. and I would love to reconnect with many of you after all these years!  High School was fun and what memories we all have.. hope to see you  in June.

Hi! I graduated in 1969 and didn't know many of you. Still, its great to see the old pictures and remember old times! I am that rare bird, an old timer who still lives in Atlanta (Little 5 Points area, about 5 miles from Briarcliff. I hope you all have a great time!

I've been married for almost 32 years -- to the same woman. We have 2 children. Our daughter lives in Atlanta and practices law with me in Fayetteville. Our son just finished his first year of medical school at MCG in Augusta.  My mother continues to live in Leafmore Hills. I enjoyed the photograph of Mrs. Seagraves' 1956 first grade class posted on the website.  My family was impressed that I could identify several members of the class. I'm looking forward to seeing  all of you in August.

The Video is fantastic. I just watched it with my 16 year old son. He remarked about my shirtless appearance in our Spring break photo and how the back drop of the beer can pyramid seemed to implicate me in behavior that I have suggested that he stay away from. Of course I explained that Ben and Mike and Cam drank it all. Not sure that he bought it. Regards to all. Jim

I remember Latin class.  Do you remember how Mrs. Newton talked about separating the sheep from the goats (as in students)?  And that she told us-rather, reminded us-that her first name, Eudora, meant gift of the gods? Does anyone know about members of our class who might have been affected by Hurricane Ike?  I was thinking about Phyllis-doesn't she live in Houston???Rick, you've gotten us addicted to this blog as a way of keeping the connections going!  Have you created a monster for yourself? 

I remember nothing about the sheep and the goats in Latin class; nor did I remember Mrs. Newton's name.  I do remember that she broke her arm and was in a cast at least 1/2 of a year.  And a few years later, every once in a while,  I would use a Latin word in the middle of a French sentence.Thanks Jan, now we know there were 3 in her class!

I too was a student in  Eudora Newton's Latin class for 2 years.  Besides everyone referring to her as the "Fig",  Linda Bell and I also referred to her as Endora, like the character from Bewitched.  I remember our textbooks were old.   A previous student had written inside the cover of mine:"Latin is a dead languageAs dead as it can be.First  it killed the RomansAnd now it's killing me!"I remember you, Bruce Sundstrom. You were a fellow Kittredge kid in Mr. Rustin's 7th grade class. At the reunion, Jim Meek and I decided Mr. Rustin was one of the stranger teachers we ever had!The reunion was wonderful. I am just sorry there was not enough time. I know there were people I never got a chance to speak to and I apologize!  This site is so much fun. The photos are great but even they don't capture how much fun we all had!

Forty years.  So long ago and at the same time like yesterday.  I have worked for Turner Broadcasting for 26 years now and as Rick reminded me, in many ways it is like I was back in the gym hooking up microphones, lights and getting ready for an assembly or play.  Now my events range from a Braves game to the Super Bowl with some concerts and political events thrown in.  I am married with two sons.  The oldest works in the IT field and my youngest is finishing up Pharmacy School.  I live in Kennesaw but own the home that I grew up in from the fifth grade at Kittridge.  Look forward to seeing everyone.

Ben, Jane, Doug and all you WD Thomsonites might be interested to know that Carl Scott, BHS  '72 is the caretaker of the famous red bench!  A neighbor of his picked up the bench before the school closed and ended up giving it to Carl as a wedding present (because she knew how many hours he had spent on it!)

Where did this 40 years go? We are still in Boston since 1973, where my husband of 39 years is still on the radio doing the morning show at Magic 106.7 [air name and all that anyone knows him by is Mike Addams]. Never a dull moment as we are constantly involved with concerts , charities and promotions. Otherwise,we are flying back and forth to London where our daughter,Christy, and her British musician husband, Jake, live. She is a writer and has a theatre company....no grandchildren as yet!  We were quite thrilled when she was invited to perform for Queen Elizabeth's birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace. So sorry to be missing the reunion, but we will be in London until after Labor Day. Thanks to the committee for such a great web site.Take care, Jan O'Shields KulzPS:Still have my letter sweater!

Mike, take a look @ Dyer's photo album - you'll find Ms. Counts and coach Hixon

Bruce Sundstrom, I can't say I really remember you, but I was in Mrs. Newton's Latin class.  2 years of Caesar's Gallic Wars. We probably called her Fig Newton more often than Mrs. Newton.  Can't say I remember any of it, but maybe it helped with French and English.  Did anybody else take Latin; surely there were more than 2 of us in the class!You missed a great reunion. It was lots of fun.  Sounds like you're doing great things.

Wow I just made the mistake of returning to this addictive web site. I am very impressed with the photo albums and how well everyone looks. I'm also depressed that I didn't connect with so many that were there that i would have liked to. My take-away from the weekend was that my old pals were all comfortable in their own skin, and that they were as interesting as I remembered. I am so pleased to have been part of this esteemed crowd and this joyous event. My best, Jim

Two thousand miles and 40 years is a long way from the people I still hold dear.  However, after viewing my DVD today, time and distance no longer exist!  I loved watching it with my husband!  This gave him the opportunity to experience a very important time in my life that, otherwise, would not have been possible.  How fortunate we are to have witnessed such a remarkable time in history with such amazing friends.  I honestly believe theses times taught me how to live my life with true dignity, courage and pride.  And even though our high school friends may not have been by our sides as we grew older and wiser, we could still feel their earlier inspiration and influence.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this wonderful affair.  But thanks to Kathryn, I not only had a bird’s eye view of the events but traveled back to a more simple time when a good hair day and a passing math grade were all, life consuming!  That’s pretty special!  Thank you Kathryn for creating a loving masterpiece!  Thank you for giving me my youth back when I can really appreciate it!  Sharing this with my children will be another, treasured blessing!  Thank you Kathryn!!!  God bless!

I will never forget my first kiss with Robyn Ulman, 1968! Chastised only to find out many others became late bloomers! 

Wow!  Our 40th reunion @ Briarcliff High School---it doesn't get any better than that!  I've retired and now live in the N.E. Ga. mtns.  Life is a bit slower here--and that's good.  I work a bit with a therapudic wilderness program, but mostly enjoy this beautiful area of our state.  I so look forward to the reunion and reliving some of the good times we all shared.

do I or do I not remember you guys taking old christmas trees and piling them in peoples carports or at their doors was that the truth or a myth...Dyer had that truck what was the front tag "chevy eater" It will be so good to see everyone.

It is going to be a great weekend.  I remember some of us girl scouts(yes--over 20 of us--we even dared to wear our uniforms one day) who had taken a self defense course, tossing the  guys to the ground-- in seconds--in the senior courtyard. I remember the fun of football games with the drill team (and hard work) and commeradery we had--(all the bus rides to the games). Pat Blanchard's frustrations at us and visa versa at practices with the band (we had a great band!). We had great music (my kids loved my old 33's), fun times and events, good friends.  I remember the difficult things too, Viet Nam  and conflict of the times.  We are blessed to live in such a country where our freedom was bought and is maintained with such great cost.  I remember my brother Johnny riding Mary Schultz's  horse as the Baron--he knew nothing about horses or riding but somehow it worked. --- I remember much mud parking across the streetof BHS, I remember graduation day and the poignant thought that we were all going away in different directions--happy day but sad to me also.  All in all, Briarcliff was a great place to spend 5 years.   Thanks for all your efforts to pull this together for us all.

Hey, Did anybody get pictures of Miss Counts????I wish the pics had been tagged so we could tell who was who on these great shots.

hello everyone from a "65 grad.  I knew a lot of your brothers and sisters as well.  I will be at the barbecue tonight and hope to see some of you.  Would also like to be included in any get-togethers you have.

I've just discovered this website and I've really enjoyed catching up and reading about all of you.  Sorry I missed the last reunion, but I'm looking forward to the next one.

My family had a "long run" at BHS.  Mike was in the first graduating class of '62, Wanda '63, Ted '64, Steve '65, me '69 and Gary '70. I spent many years in the gym and on the field.  It was an awesome time to grow up.  I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments.  Thanks for including all of the BHS family. 

WOW Ben,   I remember the red bench at WD Thompson school. It was in front of the principal's (Mrs. Harris) office. In the 2nd grade I had to sit on it for eating candy Easter eggs that had been "taken" from a classmates desk....Oh the shame!!  Everyone that walked by knew you were waiting for Mrs. Harris to talk to you. You sat there with your head hung low. I think I'm still emotionally scarred from it!!!

Jane:I did not get any pix of the famous red bench (it was long gone) but I did get these pictures of Thomson when it was being demolished in 1976 (the "Lavista Limited" is mentioned as well):http://wdthomson.blog4ever.com/My sister graduated from Briarcliff in 1963, with the Godlewski-Goza-Corcoran generation. My own connection with your class is that I took Penny Calhoun to the BHS 66 junior (ring) prom in 1965 (though I did not graduate from Briarcliff); I also attended your graduation ceremonies that warm June night in 68.Congratulations on your site and good luck at your reunion.

Ben, I surly do remember Molly's yard!  We thought we were pretty slick until Mr. Myers called my dad @1:00 AM.  Why in the world did we sneak out of the house, roll her yard, then climb a ladder back into the house---then get caught.  I don't remember who was behind that.

We have many great photos, but only from a few people.  What's in your little treasure chest?  Take a few minutes, dig out the old photo album, scan some pictures and email them to us. Oh, you don't have a scanner.  Go to Kinkos, Office Depot, or Staples and let them do it for you.  We'll wait right here.

Yes, you found me, alive and well in Houston, Texas.  Look forward to seeing everyone soon.  Been married to same fella for 37 years.  

I MARRIED A BRIARCLIFF 68 GRAD ( BOBBY POOLE). WE LIVE IN LOGANVILLE GA. WE HAVE 4 WONDERFUL KIDS AND 8 GRANDCHILDREN LIFE COULDN't BE BETTER. TOGETHER WE HAVE AN INDOOR PLAYGROUND FOR KIDS IN ATLANTA. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REUNION IT WILL BE FUN.

looking forward to seeing the class 1968

David - I feel your pain.  Because Mr. Crozier gave me a D in conduct in Ga. History in, what, 9th or 10th grade? (and I didn't talk THAT much!), I wasn't allowed to be in the Miss Briarcliff pageant when I was a Senior.  My mom even went to the school to try to get him to change the grade but that man had a heart of stone!  I had absolutely no talent and would have sucked in the pageant, but STILL... ;-)

OMG...Kathryn, the DVD is absolutely great!!  I just got back in from out of town and watched it and WOW does it ever bring back so many good memories!  Ben....send the kleenex this way when you have finished!!  Thanks to all our classmates for sending in pictures also!  The committee has worked hard over the last year to make this the very best reunion ever!!  Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!!

I remember:The FrostopThe ProSelling Krispy Kreme donuts to raise money for whateverThe RoxyThe Lavista Limited bus to downtownMyrtle BeachDaytonaDouble SessionsThe 7 SteersDavid Dyer's red pickup truckRandy Campbell's motorcycleRolling Molly Myer's yard (her dad was not happy)Hiding in the trunk when drive-ins started charging by the person, not the carThe first state soccer championship ever (thanks to some idiot sophomore)Thompson Park (oops!)The "red bench" @ WD ThompsonThe patrol trip to DC and NYSigning the yearbooks at the end

Ben:  You didn't really live in the '60s!!!!  No way!!!  Someone that can recall that much  NEVER lived in the '60s.